Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/87

 parlor, Gregg observed the stretcher put into the ambulance and he saw Marjorie and Grantham enter to ride in it; Billy and Carson got into Grantham's car. A few people had gathered to watch but they seemed to Gregg idly curious. If they asked any questions, they evidently were satisfied that the ambulance was removing a man suddenly taken sick. The white car drove off and the doctor's black one followed.

"That's cleared," Gregg murmured to himself with great relief; but he let himself relax for only a moment before he stepped to the closed door of Mrs. Russell's room and rapped.

"Where is the telephone?" he asked.

She let him in and showed him the instrument.

There was only one Rinderfeld listed in the directory; his name was Felix and he had both an office in the loop and a residence number on the south side. Gregg called up the latter and when Rinderfeld answered, Gregg ascertained that he was the attorney who had handled the Leverell matter so Gregg gave his name and said:

"I wish to retain you on a case which has just come up."

"All right; when do you come to see me?"

"I would like to have you come here," Gregg said; and gave the directions. He left the room and went back through the apartment, which was all quiet now. He locked the rear door where he had broken the glass and he removed the key; entering the disordered room where Mr. Hale had lain, he swiftly stripped the bed and bundled the linen in a corner. He went forward and ascertained that no one was loitering in front of the building.