Inspector Queen’s Own Case Read Online Free PDF Page B

wildly what was the matter.
    A long ladder was leaning against the window.
    â€œSearch the grounds,” Alton Humffrey shouted to the two white-haired men below. “I’ll phone the gatehouse.”
    When he came back he was fuming. “I don’t know what we pay those guards for. Either that imbecile Peterson was asleep or he’s drunk. Sarah, stop that, please. Give Michael to Miss Sherwood. You’re frightening him half to death.”
    â€œOh, Alton, suppose it was a kidnaper,” Sarah Humffrey said hysterically.
    â€œNonsense. It was some housebreaker, and Miss Sherwood scared him off. Here, let me have him.”
    â€œI’ll take him, Mr. Humffrey,” Jessie Sherwood said. “Mrs. Lenihan, would you get me a bottle of formula from the refrigerator? I think, darlin’, we’ll make an exception tonight. But first let’s change this diaper …” She took the baby into the nursery bathroom and firmly shut the door.
    When she came out with him, Alton Humffrey was alone in the nursery watching the bottle in the electric warmer.
    â€œIs Michael all right?” he asked abruptly.
    â€œHe’s fine, Mr. Humffrey.”
    â€œYou’re sure it was a man?”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œNothing familiar about him?” His tone was odd.
    â€œI really can’t say,” Jessie said quietly. “I didn’t see his face at all, and the rest of him was just a black silhouette against the moonlight. Mr. Humffrey, I don’t think it was a housebreaker.”
    â€œYou don’t?” He glanced at her sharply.
    â€œWhy should a housebreaker try to enter through an upper window? The windows aren’t locked downstairs.”
    Alton Humffrey did not reply. Jessie took the bottle from the warmer, sat down in the rocker, and began to feed the baby.
    â€œMr. Humffrey?” It was Cullum, from below.
    Humffrey strode to the window. “Yes?”
    â€œNo sign of a soul,” the chauffeur said. Stallings, beside him, nodded.
    â€œYou two had better get some clothes on and stay out there for a while.” He put the nursery screen with the animal cutouts on it before the window. Jessie noticed how careful he was not to touch the window.
    When he turned back his brow was all knots.
    â€œDon’t you think you’d better call the police, Mr. Humffrey?” Jessie murmured.
    â€œYes,” he said.
    The telephone rang on the other side of the flimsy wall and the old man was instantly awake. He heard Abe Pearl’s sleepy growl say, “Yes?” and then, not sleepily at all, “I’ll go right over. Have Tinny and Borcher meet me there.”
    When Chief Pearl let himself out of his bedroom, there was the old man in the hall in his robe, waiting.
    â€œDick. What are you doing up?”
    â€œI heard the phone, Abe. Trouble?”
    â€œSomething funny over on Nair Island,” the big man grunted. “Maybe you’d like to sit in on it.”
    â€œNair Island,” Richard Queen said. “What kind of trouble?”
    â€œSomebody tried to break into one of those millionaires’ homes. Kid’s nursery. Might be a snatch try.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be at the Humffreys’, would it?”
    â€œThat’s right.” Abe Pearl stared.
    â€œAnybody hurt?”
    â€œNo, he was scared off. But how did you know, Dick?”
    â€œI’ll be with you in three minutes.”
    The Humffrey house was lit up. They found one of Abe Pearl’s men examining the ladder in the driveway and another in the nursery talking to Humffrey and the nurse. The screen was around the crib now, and Sarah Humffrey was in the rocker, gnawing her lips but quieted down.
    The old man and Jessie Sherwood glanced at each other once, then looked away. He remained in the background, listening, looking around. Her color was high, and she drew her robe more closely about her. It would have to be the cotton nightgown