Kelwood Markin turned at the question. His face seemed whiter than before. His hands had slipped to the table. Scratching fingers, wordless lips were testimonies of mute fear.

"The victim," quavered Markin, in a tone of senile terror, "is to be myself!"

CHAPTER IX. THE KEY.

KELWOOD MARKIN had startled Joe Cardona when he had named Lester Dorrington as a deliverer of death. Markin's second statement, announcing himself as a potential victim, produced a similar effect upon Ralph Weston.

As Markin leaned forward in his chair, weary elbows on the table, pallid face turned pitifully toward these representatives of the law, Cardona and Weston sat staring in profound amazement.

If ever fear had been displayed upon a human countenance, Kelwood Markin showed it now. Noting the stupefaction that had fallen upon his listeners, the old lawyer raised his hands pleadingly. He seemed unable to voice a single utterance.

It was Commissioner Weston who broke the impressive silence. Rising from his chair, the official began to stride back and forth across Markin's living room. At last, Weston swung to Joe Cardona.

"When Mr. Markin called me this afternoon," announced the commissioner, "I knew from his tone that he was troubled. When I questioned him, he admitted that he could tell me facts that concerned crime now in the news. He spoke no further. That, Cardona, was why I summoned you here to-night. I had no idea that Mr. Markin's statements would grove so startling. I had not suspected this link in crime."

"I had," declared Cardona. "In Hugo Verbeck's office, I found a newspaper and a telephone book upon the floor. I mentioned those items in my report. I had a hunch that I did not mention.

"Verbeck had been reading the evening newspaper. He had decided to call some one. Who could he have called? Not Torrence Dilgin, nor Edwin Berlett. Both of them are dead. The only man whom Verbeck might have called was Lester Dorrington. "That was just a hunch, mind you. It made me see a link between the crimes. But to consider Dorrington as the murderer-I can't see it, commissioner. He's a man of reputation."

"Even though he does handle criminal cases," reminded Weston, dryly. "Do you realize, Cardona, that Lester Dorrington has a close a.s.sociation with members of the underworld?"

"In a legal way, yes-"

"And otherwise, perhaps. That, however, is not sufficient. This man"- Weston swung toward Kelwood Markin-"has a story to tell. Come!" He was addressing the old lawyer directly. "Let us hear it."

MARKIN'S countenance had changed. The old attorney had recovered from his display of fear. He was sitting silently in his chair. His keen eyes were steady as he surveyed the men before him.

"I told you when you came here," stated Markin, "that I could reveal the name of a murderer. In return, I wanted two things: action and protection. You have promised me neither."

"We cannot promise action without proof," insisted Weston. "Protection- yes-whenever you require it. But how can we promise action unless we know the facts?"

"Should I tell my story," declared Markin, "my own position may be jeopardized. Mind you, I have done no wrong. But a publication of the facts might place me at a schemer's mercy. Unless my testimony is kept in confidence until the proper time, it will be useless. Not only that, it may be disastrous to me."

"Your testimony will be kept confidential," snapped Weston. "Come, man! If new murder is in the offing, now is no time to tarry. Why do you suspect Lester Dorrington of murder? Why do you fear him?"

"Because of what was found in Verbeck's office," returned Markin.

"You mean the newspaper?" questioned Cardona. "Or the telephone book?"

"Neither," returned Markin. "According to the newspapers, Verbeck had been to the Paragon Trust Company, shortly before his death. That was why you stated that robbery might have been the motive for the murder. In Verbeck's pocket, you found-"

"A key!" cried Cardona, leaping from his chair. "The key to the safe deposit box."

"Exactly," returned Markin. His hand, now steady, drew open a drawer in the table. "That is why I fear death. That is why I know that I-like Verbeck -am in danger."

The old lawyer thrust a fist above the table. He opened his clenched hand. Something clattered upon the wood. It was a key to a safe deposit box.

"You mean," exclaimed Cardona, "that this is the duplicate of Verbeck's key!"

"I do not," declared Markin. "That key belongs to a safe deposit box in the Farley National Bank. What I do mean, gentlemen, is that I received this key under circ.u.mstances similar to those in which Verbeck received his key."

"Can you be specific, Mr. Markin?" questioned Weston, pausing in his pacing to resume his chair. "What is this riddle of the key? I can see no connection. Let us have the story."

Kelwood Markin bowed. He spread his hands for silence. In the hush that came with Markin's pause, Cardona and Weston stared intently at the old lawyer. With eyes that turned from one man to the other, Markin began his tale. "SOME years ago," stated the old lawyer, "I was approached by a man named Rufus Gilwood. He came to my office in the Bushkill Building, where my partner, George Tharxell, is now conducting my former practice. Perhaps you remember Rufus Gilwood, commissioner."

"I do," inserted Weston. "He was a cattle king, from Wyoming. He died a year ago."

"That is the man," affirmed Markin. "I had never seen him before he stepped into my office. He introduced himself, established his ident.i.ty and proceeded to state the purpose of his visit.

"Substantially, Gilwood told me that he had placed certain funds in a safe deposit box at the Farley National. That money was intended for distribution to certain persons. Gilwood spoke of the funds as a gift. He asked me to be custodian until I heard from him again. Should he die-he specified that distinctly-I was to open the box and distribute the cash to the persons whose names I would find in the box."

"Gilwood gave you the key?" questioned Weston, sharply.

"Yes," responded Markin.

"And did you hear from him again?" quizzed Weston. "Did he call upon you before his death?"

"No," was Markin's answer.

Weston nodded wisely. He smiled. Markin saw his expression and nodded in return.

"Rufus Gilwood paid me one thousand dollars," explained Markin, "which I accepted as a retainer fee.

He told me that he relied upon my integrity not to open the box until called upon to do so. He added, however, that another attorney knew of the transaction."

"Did he name the other lawyer?"

"No. I a.s.sumed that he mentioned the fact purely to impress me that my actions would be watched."

Commissioner Weston settled back in his chair. His smile broadened. He turned toward Joe Cardona.

The acting inspector was displaying a perplexed expression.

"Don't you get it, Cardona?" questioned Weston.

"No," responded the sleuth.

"It's simple," explained Weston. "Markin, here, was duped by a scheme to avoid the inheritance tax. His possession of the key gave him access to the funds from the time when Gilwood visited his office."

"I expected Gilwood to return," added Markin. "He did not. When I learned that he had died, I was bound to deliver the gift funds to the proper recipients. The transaction was entirely clear of Gilwood's estate. There was no conspiracy on my part. Naturally, I decided to go through with the bargain."

"So you went to the safe deposit box," prompted Weston. "How much money did you find there?"

"You have struck the point of my story," replied Markin, solemnly. "When I opened the safe deposit box, I found a small iron coffer. I opened it. The coffer was empty!"

"A hoax?" demanded Weston.

"Hardly," responded Markin. "Gilwood had paid me a thousand dollars, a high price for a hoax. No,commissioner. I knew the truth. That coffer had been rifled of its contents!"

"I see," nodded Weston. "I see the game now."

"Some lawyer," a.s.serted Markin, "played Rufus Gilwood false. He had Gilwood put funds into that box.

Probably the lawyer placed them there for him. Gilwood brought me the key. I found nothing after his death. The swindler had gained ill-gotten wealth. It was useless for me to tell my story. Such a deed would only have placed suspicion on myself. I could not describe the funds that had been taken from the safe deposit box."

"A smooth game," clucked Weston.

"One that made me fearful," added Markin. "I preserved silence; but I thought a great deal. I learned the name of the lawyer who had handled Gilwood's estate."

"Lester Dorrington!"

"Yes. But I could make no statement against him. I had no proof. The matter of Rufus Gilwood's empty coffer became a canker that troubled me. In fact, it was hopeless worry over the situation that brought about my retirement from active practice."

"I can understand it," agreed Weston, sympathetically. "Gilwood had relied upon your integrity. You felt yourself to blame; yet you were helpless."

"More than that," declared Markin, in a sober tone. "I realized that the swindler, with one soft game to his credit, would not have stopped with one scheme. I visioned other helpless attorneys like myself, holding keys to empty safe deposit boxes, all afraid to speak!"

"But if you had spoken-"

"I could not have proven my statements. Nor could others who might have risen with the same story. No, commissioner, the swindler who planned that game chose an iron-clad proposition. The men whom he swindled were dead; the duped attorneys were helpless."

"But you are speaking now-"

"Because circ.u.mstances demand it. The schemer has struck a snag; one that he overcame only through the aid of some killer. Commissioner, I have kept track of the estates which Lester Dorrington has handled during the past year. My eyes were opened when I learned that he is handling the affairs of the dead oil magnate, Torrence Dilgin.

"A lawyer named Edwin Berlett went to Rio de Janeiro to see Dilgin. Why? Because Berlett was the corporation lawyer who handled the affairs of Dilgin's company. Why did Berlett go to Rio? Probably to discuss financial matters.

"Dilgin died about the time that Berlett arrived. Berlett disappeared from the Steamship Southern Star on the way home. When I read the news, I realized the truth. Torrence Dilgin was another man of wealth who had been swindled!"

AS Weston nodded, Joe Cardona joined in the sign of affirmation. Kelwood Markin licked his parched lips and resumed his theory.

"Dilgin must have told Berlett that certain funds had been stowed in a safe deposit box. Berlett was on his way to gain them. He was murdered by hired a.s.sa.s.sins. Then came the huge stories in the newspapers.They unquestionably brought doubts to a certain man- namely, the lawyer to whom Dilgin had given the key of a safe deposit box."

"You mean Hugo Verbeck!"

"Certainly. Verbeck went to the bank. He found an empty coffer. He was in the same dilemma that I had encountered. Ordinarily, he would have maintained silence; with murder involved, he probably intended to make the matter public. He was slain before he could do so."

"He was going to call Lester Dorrington," blurted Cardona. "I'm sure of it, commissioner!"

"Verbeck was murdered," continued Markin, ignoring Cardona's interruption. "But his death has only added fuel to the flames. It has roused me to action; it has probably excited the suspicion and the fears of other attorneys whom Dorrington duped when he swindled his clients.

"I can picture it, commissioner. Dorrington-talking to a client- persuading the man to entrust a key to a certain lawyer named by Dorrington-a way to avoid a tremendous inheritance tax.

"And I can see lawyers now-pitiful men like myself-realizing that Verbeck's death was a safety measure that may be applied to themselves. Perhaps they also know that Dorrington is the murderer."

"How can we find them?" questioned Weston.

"Only by waiting until they die," returned Markin, solemnly. "Unless they choose to speak, as I have spoken. Unless they call for protection and plead with you to apprehend a fiend who deals in murder."

"You shall have protection," a.s.serted Weston. "Cardona, put two men on duty outside of this house. We will forestall any attempt upon Mr. Markin's life."

"You are protecting me alone," warned Markin, "but not the others whose lives may be at stake."

"We do not know who they are."

"But you know who seeks to kill them."

"This is in your hands, Cardona," decided Weston. "It's up to you to watch Lester Dorrington. Use all the men you need. If you gain sufficient evidence against him, we shall issue a warrant for his arrest!"

Rising, the commissioner waved Cardona to the telephone and instructed him to call headquarters to get two men for guards at Markin's house. Striding across the living room, Weston pulled aside draperies.

The action revealed windows, closed with iron shutters.

"These look safe enough," declared the commissioner. "No one will come in by that route."

He opened a door at the rear of the room. It showed a small bedroom. Kelwood Markin, at Weston's side, explained that he could use the little room as sleeping quarters. He pointed to a window that was also shuttered.

"Very good," decided Weston. "What about your servants?"

"I have only one," returned Markin. "He is my secretary and attendant- Howland is his name-and he can be trusted."

"Where is he now?" "In a little room at the end of the hall. I used to use it as a study. Ordinarily, Howland and I sleep on the second floor."

"Is there a telephone in the study?"

"Yes. This one is an extension."

"All right. Howland can occupy the study. What about visitors? Do you have many?"

"One only. Tharxell-my partner-comes here frequently in the evening."

"Can he be trusted?"

"Tharxell? Certainly."

"Very well, then. Conduct your affairs as usual. Two men will be on constant duty outside of the house.

Your statement will be kept secret, Mr. Markin. Rely upon us to follow the clew that you have given regarding Lester Dorrington."

WHEN Commissioner Ralph Weston and Acting Inspector Joe Cardona left Kelwood Markin's home a half hour later, two men from headquarters were on the job. Patrolling the street outside of Markin's, they were on the constant lookout for suspicious characters.

The man with the key had told his story. Joe Cardona, on his way to headquarters, was planning immediate measures to keep tabs on Lester Dorrington. A motive had been found for the murder of Hugo Verbeck; more than that, a definite suspect had been uncovered.