Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven Communications

Generosity to the extreme. The morning papers described the murder in greater detail than the evening papers, but I am relieved that none of the papers mentioned Eleanor's involvement.What worries me the most is the reports of her involvement. The last paragraph of The New York Times read: "Detectives are now searching for the missing woman, Hannah." I saw the following announcement in the Tribune: The relatives of the deceased Mr. Horatio Leavenworth have offered a reward for any information concerning the whereabouts of Hannah Chester.Hannah disappeared from her Fifth Avenue home on the night of March 4.Hannah is twenty-five years old and of Irish descent. Her physical features are as follows: Tall and thin, with dark brown hair with a hint of red, light complexion, good facial features, small palms, fingers with many needles from knitting Hole marks, large and stout feet.The last time I saw her, she was wearing a brown and white checked and striped dress, possibly with a very old red and green shawl.In addition to the above features, she has a large burn scar on her right wrist and a smallpox scar or two on her left temple.

This missing person notice gave me a new direction of thinking.Oddly enough, I didn't think much of this young maid, but it was clear that her testimony would unlock the key points of the case.Some people think that she may be involved in the case, which I cannot agree with.If she is an accomplice, she will definitely prepare first and take away all her money.However, someone found that Hannah had left a wad of banknotes in the suitcase, which proved that she left in a hurry and had no intention of taking the money.On the other hand, if she happened to see the murderer committing the crime, how could she be led away without saying a word?How could it be that the two ladies didn't hear it, not to mention that the door of one of them was not closed at all.An inexperienced woman would usually scream when encountering such a situation, but no one heard the scream, and she just disappeared without a trace.What should we think of Hannah as a clue?Is this person she sees someone she knows and trusts?I don't consider this possibility.So I put down the paper, and tried to put aside the inferences connected with the case.I won't believe it until I gather more evidence to support this theory.However, how is it possible to control the lingering thoughts when one is obsessed with something?Before I knew it, I had been turning the case over in my head all morning, and finally came to the conclusion that Hannah Chester must be found, or Eleanor Leavenworth would have to explain why she got the key to the study. time and means.

At two o'clock I set off from the office to the place of interrogation.However, due to delays on the road, the interrogation was completed upon arrival.I was rather disappointed that I missed the opportunity to see Eleanor in person.She went to rest not long after the jury had left, but Mr. Harwell was still present, and I questioned him about the result. "Shot to death by unknown persons." I was greatly relieved by the results of the interrogation.I had feared something worse would come out.I also saw the secretary turn pale.Despite his scholarly self-control, he was as satisfied as I was.

To my discomfort, Mr. Gritz and his assistant left shortly after the verdict.It is impossible for Mr. Gritz to abandon the investigation before the important facts of the case are clarified.Is it possible that he has made some major decision?I thought about it with alarm, and was about to learn his real intentions when I noticed movement in the lower window on the other side of the room.I looked forward and saw Mr. Forbes peering out from behind the curtain.Seeing his actions proved that I was not wrong about Mr. Gritz.Not only was the poor girl alone to deal with the contingencies of fate, but she was also watched for them, and this was only the beginning of the obvious.I took a step back and handed him a note telling him that I represented Mr. Willey, offered to assist in any emergency, and that I would be in the office between six and eight.Then I went to the house on Thirty-seventh Street.I just parted from Miss Mary Leavenworth there yesterday.

The servant led me through the long, narrow reception room.In recent years, reception rooms have become a common practice in homes in non-commercial areas.Miss Leavenworth appeared to me almost at once. "Oh," she exclaimed, with a gesture of warm welcome, "I thought I was abandoned!" She stepped forward excitedly, holding out her hand, "Is there any news from home?" "Murder verdict, Miss Leavenworth." The question in her eyes was unanswered. "The murderer remains unidentified." A sense of relief stroked her facial features gently. "Are they all gone?" she asked.

"I didn't see anyone else in the house." "Oh! Then we can be at our ease again." I quickly looked up and down the room. "There's no one here," she said. I'm still not too sure.Finally I said to her in a very awkward way: "I don't want to offend you, and I don't want to make you nervous, but I want you to go back to your own home tonight, and I think it's your responsibility." "Why?" she stammered. "Is there any particular reason for me to go back? Don't you feel that Elinor and I cannot be in the same room?"

"Miss Leavenworth, I don't understand what you mean by 'impossible'. Eleanor is your cousin. She grew up with you and regards you as her own sister. When she is in need, you But to abandon her and go away would make people look down on you. If you can calm down and think about it, you will agree with me. " "How is it possible to stop and think about it under such circumstances?" she replied with a sarcastic smile. Before I could answer, she softened and asked if I was in a hurry to get her home.I replied, "The sooner the better." She trembled slightly, and seemed to follow my suggestion for a moment, but she suddenly burst into tears and said loudly that it was impossible, such a request was too cruel.

I stepped back, confused and sad. "Forgive me," I said, "that I did usurp my office, and I promise not to. You evidently have many friends, and it is theirs to do what is proposed." She turned to face me, her expression extremely angry. "Your friends are sycophants. Only you have the courage to tell me what I should do." "Sorry, I didn't order you. I just asked you." She didn't answer, but just started pacing the room again, her eyes glazed over, and her hands were wringing each other. "You don't know how demanding you are," she said. "The atmosphere in that house made me feel like I was dying, but...why didn't you let Eleanor come over?" She asked excitedly, "I know Jill Mrs. Burt likes it. I have a room to myself, and we don't have to see each other."

"Besides what I just mentioned, there is one more important thing at home that you forgot. Your uncle's funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon." "Oh yes. Poor uncle!" "You are the head of the house," I now ventured to say, "you have been greatly favored by him, and you are the right man to take care of his affairs." She looked at me with a slightly weird expression. "That's right." She agreed.Then he turned around sharply, and quickly made up his mind, "I am willing to accept your opinion and go back to my cousin, Mr. Raymond."

Feeling refreshed, I took her hand. "I'm sure you're going to be ready to comfort my cousin, but I hope she doesn't need to." She let go of my hand. "I'm just doing my job," she replied coldly. I stepped down the porch and met a thin, smartly dressed young man who gave me a sharp look as he passed.He was dressed a bit too ostentatiously for a decent gentleman.I remember seeing him during the interrogation.He was Mr. Gritz's man, so I also hastened to the street.To my surprise, I found another man around the corner pretending to be looking for a car, but sneaked a look at me as I approached, with a strong search in his eyes.This is undoubtedly a gentleman, but it made me feel a little displeased, so I walked up to him quietly and asked him if he thought my face was familiar after seeing me so carefully.

"I think you have a very pretty face," he replied unexpectedly, turning away from me, walking down the avenue. I was annoyed at the way his politeness turned me in the face, and I watched him disappear, wondering who he was and what he did.Because he is not only a gentleman, but also quite eye-catching.His facial features are correct, and his temperament is also outstanding.He was not young, about forty, but there was no sign of age in the chin or eyes, although the face and figure seemed to show their actual age. "He probably has no connection to the police," I thought to myself, "and doesn't necessarily know me, or have any interest in what I do, but I must never forget this man." Eleanor's note arrived about eight o'clock in the evening, delivered by Thomas, and read as follows: "Come on, oh, come on! I..." At this point, the handwriting has become scribbled, as if the pen has fallen from the uncontrollable hand. Not long after, I came to her residence.