“Perhaps, but—” Maynard eyed Hayden attentively—“investigation proved pretty conclusively, Burnham, that your innocent chess correspondence was being tampered with and used to forward and receive coded problem diagrams. It was clever work, Hayden, but you blundered badly when you attempted to shoot Burnham on Thursday night.”
“I did not,” declared Hayden vehemently. “Even you, Maynard, must admit I sat by his side at the table. The shot came from the balcony.”
“It did—when you pressed the electric button,” stated Maynard, and his words created a sensation. “A very neat contrivance you rigged up in the wicker bird-cage lantern; its small open door attracted no attention on that pitch dark night, and the revolver in it was completely hidden.”
Hayden moved restlessly. “A pleasant fairy-tale,” he muttered.
“No, gospel truth,” retorted Maynard. “In yours and Palmer’s absence this morning I made a thorough examination of your apartment, your Jap, Siki, taking me for Burnham in my disguise. I aided him in removing the electric wires which had been used to hold the revolver in the lantern and connected with the trigger; also, I took full note of the fact that the lantern, by aid of a pulley on which it swings, can be raised or lowered at will. The electric current which pressed the trigger was supplied and controlled by the electric wires running from the bell attached to the dining table and the pantry. That was the bell the Jap heard when you fired the revolver at Burnham.”
“Was it?” snarled Hayden. “Your statement is not borne out by facts. Fully five minutes elapsed before Palmer and Burnham rushed into the hall after the shooting and they found Siki answering the bell then, which had just rung.”
“Siki distorted the truth to shield his negligence,” replied Maynard. “On investigation I found he was out on the fire-escape talking to your neighbor’s pretty cook, and he was late in answering the bell in consequence.”
“I am glad Siki’s leaving,” declared Palmer. “If he had been prompt that night La Montagne might have been spared some uneasy moments.” He shrugged his shoulders and looked away from Evelyn; he could not bear with equanimity just then her happy face as she stood by her lover. “I noticed the lantern hung pretty low that night but never gave it another thought. It swings directly in front of the balcony window.”
“And right in line with where Burnham sat,” added Maynard. “I made another interesting discovery, Hayden, in your apartment, the significance of which I did not recognize until later, and that was magic lantern slides on which was drawn in colors a picture of this string,” taking the familiar red and green cord from his pocket, “and a very excellent likeness of Von Eltz sitting dead in his chair. I also saw that Palmer’s window was at such an angle that the slides could be thrown directly in Evelyn’s bedroom. It was a bit of deviltry which, frankly, infuriated me.”
“Thank God it was no illusion on my part!” exclaimed Evelyn fervently. “But, Mother, you must have seen the dead man as well as I?”