Page:Chipperfield--Unseen Hands.djvu/84

72 "You are sure of that?" Odell, who had been following with his eyes the location of each object as Gene described the scene, now turned and looked at him sharply. "You are sure there were the prints of hands in blood upon the rim of the tub?"

"Positive of it," Gene returned. "I told you I could not forget a single detail. I don't see why he didn't call for help or something when he found he could not stop the bleeding. I never heard a thing and I was almost in the next room."

"Why do you say 'almost'?" The detective had grasped the point, but it was as if subconsciously. The vital fact which had been revealed to him inadvertently enough by his companion filled all his thoughts.

"Because the dressing-room is beyond that door, and I've got some gymnasium stuff stacked against it."

"Why wasn't the door left open?"

Gene hesitated.

"It used to be and we shared this bath together," he admitted finally. "But lately Julian wanted this to himself, so I used the bathroom across the hall."

"Did you examine the marks on the tub that morning, Mr. Chalmers?"

"No." Gene shuddered. "I don't know what I did after I saw him lying there and realized what must have happened; I guess I went crazy for a little while. The first I knew I was lying across Julian's bed, and Dad was shaking me and telling me to go downstairs. I didn't see Julian again, not even in the casket; I couldn't."

The detective turned from the doorway and began open-