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Stevenson, Burton Egbert, 1872-1962

"The Gloved Hand"

Vaughan's
throat, even unconsciously. And then there's the fact that at no time
during the evening was I really unconscious--I was only confused and
dazed."
"Goldberger's theory is plain enough," said Godfrey, turning to me;
"and I must say that it's a good one. He realises that there wasn't
provocation enough to cause a man like Swain to commit murder, with
all his senses about him; but his presumption is that the crime was
committed while Swain was in a dazed condition and not wholly
self-controlled. Such a thing is possible."
"No, it isn't!" cried Swain, his face livid. "It isn't possible! I'm
not a murderer. I remember everything else--do you think I wouldn't
remember a thing like that!"
"I don't know what to think," Godfrey admitted, a straight line
between his brows. "Besides, there's the handkerchief."
"I don't see any mystery about that," said Swain. "There's only one
way that could have come there. It dropped from my wrist when I
stooped over Miss Vaughan."
Godfrey looked at me, and I nodded. Swain might as well know the
worst.
"That would be an explanation, sure enough," said Godfrey, slowly,
"but for one fact--you didn't have any bandage on your wrist when you
came back over the wall.


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