The officer in charge touched his hat to the inspector, and
Downey hastened to put himself at our service. It was plain that
the murder had completely mystified him, and that he was as
anxious as we were to get at the bottom of it.
"Mr. Downey," began Kennedy, "I understand you were present when
this sad event took place."
"Yes, sir, sitting right here at the directors' table," he
replied, taking a chair, "like this."
"Now can you recollect just how Mr. Parker acted when he was
shot? Could you-er--could you take his place and show us just how
it happened?"
"Yes, sir," said Downey. "He was sitting here at the head of the
table. Mr. Bruce, who is the 'CO.' of the firm, had been sitting
here at his right; I was at the left. The inspector has a list of
all the others present. That door to the right was open, and Mrs.
Parker and some other ladies were in the room--"
"Mrs. Parker?" broke in Kennedy.
"Yes: Like a good many brokerage firms we have a ladies' room.
Many ladies are among our clients. We make a point of catering to
them. At that time I recollect the door was open--all the doors
were open. It was not a secret meeting. Mr. Bruce had just gone
into the ladies' department; I think to ask some of them to stand
by the firm--he was an artist at smoothing over the fears of
customers, particularly women.
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