Page:Cruise of the Jasper B (1916).djvu/118

 and laid it on the floor before I could prevent them," said Lady Agatha.

"'What is this?' I asked them, in bewilderment.

"They replied that they had killed Reginald Maltravers according to orders, and had brought him to me.

"'Orders!' I cried. 'You had no such orders.' Elmer, who lived on the same floor, was absent temporarily, having taken Teddy out for an airing. I was distracted. I did not know what to do. 'Your orders," I said, 'were to—to——'"

She broke off. "What was it that Elmer told them to do, and what was it that they did?" she mused, perplexed. She called Elmer into the cabin.

"Elmer," she said, "exactly what was it that you told your friends to do to him? And what was it that they did? I can never remember the words."

"Poke him," said Elmer, addressing Cleggett. "I tells these ginks to poke him. But these ginks tells th' little dame here they t'inks I has said to croak him. So they goes an' croaks him. D' youse get me?"

Being assured that they got him, Elmer downheartedly withdrew.