The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green

“I am a stranger to the ladies,” was my hesitating reply, “but if I canīe of any assistance to them, my respect for their uncle is such-” Veeley was their uncle’s bestįriend, they naturally sent me for him but he being absent I am at a To be held there to-day it is deemed proper for them to have some one Leavenworth’s nieces and as an inquest is I afterwards found to be inseparable from the man “the Misses “They are all alone,” he continued in a low business-like way It was a dreadful shock,” he went on, “especially to Leavenworth’s private secretary,” he explained, “and “Shot! murdered!” I could scarcely believe my ears. “Yes, murdered shot through the head by some unknown person while Leavenworth wasĪn old client of our firm, to say nothing of his being the particular Leavenworth!” I exclaimed, falling back a step. Reason why I shouldn’t my business is no secret. Then, seeming to be satisfied with his scrutiny, continued, “There is no “To you, sir?” he repeated, turning a very cold but steady eye on mine Washington cannot be home before to-morrow but if you will make your “No,” I replied “he was unexpectedly called away this morning to “What is the matter? You have no bad news to tell, I hope.” Our office a young man whose whole appearance was so indicative of hasteĪnd agitation that I involuntarily rose at his approach and impetuously I had been a junior partner in the firm of Veeley, Carr & Raymond,Īttorneys and counsellors at law, for about a year, when one morning, in “At the sight of his face, the man in our arms quivered, shrieked, and gave one bound that would have overturned Mr. “I crawled up on to the ledge of the slanting roof last night.

“I could not prevent a feeling of sickly apprehension from seizing me as I turned towards the silent figure stretched so near”

was fumbling with the waist of her dress in a way to convince me she had something concealed there which she was anxious to dispose of” “Her whole appearance was so startling, so extraordinary, that I held my breath in surprise”

“Pausing only long enough on the threshold to compose myself for the interview, I lifted my hand to knock” “What was my astonishment to come upon Miss Eleanore Leavenworth standing at the side of her uncle’s bed, with his pistol in her hand” “I did not go, but stood watching the firelight flicker on her black dress”

The Leavenworth Case by Anna Katharine Green