The Ghost Phone by Johnston McCulley

Author:Johnston McCulley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wildside Press
Published: 2010-03-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VI.

PURDEN’S STORY.

MADISON PURDEN was a man of about forty, tall, broad-shouldered, and rather handsome. Men generally despised him. Some women loathed him, and others seemed drawn toward him.

Now he got up and walked across the room and sat down in the chair before Detective Sam Frake. He looked the detective straight in the eyes. Purden’s face was white because of his anger, but he was fighting to get control of himself. It was as though he understood that he found himself on dangerous ground, that he would have to be careful in every word and action.

Purden was dressed fastidiously, almost foppishly. He ignored all the others in the room and gave all his attention to Detective Frake. He cleared his throat.

“I am sure, sir,” Purden said, “that you will not take into consideration the statements made against me within the past few minutes. You will readily understand why Mrs. Crend shows animosity toward me. She does not like me, and she was afraid that I was going to marry her sister. I shall be charitable and not say that it was thought of losing a fortune — “

Detective Sam Frake held up a hand demanding silence, to stop Madison Purden, and also to prevent a tirade from Mrs. Crend, which he felt sure was coming.

“How long had you known Mrs. Lennek, Purden?” Frake asked.

“I knew her slightly before she was married to Mr. Lennek,” he replied. “I met her again shortly after her husband’s death and renewed my acquaintance.”

“You have been — er — very friendly with her?”

“Our friendship has increased gradually for almost a year,” Purden answered.

“When did you last see her alive?”

“She took tea with me yesterday at a tearoom downtown, after she had called upon Mr. Garder at his office.”

“You escorted her home?”

“No, sir. She had some shopping to do, she said. I left her at a department store and went to my club.”

“That was the last time you saw her alive?”

“It was — yes, sir,” Purden replied.

“Did she communicate with you by telephone or otherwise?” Frake asked.

“No, sir.”

“And you called this afternoon?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Explain that, please.”

“Mrs. Lennek had told me to run in this afternoon, if I wished. So I called.”

“At what time, Mr. Purden?”

“About three-thirty, certainly not later than three-thirty-five.”

“Please tell me what happened.”

“I entered and walked up the front stairs, as I generally do.”

“Without having the clerk announce you?” Frake asked.

“Yes. I never had him announce me when I called in the afternoon and on invitation. Mrs. Lennek’s maid generally answered the door.”

“I see. Proceed, please.”

“I came to the turn in the hall,” Purden continued, “and saw Peter Podd, the janitor. He was just in front of Mrs. Lennek’s door. He bobbed his head at me and hurried down the hall.”

“Didn’t say anything to you?”

“No, sir. I went on to the door. I was surprised to find that it was standing open a few inches. I rang and waited, but nobody came to the door.”

“Did you think that strange?”

“Naturally. I rang again, with the same result.

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