Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/314

 “I—I think that’s about all,” he said in a lower tone, evidently finding difficulty in continuing. “You know most of the rest. I’m ready to go now. It was a good game, and I nearly won⸺”

“If you had had a chance to examine the papers in the tin box,” remarked old Pomeroy, “you would have discovered a memorandum to Jessica in which I direct her to pay you the sum of one hundred thousand dollars. I owed you that, I felt.”

Teck’s eyes clouded. “I might—have—known⸺” he murmured wearily. “But I took my chances and⸺” His head dropped back and his eyes closed. There was a silence on the little group, and they stood immovable for a few seconds.

The sergeant bent down and examined the body. “He’s gone,” he announced.

“I’ll take charge of these men,” he said briefly; “and of—this.” He motioned to the body of Ignace Teck.

“We’ll go back to the cottage—you can find us there if you need us, sergeant,” said old Pomeroy. The police officer nodded.