Dr. Priestley Investigates by John Rhode

Author:John Rhode
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

What Dobbs Saw

The Professor and Superintendent King met next morning and exchanged notes. Dr. Priestley told his story first, to which King listened with respectful attention. “I am by no means convinced that what we are seeking is not concealed somewhere on the yacht at this moment,” concluded the Professor. “Our search was by no means exhaustive, as you will understand. But I am convinced that it is so securely hidden that only prolonged and detailed labour will disclose it. It might be worth your while to have a watch kept on the yacht in case the criminals renew their efforts.”

“I shall certainly do so,” replied King. “Meanwhile, I have made a few enquiries which may possibly interest you, sir. In the first place, about that medicine. I saw Dr. Lansford, and he confirms Miss Coningsworth’s story. He met her father by appointment at the Smelter’s Arms, and prescribed a simple indigestion mixture. I got him to give me a copy of the prescription, and went round to Greys, the chemists, with it. Miss Coningsworth was in the habit of calling there and ordering a dozen bottles at a time. The last occasion that she did so was on the fourth of last month. Here’s the copy of the prescription, if you would like to see it, sir.”

The Professor took the paper and studied it attentively. “Ah, it contained a small quantity of quassia, I see,” he remarked. “That is rather an interesting point, for it means that the medicine would already have a bitter taste. The addition of the convallamerin, which is also bitter, would therefore not be noticed.”

“Is that so, sir?” replied King politely. “Well, the next thing I did was to see the insurance people. They are quite certain that none of their people have been to Pine-hurst, nor is there anybody in their employ who answers to Miss Coningsworth’s description. I showed them the proposal form left by the man, and they recognized it as theirs. But these forms are very widely distributed, and nobody would have any difficulty in getting hold of one of them.”

“So I imagine,” said the Professor. “I have seen similar forms in the lounge of the Red Lion. I am afraid that you will find it very difficult to follow up that clue, Superintendent. We have not advanced very far yet, it would appear.”

“Ah, but I have kept the best piece of news until the last,” replied King triumphantly. “Just before you came in I had a telephone message from the police at Whittles-bury. They found a man with a missing finger sleeping in a barn on the outskirts of the town early this morning. He was arrested, and he is on his way here in a car.” Greatly to the Superintendent’s disappointment, Dr. Priestley did not display any noticeable enthusiasm. “I am not inclined to attach so much importance to this man as you are,” he said. “We may secure some additional information from him, but I am doubtful whether it will help us much.

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