Flynn’s Weekly Detective Fiction. Vol. 25, No. 2, August 13, 1927

“The first of these was my old friend Dr. Ker of Inveralloch. We have been companions from boyhood, he understood my situation thoroughly, and he had a very deep sympathy for me. We saw less of each other of late years, for he was not what you would call a persona grata with my wife Renée. Her absence abroad gave me the opportunity I needed.

“I told Dr. Ker my plans quite frankly; they appealed to him, for he was a man with a humor of his own — and I persuaded him to fall in with them and help me. It was not easy, but in. dealing with men, and particularly with friends, I can generally get my own way.

“To be brief — for there are details I will omit — he attended me for a slight cold on the chest. It was quite a genuine cold. And he signed the death certificate of a man who is still, as you see, in pretty good health and able to protect his own interests and his son’s.

“Dr. Ker, though not considering that he had committed any crime that was likely to keep him awake at night — those were his words — felt that after this event he would not care to continue in practice as a medical man. But he was due for retirement and he did me this service of his free will. I was grateful, for it was not a small thing to ask.”

Chapter LI It Was a Winning Play

“To be plain, I suppose you gave him a thumping bribe, sir,” said Maffet acidly.

John McKellar looked at the speaker through narrowed eyes.

“Dr. Ker is now living abroad in a pleasanter climate where he can enjoy ease and leisure,” he said quietly. “You will never find him and could take no action if you did, for he was guilty of merely a technical and certainly not an extraditable offense, in signing that rather ambiguous warrant.

“The Medical Council would not approve — but he was a cantankerous old fellow and never a warm admirer of that distinguished body of men. My own view is that Ker did a very beneficial and in no way a blameworthy thing. It depends on the angle from which you look at it.

“The other person concerned is the sick nurse who attended me during my unfortunate illness, old Meg Gourlay. It was she who, assisted by Dr. Ker, brought Tommy into the world. I had no difficulty at all in inducing her to do exactly what I required.

“A most capable woman and an excellent nurse. Meg had lived in pensioned retirement at Inveralloch, but she still practiced when required, and another of her sources of income occasionally was the ‘laying out,’ as I believe it is called, of those who die.

“She did it very efficiently in my case; at least, she fulfilled my instructions to the letter. Meg, too, is now living in a district remote from Inveralloch, and is very comfortable and happy. I like to reflect on Meg’s happiness, but I was thinking, throughout, chiefly of my son.

“Meg hopes Tom will go and see her some day, and though it is a far cry from here, I’ve no doubt he will do so. I do not think I need trouble you with her address, inspector.

“The only persons concerned are an obscure provincial undertaker and two of his men, who were not admitted quite so far into my confidence, but who obliged me in the matter of the iron pigs and the coffin. With them it was solely a question of money, and I dare say you have noticed, Inspector Maffet, the influence that is wielded by a large sum of money — provided it is ample enough and especially if there is no risk attached for the acceptor.

“A bargain which provides a moderate independence for life in return for a few hours’ work seldom comes into the market. Of course, I made all my arrangements carefully and left nothing to chance.

“With the help of Andy Drumcleugh, on whom I can always rely and who entered into these plans of mine with exactly that grim efficiency which I required from him, the arrangements were carried out without the smallest hitch, and the interment occurred in due course, leaving not a trace of suspicion behind.

“Andy has been a tower of strength throughout, and his only comment was that it was a pity I had not done it long ago. He evidently hoped that my resurrection would be the first step to a better life.

“I don’t suppose he altogether approved of the method, and he also complained of the expense. But relatively my expenditure was not large, considering there were three millions at stake. It was less costly and more rapid, in any case, than a lawsuit. And more certain.

“I had already left Dunkillin before the burial, and when that ceremony took place I was in London. There, having collected all the factors that I needed, I waited on events, receiving information of all that was going on. My son arrived in England, and it soon became clear that I’d been right in expecting trouble. But there was complications which, I confess, I had not dreamed of.