.. Don't be a fool, girl," he added under his breath. "You
won't do any good throwing water on her like that. Let her alone for a
moment.... Yes! Manager, Leeland Hotel, speaking. A murder and robbery
have taken place in this hotel, suite number forty-three. I am there now.
Nothing shall be touched. Send round this moment."
The young man hung up the receiver. Lenora was filling the room with her
shrieks. He took her by the shoulder and pushed her back into a chair.
"Shut up, you fool!" he exclaimed. "You can't do any good making a noise
like that."
"She said she saw the door handle turn," Lenora sobbed. "I went to fetch
Macdougal. He'd gone out. When I came back she was there--like that!"
"What door handle?" the manager asked.
Lenora pointed. The young man crossed the room. The lock was still in its
place, the door refused to yield. As he turned around the doctor arrived.
He hurried at once to Ella's side.
"Hands still warm," he muttered, as he felt them.... "My God! It's the
double knot strangle!"
He bent over Ella for several moments. Then he rose to his feet. The door
from outside had been opened once more. A police inspector, followed by a
detective, had entered.
"This is your affair, gentlemen, not mine," the doctor said gravely. "The
young lady is dead. She has been cruelly strangled within the last five or
ten minutes."
The Inspector turned around.
"Lock the outside door," he ordered his man. "Has any one left the room,
Mr.
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