erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第1章

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　A　heavy　rain　in　Scotland　had　swollen　the　streams。　As　one　of　them　subsided；　a　small　bundle　was　left　by　the　receding　waters。
　This　bundle　contained　human　flesh。
　A　search　revealed　more　bundles。　Some　of　them　were　found　days　apart。　Apparently；　many　of　them　had　been　thrown　from　a　bridge　into　the　turbulent　flood　waters。
　Nearly　a　month　after　the　first　discoveries；　a　left　foot　was　found　on　the　roadside　some　distance　from　the　stream　bed。　Nearly　a　week　later；　a　right　forearm　with　hand　was　discovered。
　All　of　the　recoveries　were；　of　course；　in　a　state　of　advanced　deposition。
　When　the　pieces　were　assembled；　it　was　found　there　were　two　heads　which　had　been　mutilated　by　removal　of　eyes；　ears；　nose；　lips　and　skin。　All　teeth　had　been　extracted。
　It　was　apparent　that　a　skilled　hand　had　deliberately　butchered　two　human　beings　in　an　attempt　to　make　identification　humanly　impossible。
　While　visiting　in　Glasgow；　I　was　privileged　to　discuss　this　case　with　the　distinguished　medicolegal　expert　whose　work　contributed　so　much　to　a　solution　of　the　murders。
　This　man　is　John　Glaister；　D。　Sc。；　M。D。；　F。R。S。E。　He　is　learned　in　the　law　and　in　medical　science；　being　a　barrister　as　well　as　a　doctor　of　science　and　of　medicine。　His　academic　honors；　the　positions　he　has　held　in　his　long　and　distinguished　career；　would　make　this　brief　note　too　long　for　available　space；　should　I　attempt　to　enumerate　them。
　Suffice　it　to　say　he　helped　make　medicological　history　by　his　work　in　this　baffling　murder　case。　The　distinguishing　features　of　the　bodies　were　〃reconstructed〃　by　scientific　methods。　Brilliant　deduction　determined　the　general　neighborhood　where　the　victims　had　lived；　and　shrewd　detective　work　resulted　in　apprehending　the　murderer。
　My　friend　Professor　Glaister　is　the　author　of　Medical　Jurisprudence　and　Toxicology　（E。　8c　S。　Livingstone；　Ltd。；　Edinburgh　&　London；　11th　Edition）；　one　of　the　most　prehensive　and　authoritative　books　in　the　field。　Those　who　wish　to　learn　more　of　the　puzzling　murder　case　mentioned；　and　the　scientific　methods　used　to　identify　the　bodies　and　apprehend　the　murderer；　will　find　an　account　of　the　case　in　that　book。
　Professor　Glaister　is　a　dedicated　man。　His　is　an　honored　name　in　his　profession。　He　has　contributed　much　to　a　science　which　protects　the　living　by　making　the　dead　reveal　their　secrets。　He　is　a　dignified；　impartial　man；　devoid　of　bias；　devoted　to　finding　out　the　truth；　regardless　of　where　the　chips　may　fall。
　And　so；　I　dedicate　this　book　to　my　friend
　JOHN　GLAISTER；　D。　Sc。；　M。D。；　F。R。S。E。
　
　CHAPTER　ONE
　
　Murder　is　not　perpetrated　in　a　vacuum。　It　is　a　product　of　greed；　avarice；　hate；　revenge；　or　perhaps　fear。　As　a　splashing　stone　sends　ripples　to　the　farthest　edges　of　the　pond；　murder　affects　the　lives　of　many　people。
　
　Early　morning　sunlight　percolated　through　the　window　of　a　private　room　in　the　Phillips　Memorial　Hospital。
　Traffic　noises　in　the　street　which　had　been　hushed　to　a　low　hum　during　the　night　began　to　swell　in　volume。　The　steps　of　nurses　in　the　corridors　increased　in　tempo；　indicating　an　increase　in　the　work　load。
　Patients　were　being　washed；　temperatures　taken；　blood　samples　collected；　then　the　breakfast　trays　came　rolling　along；　the　faint　aroma　of　coffee　and　oatmeal　seeped　into　the　corridors；　as　if　apologetically　asking　permission　to　push　aside　the　aura　of　antiseptic　severity；　promising　that　the　intrusion　would　be　only　temporary。
　Nurses　holding　sterile　hypodermic　syringes　hurried　into　the　rooms　of　surgery　patients；　giving　the　preliminary　quieting　drug　which　would　allay　apprehensions　and　pave　the　way　for　the　anesthetic。
　Lauretta　Trent　sat　up　in　bed　and　smiled　wanly　at　the　nurse。
　〃I　feel　better；〃　she　proclaimed　in　a　weak　voice。
　〃Doctor　promised　to　look　in　this　morning　right　after　surgery；〃　the　nurse　told　her；　smiling　reassuringly。
　〃He　said　I　could　go　home？〃　the　patient　asked　eagerly。
　〃You'll　have　to　ask　him　about　that；〃　the　nurse　said。　〃But　you're　going　to　have　to　watch　your　diet　for　a　while。　This　last　upset　was　very；　very　bad　indeed。〃
　Lauretta　sighed。　〃I　wish　I　knew　what　was　causing　them。　I've　tried　to　be　careful。　I　must　be　developing　some　sort　of　an　allergy。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWO
　Out　at　the　Trent　residence；　set　in　its　spacious　grounds　reminiscent　of　a　bygone　era；　the　housekeeper　was　putting　the　finishing　touches　on　the　master　bedroom。
　〃They　say　Mrs。　Trent　will　be　home　today；〃　she　said　to　the　maid。　〃The　doctor　asked　her　nurse；　Anna　Fritch；　to　be　here　and　she　has　just　arrived。　She'll　stay　for　a　week　or　two　this　time。〃
　The　maid　was　unenthusiastic。　〃Just　my　luck。　I　wanted　to　get　off　this　afternoon…it's　something　special。〃
　It　was　at　this　moment　that　a　pair　of　hands　hovered　briefly　over　the　washbowl　in　a　tiled　bathroom。
　A　trickle　of　white　powder　descended　from　a　phial　into　the　bowl。
　One　of　the　hands　turned　on　a　water　faucet　and　the　white　powder　drained　down　the　wastepipe。
　There　would　be　no　more　need　for　this　powder。　It　had　served　its　purpose。
　Over　the　spacious　house　was　an　air　of　tense　expectancy　as　various　people　waited：　Boring　Briggs；　Lauretta's　brotherin…law；　Dianne；　his　wife；　Gordon　Kelvin；　another　brotherin…law；　and　Maxine；　his　wife；　the　housekeeper；　the　maid；　the　cook；　the　nurse；　George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur。　Each　affected　differently　by　the　impending　return　of　Lauretta　Trent；　they　collectively　managed　to　permeate　the　atmosphere　with　suppressed　excitement。
　
　Now　that　the　morning　surgery　was　over　and　the　surgeons　had　changed　to　street　clothes；　there　was　a　lull　in　the　activities　at　the　Phillips　Memorial　Hospital。
　The　patients　who　had　been　through　surgery　were　in　the　recovery　room；　the　first　of　them；　recovering　from　the　more　minor　operations；　were　beginning　to　trickle　through　the　corridors；　eyes　closed；　faces　pale；　covered　with　blankets　as　they　were　wheeled　to　their　respective　rooms。
　Dr。　Ferris　Alton；　medium　height；　slim…waisted　despite　his　fifty…eight　years；　walked　down　to　the　private　room　of　Lauretta　Trent。
　Her　face　lit　up　as　the　doctor　opened　the　swinging　door。
　The　nurse　looked　over　her　shoulder；　and　seeing　Dr。　Alton；　moved　swiftly　to　the　foot　of　the　bed；　where　she　stood　waiting　at　attention。
　Dr。　Alton　smiled　at　his　patient。　〃You're　better　this　morning。〃
　〃Much；　much　better；〃　she　said。　〃Am　I　to　go　home　today？〃
　〃You're　going　home；〃　Dr。　Alton　said；　〃but　you're　going　to　have　your　old　nurse；　Anna　Fritch；　back　with　you。　I've　arranged　for　her　to　have　the　adjoining　bedroom。　Technically；　she'll　be　on　duty　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　I　want　her　to　keep　an　eye　on　you。　We　shouldn't　have　let　her　go　after　that　last　upset。　I　want　her　to　keep　an　eye　on　your　heart。〃
　Mrs。　Trent　nodded。
　〃Now　then；〃　Dr。　Alton　went　on；　〃I'm　going　to　be　frank　with　you；　Lauretta。　This　is　the　third　gastroenteric　upset　in　eight　months。　They're　bad　enough　in　themselves；　but　it's　your　heart　that　I'm　concerned　about。　It　won't　stand　these　dietary　indiscretions　indefinitely。　You're　going　to　have　to　watch　your　diet。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　told　him；　〃but　there　are　times　when　the　spiced　food　tastes　so　darn　good。〃
　He　frowned　at　her；　regarding　her　thoughtfully。
　〃I　think；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃when　you're　more　yourself　we'll　have　a　series　of　allergy　tests。　In　the　meantime；　you're　going　to　have　to　be　careful。　I　think　it's　only　fair　to　warn　you　that　your　heart　may　not　be　able　to　stand　another　of　these　acute　disturbances。〃
　
　CHAPTER　THREE
　The　hands　and　the　powder　had　done　their　work。　The　way　had　been　paved；　the　preliminaries　were　all　out　of　the　way。
　Lauretta　Trent's　life　depended　upon　a　woman　she　had　seen　only　once；　a　woman　whose　very　existence　she　had　forgotten　about；　and　this　woman；　Virginia　Baxter；　had　only　a　vague　recollection　of　Lauretta　Trent。　She　had　met　the　older　woman　briefly　ten　years　ago　as　a　matter　of　routine。
　If　she　tried；　Virginia　could　probably　have　recalled　the　meeting　but　it　was　now　entirely　submerged　in　her　mind；　buried　under　the　day…to…day　experiences　of　a　decade　of　routine　problems。
　Now　Virginia　was　following　the　stream　of　passengers　filing　past　the　airline　stewardesses。
　〃Goodbye。〃
　〃Bye　now。〃
　〃Goodbye；　sir。〃
　〃Goodbye。　Nice　trip。〃
　〃Thank　you。　Goodbye。〃
　The　passengers　left　the　jet　plane；　inched　their　way　to　the　broader　corridors　of　the　airport；　then　quickened　their　pace；　walking　down　the　long　runway　toward　a　huge　illuminated　sign　bearing　the　word；　〃Baggage；〃　with　an　arrow　pointing　downward　where　an　escalator　descended　to　a　lower　level。
　Virginia　Baxter　steadied　herself　by　putting　her　right　hand　on　the　rail　of　the　escalator。
　She　was　carrying　a　top　coat　over　her　arm；　and　she　was　tired。
　In　her　late　thirties；　she　had　retained　a　trim　figure　and　a　way　with　clothes；　but　she　had　worked　hard　during　her　life　and　minute　crow's　feet　were　beginning　to　appear　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes；　there　was　just　a　suggestion　of　a　faint　line　on　each　side　of　her　nose。　When　she　smiled；　her　face　lit　up；　when　it　was　in　repose；　there　were　times　when　the　corners　of　her　mouth　began　to　sag　ever　so　slightly。
　She　stepped　from　the　escalator　at　the　lower　level　and　walked　briskly　toward　the　revolving　platform　on　which　the　baggage　would　appear。
　It　was　too　early；　as　yet；　for　the　baggage　to　make　its　appearance；　but　it　was　indicative　of　Virginia's　character　that　she　walked　with　nervously　rapid　steps；　hurrying　to　reach　the　place　where　she　would　wait　for　several　long　minutes。
　At　length；　baggage　began　to　appear　on　a　moving　belt；　the　belt　transported　the　baggage　to　the　slowly　revolving　turntable。
　Passengers　began　to　pick　out　baggage；　porters　with　claim　checks　stood　by；　occasionally　pulling　out　heavy　handbags　and　putting　them　on　hand　trucks。
　The　crowd　began　to　thin　out。　Finally；　only　a　few　pieces　of　baggage　were　left　on　the　turntable。　The　trucks　had　moved　away。　Virginia's　baggage　was　not　in　sight。
　She　moved　over　to　a　porter。　〃My　baggage　didn't　e　in；〃　she　said。
　〃What　was　it；　lady？〃　he　asked。
　〃A　single　suitcase；　brown；　and　a　small　oblong　overnight　case　for　cosmetics。〃
　〃Let　me　see　your　checks；　please。〃
　She　handed　him　the　baggage　checks。
　He　said；　〃Before　I　start　looking；　we'd　better　wait　and　see　if　there's　another　truck　ing。　Sometimes　there's　a　second　section　of　trucks　when　there's　an　unusually　large　load。〃
　Virginia　waited　impatiently。
　After　two　or　three　minutes；　more　baggage　showed　up　on　the　moving　belt。　There　were　four　suitcases；　Virginia's　and　two　others。
　〃There　they　are　now！　Those　two　are　mine；〃　she　said。　〃The　brown　one…the　big　one　in　front…and　the　oblong　overnight　bag　in　back。〃
　〃Okay；　ma'am。　I'll　get　them　for　you。〃
　The　suitcase；　followed　by　the　overnight　bag；　moved　along　the　conveyor　belt；　then　hit　the　slide　to　the　revolving　table。　A　few　seconds　later；　the　porter　picked　them　up；　pared　the　tags　for　a　moment；　put　the　bags　on　his　hand　truck　and　started　for　the　door。
　A　man　who　had　been　standing　well　back　came　forward。　〃Just　a　moment；　please；〃　he　said。
　The　porter　looked　at　him。　The　man　produced　a　leather　folder　from　his　side　pocket　and　opened　it；　showing　a　gold　shield。　〃Police；〃　he　said。　〃Was　there　some　trouble　about　this　baggage？〃
　〃No　trouble；〃　the　porter　hastily　assured　him。　〃No　trouble　at　all；　sir。　It　just　didn't　e　in　with　the　first　load。〃
　〃There's　been　some　baggage　trouble；〃　the　man　said　to　Virginia　Baxter