"The provision covering that point is quite simple," explained Markham. "Should any of the children die before a new will is drawn, their share of the inheritance is distributed equally among the remaining beneficiaries."
"Then when any one of 'em passes out, all the others benefit. And if all of 'em, except one, should die, that one would get everything—huh?"
"Yes."
"So, as it stands now, Sibella and Ada would get everything—fifty-fifty—provided the old lady croaked."
"That's correct, Sergeant."
"But suppose both Sibella and Ada, as well as the old lady, should die: what would become of the money?"
"If either of the girls had a husband, the estate would pass to him. But, in event of Sibella and Ada dying single, everything would go to the State. That is to say, the State would get it provided there were no relatives alive—which I believe is the case."
Heath pondered these possibilities for several minutes.
"I can't see anything in the situation to give us a lead," he lamented. "Everybody benefits equally by what's already happened. And there's three of the family still left—the old lady and the two girls."
"Two from three leaves one, Sergeant," suggested Vance quietly.
"What do you mean by that, sir?"
"The morphine and the strychnine."
Heath gave a start and made an ugly face.
"By God!" He struck the table with his fist. "It
