“Has he notified the police?”
“I presume so. He was talking to Detective Ferguson yesterday just before dinner.” Judith’s voice sounded a trifle strained in her own ears, but apparently Richards took no notice. His gaze had shifted again to the fireplace.
“When Mr. Hale first examined the safe he declared that its contents were intact,” he remarked. “Your news is surprising, Judith. It may be that poor Austin found a burglar rifling the safe and was killed by him—it is a reasonable hypothesis in the light of your father’s discovery. You said something else was missing—”
“Yes, Austin’s watch. It was a valuable heirloom inherited from his grandfather, and he always carried it with him. The watch has not been found either on his body or in his room.”
“But, Judith, it may be among his effects in New York,” Richards suggested. “Your mother told me that he had quarters at the Yale Club and kept a trunk there.”
Judith shook her head. “Uncle John talked to the steward of the club on the long distance telephone, and a search was made, but the watch could not be found.” Abruptly she changed the subject. “Will you please hand me a glass of water, Joe?”
Richards had started for the door when she called him back. “Don’t go downstairs, the ice water is here,” she looked about the boudoir. “There, Maud put it over by the bedroom door.”
Richards filled a glass for her and replacing it a moment later on the table, he poured out a glass for himself and almost gulped it down. Crossing the room, he again seated himself on the arm of Judith’s chair.
“Judith,” he began, “a strange thing happened to-day and I want to tell you about it.”
“Yes, dear,” she prompted gently, as he paused. “Go on.”