Chapter 26
THE PARTING The doorbell buzzed. "That's the detective," said Dr. Surtaine to Hal. "Stay here." He wormed himself painfully into an overcoat which concealed his scarified shoulder, and went out. In a few moments he and the officer reappeared. The latter glanced at the body. "Heart disease, you say?" he asked. "Yes: valvular lesion." "Better 'phone the coroner's office, eh?" "Not necessary. I can give a certificate. The coroner will be all right," said Dr. Surtaine, with an assurance derived from the fact that a year before he had given that functionary five hundred dollars for not finding morphine in the stomach of a baby who had been dosed to death on the "Sure Soother" powders. "That goes," agreed the detective. "What undertaker?" "Any. And, Murtha, while you're at the 'phone, c
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