Anything Goes

enclosed the faulty deed. Mr. Brewster had made a great many property changes in March and April of this year and I originally thought that I had simply forgotten this one. That isn’t likely, but it was possible. But when Miss Brewster came to me and said she’d overheard me mentioning my confusion to my wife and asked me to look into the matter more carefully, I realized that the notarized signature purporting to be mine was not in my handwriting, though it was a fairly good imitation. Nor did Mr. Brewster’s signature look quite right. That was when I also remembered an incident a short time before the deed was signed when my notary seal was missing and later turned up just where I always kept it and had looked for it several times.”
    Somebody made a low whistling sound.
    “So you see, Major Winslow, it appears that you forged my signature and Mr. Brewster’s on the deed of sale, hoping he was too busy to notice that the property had been sold or forget that he had not signed the deed. That was unlikely as well, but perhaps you hoped to throw yourself on his mercy when he discovered what you had done.”
    Winslow was looking down at the cane across his lap and said nothing.
    Mr. Prinney continued. “If you hadn’t copied out the property description incorrectly and if the clerk hadn’t been particular in checking it carefully, you might have gotten away with it. Mr. Brewster apparently received the first letter from the clerk and my guess is that he had it in the cabin of the boat and was prepared to flourish it when he announced to all present what treachery his best friend had attempted to perpetrate.”
    Mr. Prinney put the document back in the envelope, which he handed to Chief Henderson. “Horatio told me he wanted me to go along to serve as a witness. I didn’t understand that at the time, but now I do. Perhaps he hinted to you that he was going to reveal something to your disadvantage. It may be that the clerk carbon-copied the original letter, which is probably on the bottom of the river or has floated out to the Atlantic, to Major Winslow as well.”
    Winslow made a deep, low, growling sound that made the whole room seem cold.
    “So I think Chief Henderson needs to acquire your files and take you in for—”
    Winslow suddenly jumped from his chair, both hands holding the lower end of his cane, and flung himself toward Lily with the cane upraised.
    And just as suddenly, Agatha seemed to materialize from nowhere and leaped to intercept him. She sank her teeth into his left arm and Winslow fell into a screaming heap. He thrashed around for a moment, trying to get back on his feet and strike at the dog at the same time.
    Chief Henderson waded into the fray and took hold of Winslow, who struggled violently until both Jack Summer and Mr. Kessler each took one of his arms in their strong grips.
    Once Winslow was upright again, he looked at Lily with loathing. “You bitch!“ he said. “You interfering bitch!”
    Jack’s cousin Ralph, in the kitchen as instructed, heard the commotion, and came running. He and Henderson escorted a raving, swearing Jonathan Winslow outside to the police car.
    Lily felt around behind herself for a chair and collapsed into it. She could hardly breathe or see straight and was afraid she was about to faint or throw up.
    As she leaned over, Agatha came to her and nuzzled her face.
    “Good dog,“ she whispered. “Good, good dog.”
     
    The next morning Jack Summer delivered his draft of the article for the next week’s paper. The headline was in huge type. LOCAL FORMER MILLIONAIRE CONFESSES TO DOUBLE MURDER.
    Lily read through the text. It was floridly written and every bit as tense and frightening as the actual event had been. It made her stomach lurch and her head hurt to think about it. But it was the truth without more than a hint of embellishment. And it would sell papers like crazy.
    She handed the draft to Mr. Prinney and then to Robert.. They each read it through and when Robert was finished, they stared at her questioningly.
    “I think we should approve it just as it is and print a special edition overnight,“ Lily said.
    “Good!“ they said in unison.
    “What will become of Mrs. Winslow and Sissy?“ Lily asked.
    “I’m told that they’ve moved out of the house and are going to go live with Mrs. Winslow’s sister in Cleveland,“ Mr. Prinney said. “They won’t be homeless, but I don’t know what their roles will be in the