Later on she returned these papers, and he closed and locked the safe.
She was a trusted employee, and everything apparently was all right.
“When Mr. Somers died, however, in my absence Mr. Henderson, who knew about the will, went to the safe for the duplicate and found that it was gone.
“No suspicion attached itself to Florence Gunther, who had herself gone with me on both days to the hotel and who had later witnessed the will.
But during the intervening time she had been murdered, and naturally everything pertaining to her had become a matter of great interest.
“Four days ago Mr. Henderson telegraphed me that the will was missing, and to come back.
When he met me at the train this morning he told me that one of our clerks, a man named Lowrie, had remembered that on the afternoon of the day Sarah Gittings was killed he had seen Florence Gunther on the street; that he saw her meet a heavy-set woman whom he believes now, from the published photographs, to have been Sarah Gittings, and there on the street pass to her a long envelope of the legal type.
“If that is true, it is at least possible that the duplicate of the will was in that envelope.”
Jim spoke for the first time, trying to control his mouth.
“Why would she have done that?”
Mr. Waite considered.
“She was a reliable woman,” he said.
“If she did that at all, and I am only telling you the office talk, she meant to show that will to Miss Gittings and then to put it back in the safe.
But things happened and—Mr. Henderson has been to the police, and it was not found among her effects.
The effects of either of the two women.”
“But why have shown it to Sarah?” Jim insisted.
“She knew about it.
She’d witnessed it.”
“She had no idea of the contents.”
“Florence Gunther knew the terms, I suppose?”
“Naturally.
She had typed it.
I have had very little time to think, but it strikes me that these two women met, and that the will came up for discussion.
One of our strictest rules is that such matters are kept absolutely secret so far as our office force is concerned, and Florence Gunther was no talker.
Besides, in this case there had been particular instructions that the existence of this document remain confidential, so I cannot understand—”
“Who gave you those instructions?” Katherine interrupted.
“Mr. Somers himself.”
“Now about this fund, this fifty thousand dollars,” Alex Davis said.
“He merely said that Walter Somers would understand?”
“That is all.
Naturally I wondered, but it was not my affair.
He was not a man to explain why he was doing certain things.
I rather thought that the family understood.”
Katherine looked at him.
“Understood?
With the entire proceeding to be secret and confidential!”
“I didn’t think of it in that light.
It might, of course, refer to charity.”
“Charity!
And given to Walter Somers to disburse!
I’m not an idiot, Mr. Waite, and I give you credit for more intelligence than that.”
“Perhaps if you talk to Walter?”
“What good would that do?
He’s as secretive as his father, and not so honest.
I know what you think, Mr. Waite; I know what you thought when you were drawing that will.
You thought Howard Somers had been leading a secret life, and that this provision was to provide for somebody.
Well, I do not believe that, and I’ll fight that clause, and this will in court if it ruins me.”
That was all.
Katherine rose, and the men scrambled to their feet.
She gave to each of them a steady look, said,