The Mystery of St. Agnes' Hospital

"I call it a perfectly plain case, Mr. Colton." "A case of what?" "Why, murder, of course." "Who has been murdered?" As "Mr. Colton"who was no other than Nick Carterasked this question, his face looked as innocent as a babe's. He seemed surprised to hear that there had been a murder, though his companion, Lawrence Deever, had been saying so repeatedly during the last half hour. Deever now looked at Nick with eyes and mouth wide open. "Who has been murdered?" he repeated. "My brother has been murdered." "What makes you think so?" asked Nick, calmly. "What, indeed!" exclaimed Deever. "I have told you already." "No, you haven't. You have told me that your brother has been missing since night before last." "I told you more than that," cried Deever. "He is known to have quarreled with that man Jarvis." "Dr. Jarvis, of St. Agnes' Hospital?" "Of course. And I have proved" "You have proved nothing," said Nick. "Let me repeat your statements: "Your brother Patrick worked for Dr. Jarvis, or under his direction, in the garden of St. Agnes' Hospital. The doctor frequently remonstrated with Patrick for drinking too much whisky, and" "Remonstrated!" exclaimed Deever. "That's hardly the word for it. He abused the lad. He struck him half a dozen times during the last week." "With the flat of his hand," said Nick, smiling. "That is hardly the foundation for a charge of murder." "It shows that Jarvis is a violent man," said Deever, "and everybody knows that he is." "He has a bad temper, I will admit." "He's a dangerous old crank." "Well, to continue your statement of the case, late on Monday afternoon they were heard quarreling in the garden. They were seen there about half-past six o'clock. "A little after half-past seven the doctor was seen coming toward the hospital. He was greatly excited. He passed Martin Burns, who drives the hospital ambulance. "Martin went into the garden and failed to find Patrick. Nobody can tell what became of your brother or how he got out of the garden."

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