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are to be found unmistakable signs of the habit of biting the nails； … see；
here are the hang…nails； … but； strange to say； the nail of the little finger
has been spared； and suffered to grow to an unusual length。 I ask myself
why this particular nail has been so favoured； and can only answer；
'because it has some peculiar use。' It is clear this is not the hand of a
manual labourer； the joints are too small； the fingers too delicate； the
texture of the skin； which is clearly visible； much too fine … in short；
wouldn't it pass anywhere for a woman's hand？ Say a woman who bit
her nails。 If it were really such there would be a pair of feminine feet
also to be concealed； and boards would do it very nicely … but this is all
guesswork； and must not be allowed to affect any subsequent conclusions。
If you will excuse me a few minutes I will use the microscope a little on
the sill of the east window before we are interrupted by our friends the
officers； who will be sure to be here soon。〃
While Maitland was thus engaged I did all in my power to distract
Gwen's attention； as much as possible； from her father's body。 Whenever
she regarded it； the same intense and set expression overspread her
countenance as that which at first had alarmed me。 I was glad when
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Maitland returned from the window and began mixing some of the
chemicals I had brought him； for Gwen invariably followed all his
movements； as if her very existence depended upon her letting nothing
escape her。 Maitland； who had asked me for a prescription blank； now
dipped it in the chemicals he had mixed and； this accomplished； put the
paper in his microscope box to dry。
〃I have something here；〃 ；he said； 〃which I desire to photograph quite
as much as this room and some of its larger objects；〃 and he pinned a tiny；
crumpled mass against the wall； and made an exposure of it in that
condition。 〃Do you know what this is？〃 he said； as he carefully
smoothed it out for another picture。 〃I haven't the slightest idea；〃 I said。
〃It is plain enough under the microscope；〃 he continued； placing it upon
the slide； and adjusting the focus。 〃Would you like to examine it； Miss
Darrow？〃 Gwen had scarcely put her eye to the instrument before she
exclaimed： 〃Why； it's a piece of thin outside bark from a twig of alder。〃
Maitland's face was a study。。。 〃Would you mind telling me；〃 he said
deliberately； 〃how you found that out so quickly？〃 She hesitated a
moment； and then said methodically； pointing toward the water； 〃I know
the alder well … our boat is moored near a clump of them。〃 〃You are a
keen observer；〃 he replied； as he took the prepared paper from his box and
spread the film of bark upon it to take a blue print of it。 〃There is one other
object upon the sill which； unfortunately； I cannot take away with me；〃 he
continued； 〃but shall have to content myself with photographing。 I refer
to a sinuous line made in the paint； while green； and looking as if a short
piece of rope； or； more properly； rubber tubing； since there is no rope…like
texture visible； had been dropped upon it； and hastily removed … but see；
here are Osborne and Allen looking for all the world as if they were
prepared to demonstrate a fourth dimension of space。 Now we shall see
the suicide theory proved … to their own satisfaction； at least。 But；
whatever they say； don't forget we are to keep our own work to ourselves。〃
The two officers were alone。 had apparently decided to work by
himself。 This did not in the least surprise me； since I could easily see
that he had nothing to gain by working with these two officers。
〃We've solved the matter；〃 was the first thing Osborne said after
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The Darrow Enigma
passing the time of day。 〃Indeed？〃 replied Maitland in a tone which was
decidedly ambiguous； 〃you make it suicide； I suppose？〃 〃That's just
what we make it；〃 returned the other。 〃We hadn't much doubt of it last
night； but there were some things； such as the motive； for example； not
quite clear to us； but it is all as plain as daylight now。〃
〃And what says ？〃 asked Maitland。
Mr。 Osborne burst into a loud guffaw。
〃Oho； but that's good！ What says ？ I say； Allen； Maitland wants to
know what 'Frenchy' says；〃 and the pair laughed boisterously。 〃It's plain
enough you don't know ；〃 he continued； addressing Maitland。 〃He's
tighter 'n any champagne bottle you ever saw。 The corkscrew ain't
invented that '11 draw a word out of 。 You saw him making notes here
last night。 Well； the chances are that if this were a murder case； which it
isn't； you'd see no more of M。 Godin till he bobbed up some day； perhaps
on the other side of the earth； with a pair of twisters on the culprit。 He's a
'wiz；' is M。 Godin。 What does he think？ He knows what he thinks； and
he's the only individual on the planet that enjoys that distinction。 I say；
Allen； do you pump 'Frenchy' for the gentleman's enlightenment；〃 and
again the pair laughed long and heartily。
〃Well； then；〃 said Maitland； 〃since we can't have 's views we shall
have to content ourselves with those of your more confiding selves。 Let's
hear all about the suicide theory。〃
〃I think；〃 said Osborne in an undertone； 〃you had better ask Miss
Darrow to withdraw for a few moments； as there are some details likely to
pain her。〃 This suggestion was intended only for Maitland； but the
officer； used to talking in the open air； spoke so loudly that we all
overheard him。 〃I thank you for your consideration；〃 Gwen said to him；
〃but I would much prefer to remain。 There can be nothing connected
with this matter which I cannot bear to hear； or should not know。 Pray
proceed。〃
Osborne； anxious to narrate his triumph； needed no further urging。
〃We felt sure；〃 he began； 〃that it was a case of suicide； but were perplexed
to know why Mr。 Darrow should wish to make it appear a murder。 Of
course； we thought he might wish to spare his daughter the shame such an
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The Darrow Enigma
act would visit upon her； but when this was exchanged for the horrible
notoriety of murder； the motive didn't seem quite sufficient； so we looked
for a stronger one … and found it。〃 〃Ah！ you are getting interesting；〃
Maitland observed。
Osborne cast a furtive glance at Gwen； and then continued： 〃We
le