Starting with the exact spot where the unfortunate man had been
discovered, Kennedy began a minute examination of the floor,
using his pocket lens. Every few moments he would stop to examine
a spot on the rug or on the hardwood floor more intently. Several
times I saw him scrape up something with the blade of his knife
and carefully preserve the scrapings, each in a separate piece of
paper.
Sitting idly by, I could not for the life of me see just what
good it did for me to be there, and I said as much. Kennedy
laughed quietly.
"You're a material witness, Walter," he replied. "Perhaps I shall
need you some day to testify that I actually found these spots in
this room."
Just then Tom stuck his head in. "Can I help?" he asked. "Why
didn't you tell me you were going at it so early?"
"No, thanks," answered Craig, rising from the floor. "I was just
making a careful examination of the room before anyone was up so
that nobody would think I was too interested. I've finished. But
you can help me, after all. Do you think you could describe
exactly how everyone was dressed that night?"
"Why, I can try. Let me see. To begin with, uncle had on a
shooting-jacket--that was pretty well burnt, as you know. Why, in
fact, we all had our shooting-jackets on. The ladies were in
white.
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