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of Miss Carwell； to get you。〃
〃I see。 Inquests are less often held in New Jersey than in some of the
other states。 Well； then I suppose I may as well go to the Carwell home
with you。〃
〃Yes。 I wired for my car to meet us。 It's here I see。 Right over
here。〃
Bartlett led the way； the colonel following； and Shag bringing up the
rear with the bags。
As the machine started from the station Bartlett looked up to the
morning sky。 There was a little speck in it； no larger than a man's hand。
It grew larger； and became an osprey on its way to the sea in search of a
fish。
As the car drew up in front of the Carwell mansion； from the bell of
which fluttered a dismal length of crepe； a man stepped from the shadow
of the gate posts and held out a paper to Harry Bartlett。
〃What is it？〃 asked Bartlett。
〃A subpoena；〃 was the rather gruff answer。
〃A subpoena？ What for？〃
〃The coroner's inquest。 You'll have to appear and give evidence。
They're going to have an inquest to find out more about Mr。 Carwell's
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death。 That's all I know。 I'm from police headquarters。 I was told to
wait around here； as you were expected； and to serve that on you。 Don't
forget to be there。 It's a court order；〃 and the man slunk away。
〃An inquest；〃 murmured Bartlett； as he looked at the paper in his hand。
〃I thought they weren't going to have any；〃 and he glanced quickly at
Colonel Ashley。
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CHAPTER VIII
ON SUSPICION
Colonel Robert Lee Ashley was used to surprises。 This was natural；
considering his calling； and at some of the surprises he was a silent
spectator； while at others he furnished the surprise。 In this case he served
in his former capacity； merely noting the rather startled look on the face of
Harry Bartlett when handed the subpoena to the coroner's inquest。
〃I thought they weren't going to have any；〃 Bartlett repeated； but
whether to himself in a sort of daze； to Colonel Ashley； or to the man from
headquarters was not clear。 At any rate Colonel Ashley answered him by
saying：
〃You never can tell what Jersey justice is going to do。 Coroner's
inquests are not usual in this state； but they are lawful。〃
〃But why do they consider one necessary？〃 asked Bartlett； as they
prepared to enter the house of death。
〃That； my dear sir； I don't know。 Perhaps the county physician may
have requested it； or the prosecutor of the pleas。 He may want to be
backed up by the verdict of twelve men before taking any action。〃
〃But if Mr。 Carwell's death was due to suicide who can be held guilty
but himself？〃
〃No one。 But I thought you said there was a doubt as to its being
suicide；〃 commented the detective。
〃Miss Carwell doubts；〃 returned Bartlett； 〃and I admit that it does
seem strange that a man of Mr。 Carwell's character would do such a thing；
particularly when he had shown no previous signs of being in trouble。 But
you can never tell。〃
〃No； you can never tell；〃 agreed Colonel Ashley； and none knew；
better than himself； how true that was。
〃But why should they subpcena me？〃 asked Bartlett。
〃Don't fret over that；〃 advised his companion； with a calm smile。
〃You probably aren't the only one。 A coroner's inquest is； as some one
has said； a sort of fishing excursion。 They start out not expecting much；
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not knowing what they are going to get； and sometimes they catch nothing
… or no one … and again； a big haul is made。 It's merely a sort of clearing
house； and I； for one； will be glad to listen to what is brought out at the
hearing。〃
〃Well； then I suppose it will be all right；〃 assented the young man； but
the manner in which he looked again at the legal document was distinctly
nervous。
〃Had we better tell … her ？〃 and he motioned tothe house； on the steps
of which they stood； Shag having pressed the bell for his master。
〃Miss Carwell probably knows all about it；〃 said Colonel Ashley。
They found Viola waiting for them in the library； passing on their way
the darkened and closed room which held all that was mortal of the late
owner of The Haven … no； not quite all of him； for certain portions were；
even then； being subjected to the minute and searching analysis of a
number of chemists； under the direction of the county prosecutor。
〃It was very good of you to come； Colonel Ashley；〃 said Viola quietly。
〃I appreciate it more than I can express … at this time。〃
〃I'm very glad to come；〃 said the colonel as he held her hand in his
warm； firm clasp。 〃I am only sorry that it was necessary to send for me
on such an occasion。 Believe me； I will do all I can for you； Miss
Carwell。 Your father was my very good friend。〃
〃Thank you。 What most I want is to clear my father's name from the
imputation of having … of having killed himself；〃 and she halted over the
words。
〃You mean that you suspect … 〃 began Colonel Ashley。
〃Oh； I don't know what to think； and certainly I don't dare suspect any
one！〃 exclaimed Viola。 〃It is all so terrible！ But one thing I would like
all father's friends to know … that he did not take his own life。 He would
not do such a thing。〃
〃Then；〃 said Colonel Ashley； 〃we must show that it was either an
accident … that he took the fatal dose by mistake or that some one gave it to
him。 Forgive me for thus brutally putting it； but that is what it simmers
down to。〃
〃Yes； I have thought of that；〃 returned Viola； and her shrinking form
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and the haunted look in her eyes told what an ordeal it was for her。 〃I leave
it all to you； Colonel Ashley。 Father often spoke of you； and he often
said； if ever he had any mystery to clear up； that you were the only man he
would trust。 Now that I am alone I must trust you；〃 and she smiled at the
colonel。 It was something of her former smile … a look that had turned
many a man's head； some even as settled in life and years as Colonel
Ashley。
〃Well； I'll do my best for the sake of you and your father；〃 replied the
detective。 〃I don't mind saying that I hoped I was done with all mystery
cases； but fate seems to be against me。
〃Mind； I am not complaining！〃 he said quickly； as he saw Viola about
to protest。 〃It's just my luck。 And I can't promise you anything。 From
what Mr。 Bartlett told me； there seem to be very few suspicious
circumstances connected with the case。〃
〃I realize that；〃 answered Viola。 〃And that makes it all the stranger。
But tell me； Colonel； haven't you often found that the cases which； at first；
seemed perfectly plain and simple； afterward turned out to be the most
mysterious？〃
〃Jove； but that's true ！〃 exclaimed the former soldier。 〃You spoke the
truth then； Miss Viola。 My friend Izaak never put a statement more
plainly。 And that's the theory I always go on。 Now then； let me have all
the facts in your possession。 And you too； 〃he added； turning to Bartlett。
〃You might remain while Miss Carwell talks to me； and you can add
anything she may forget； while she can do the same in your case。 I
suppose you know there is to be a coroner's inquest？〃 he added to the girl。
〃Yes；〃 she answered。 〃I have received a subpoena。 I think it is well
to have it； for it will show the public how mistaken a verdict arrived at
when all the facts are not known may be。 I shall attend。〃
〃I just received a summons；〃 said Bartlett； and he seemed to breathe
more easily。
〃Shag