A Matter of Ethics by Harl Vincent Read online

  Amazing Stories, October, 1931

  A Matter of Ethics

  by Harl Vincent

  NOW Frank Robeson, Bret?”

  Dudley Cowan had something unusual on his

  “The

  great

  ear

  mind.

  K

  “ specialist?”

  “Strange thing about Frank—a little in

  “Yes. Operated on the President’s your line, perhaps. He failed miserably in an sister a few months ago, and the papers operation yesterday and had to turn it over to boosted him plenty. He deserved it, too.”

  one of the assistants to finish.”

  “Never met him, Dudley—why?”

  “Mastoid?”

  Bret Garrison gazed speculatively at

  “Yes. Simple enough, too. He’s done

  his friend, who sat hunched in a huge leather thousands of them and never failed; never lost armchair in the lounge of his favorite club.

  a case. But he had to quit this one flat.”

  Amazing Stories

  2

  “H-hm. Why should that be in my “Well, what am I supposed to do?” he line?”

  demanded, “Investigate the private life of this A puzzled expression came over the

  high-hat doctor?”

  wizened features of the little surgeon, who

  Dudley Cowan laughed, and the

  was chief of staff in the great Park Medical worried frown vanished from his brow. “No, I Center, New York’s most modern institution.

  guess not,” he grinned, “but it struck me as a

  “Why, Bret,” he slowly replied, “I mighty peculiar thing and I immediately don’t exactly know. Maybe it’s just a hunch.

  thought of you on account of some of your

  But it was the queerest thing you ever saw.

  scientific research. Don’t know why. Best

  Right in the midst of it—scraping away the

  forget it.”

  infected cells, you know—his fingers “I

  will.”

  cramped. Couldn’t hold an instrument and

  The two friends parted. But Doctor

  went into a sort of daze. Tascher finished it Cowan did not forget the matter, nor did

  and Frank was a wreck.”

  Bret—for long.

  “Dope?” Bret Garrison was skeptical.

  “Not Frank Robeson. Nothing wrong

  SEATED at a long table in the library of his with him physically, either. Examined him

  brownstone front in West Seventy-fourth

  myself. He’s—oh, I’m damned if I know—

  Street, Bret Garrison fingered an exquisitely under some sort of influence.”

  engraved pasteboard. Natalie Robeson! Five

  “Hypnotism,

  perhaps?”

  years since she was the idol of the younger

  “Rats! You know better than that.”

  set, the most popular debutante of her season.

  “Hasn’t been in an accident, has he?

  Now she was the wife of the famous Doctor

  Injuries, I mean, that might have affected Robeson. Wonderful family she had come him?”

  from, too, and never a hint of scandal. Bret

  “No. He’s perfect I tell you; a thought of his recent conversation with magnificent specimen. He did have a dose of

  Dudley Cowan.

  sciatica some time ago and a minor operation.

  “Bring the lady in, Taylor,” he said to

  But he’s been fine ever since. That couldn’t his man, who hovered expectantly at his

  have anything to do with this.”

  elbow, silver tray in hand.

  “An operation for sciatica?”

  Bret tossed back his disarranged hair

  “Sure. One of the sacral vertebrae, you

  and ran his fingers through its thick strands in know. A slight misplacement—pressure on the effort to make himself more presentable.

  the sciatic nerve—quite simple to correct.”

  He had just finished an afternoon of hard work

  “Yeah, I’ll bet. But anyway, that’s in his laboratory on one of the upper floors.

  beside the point. What makes you think

  The atmosphere of the gloomy old

  there’s an outside influence?”

  room changed with the coming of Natalie

  “Haven’t a reason in the world. But

  Robeson. Dainty and alluring, she appealed to somehow, it’s uncanny. I can’t help but feel it.

  Bret as a delicate bit of Dresden. He faced her It’s in the air.”

  gravely across the table as he saw that her

  “Hasn’t any enemies, has he?”

  eyes were wide with terror.

  “Not Frank. Oh, of course, there’s

  “It’s about your husband, Mrs.

  some professional jealousy. But that doesn’t Robeson?” he asked gently.

  mean anything.”

  “Yes. Doctor Cowan sent me. He

  Bret shrugged his shoulders. Robeson

  said—he thought you might be able to help

  probably had a bad night before the operation.

  us.”

  A Matter of Ethics

  3

  “Cowan’s always getting me into your husband’s acquaintance, Mrs. Robeson,”

  something like this. He must think that I’m a he ventured.

  magician. But, tell me the story, Mrs. She raised

  startled

  eyes to his anxious

  Robeson. It may be that I can help.”

  face. “He must not know I have talked with

  “Thank you.” The girl was twisting her

  you. He resents interference bitterly; he looks glove in a knot as she spoke. “Doctor Cowan

  upon this thing as a weakness he must

  told you of the first failure. There was another overcome by sheer force of will.”

  yesterday—even more serious. Frank has

  “You’ve told him of the nocturnal

  tendered his resignation.”

  incidents?”

  “Did Cowan accept it?”

  “No—no! I dare not. He’d leave me—

  “No.”

  in fear for my safety.”

  “He wouldn’t,” chuckled Bret. “Tell

  “Who are his friends?”

  me, did this patient die?”

  “There are but two intimate ones.

  “No, but it was a narrow escape. Frank

  Doctor Peter Van Brunt, his lifelong friend

  swears he’ll never chance it again. And, oh, and associate, comes first. Then there’s

  Mr. Garrison, there’s more. I—I can not bear Hobart A very a more recent friend, but

  to tell you.” She rose from her chair in her absolutely devoted to Frank.”

  agitation.

  “Hobart Avery of International

  “Please, now. You can trust me. I’ll

  Television?”

  help if I can, though as yet I don’t see where I

  “The

  same.”

  fit in the picture. What is there besides?”

  “I knew him well a few years ago,

  “At home. Oh, it’s awful, Mr. Mrs. Robeson. I’ll make your husband’s Garrison. We were so happy. And now—now

  acquaintance through him.”

  I am afraid. At night, sometimes, in the

  “You’ll be very careful? You’ll not let

  darkness and quiet, Frank has been seized by him know the reason?” There was frantic

  this—this influe
nce. His hands—his strong,

  appeal in the eyes of Natalie Robeson—and

  skillful hands—have wandered to my throat,

  something besides.

  clutching, clutching. Oh—”

  “You’re holding nothing back?” Bret

  The girl was frankly sobbing.

  asked suddenly.

  “My God! And you have told no one?”

  The beautiful young matron lost her

  “Not even Doctor Cowan. But it isn’t

  poise. She flushed and stammered, “Why—

  Frank. He knows nothing about it in the why do you ask that? No, I tell you, no—

  morning. Something— someone is affecting

  nothing that has any bearing in this matter.”

  him terribly. And it’s not mental. It’s an actual

  “Sure?” smiled Bret.

  physical influence. I can feel it—a presence The long lashes lowered, but the girl’s

  almost, there in the darkness. But no one is voice was calm as she replied, “Absolutely.

  there.”

  There’s nothing more you need to know. And,

  “Do you know of anyone who would

  you’ll help, Mr. Garrison?”

  wish him harm?”

  She looked up once more and there

  “Why—why no. Of course not.” was a world of entreaty in her gaze; stark Natalie Robeson trembled violently and terror, too. Yet somehow, those violet orbs resumed her seat, burying her face in her

  held in their depths an unfathomable mystery, hands.

  a hint of something left unsaid.

  Bret thought deeply while she fought

  Bret rose in sudden decision. “I’ll help,

  to recover her composure. “I’d like to make

  Mrs. Robeson,” he said, “all I can. And I’ll be

  Amazing Stories

  4

  very discreet.”

  bonnet in the meanwhile.”

  He would have none of her thanks and

  Bret turned to one of his bookcases

  sighed his relief when Taylor, with austerely when he had replaced the receiver on its hook.

  disapproving mien, had ushered her to the

  He scanned a shelf of weighty volumes and

  door.

  finally extracted one of forbidding

  “SAY, you old sawbones!” Bret proportions. With this in his hands he settled complained, when he reached Doctor Cowan

  himself by his reading lamp. He would call

  by telephone, “trying to make a detective out Hobart Avery at dinner time.

  of me again, aren’t you?”

  His friend was in nowise offended.

  “WHAT’S your sudden interest in Frank

  “Natalie been to see you?” came his unruffled Robeson, Bret?”

  reply.

  Hobart Avery did not take his eyes

  “Yes, and I had to agree to look into

  from the road as he asked the question. His

  this thing. Wouldn’t think of it, if you hadn’t speedy roadster was carrying the two men

  said what you did about the appearance of

  over the winding stretch of concrete that led electric shock.”

  through the woods to the iron gates of the

  “It’s serious, Bret.”

  Kilgore Country Club, where they were to join

  “I know it. And now I want to talk

  the two doctors.

  with Robeson—and his two friends. Seems to

  “You’ve heard of his recent failures in

  me I’ve heard he’s quite a golfer. Maybe we

  the operating room?” countered Bret Garrison.

  could arrange a foursome.”

  “Yes,” said Hobart darkly, “but I’ve

  “The very thing. But I’ll warn you,

  also heard of your sleuthing proclivities. And I Robeson shoots par golf. He’s way out of your warn you to lay off of Frank Robeson.”

  class.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “So much the better. I’ll have a chance

  “I mean that he is able to take care of

  to watch him. Do you know this Hobart himself. If he isn’t, he has at least one friend Avery?”

  who is able—and willing.”

  “Met him once or twice, but don’t

  “Meaning yourself, of course?”

  know much about him. Why?”

  “Certainly.”

  “Just wondered. I know him myself

  Bret observed that Avery’s jaw was set

  and can ask him to make up this foursome.

  with stubborn determination. It was a strange But how about Robeson and Van Brunt? Why

  situation, and one that required cautious

  don’t you tell Robeson he must play some golf handling.

  to get himself back in shape? Get Van Brunt

  “You haven’t known Robeson very

  in on it, too.”

  long, have you Hobart?” he inquired

  “I’ll do it, Bret. But you’ll have to be

  guilelessly.

  careful with Frank. He’s touchy as the devil

  “Two years only.” Hobart Avery

  about this.”

  turned to look at his questioner and his eyes

  “So I understand. I’ll watch my step.”

  snapped. “But it seems like twenty,” he

  “Got any ideas? What’s wrong with

  continued, “Frank’s the salt of the earth.

  Robeson, I mean?”

  Saved my daughter’s life you know. She was

  “No, but I may have some after golf.

  dying—given up by four doctors. A

  I’ll call you again after I’ve talked with streptococcus mastoid. Quickest thing you Avery.”

  ever saw. Why, in twenty-four hours the

  “Okay. I’ll put the bee in Frank’s infection had eaten to her brain. Meningitis.

  A Matter of Ethics

  5

  No one else would operate. But Frank did.

  electric shock. And Natalie Robeson. She too Three hours we paced the hall near that had come to him; she was hiding something.

  operating room. It was hell, I tell you. But she Hobart knew something, too. There had been a pulled through, and—well I’ve never peculiar light in his eyes when Natalie’s name forgotten it.”

  was mentioned. Perhaps he was the third

  “Naturally

  not.

  He’s a wizard, isn’t

  party. But Hobart had a family, and he was

  he?”

  obviously very fond of Doctor Frank. But

  “Was!” Avery’s jaw set again.

  then, many a man’s best friend had——

  “You think a lot of him, don’t you,

  Hobart?”

  THEY were at the clubhouse and two golfers

  Again those eyes turned from the road

  were approaching the car. They greeted Avery for a moment. They shone with something

  in evident enthusiasm and he immediately

  akin to passion. “I think—” he commenced,

  presented them to Bret as the two doctors,

  then hesitated, “but what’s the use? You Robeson and Van Brunt.

  wouldn’t understand. He’s the squarest, finest Bret took a quick liking to the jovial,

  he-man that ever stood in shoe leather. You

  sandy-haired giant who was Frank Robeson.

  have to know him as I do to appreciate him.”

  He saw that there was a close bond between

  “And

  Natalie?”

  him and the alert, handsome Van Brunt. He

  They had reached the gates of the club

  saw, too, that there was a lack of cordiality in and were entering the grounds. Avery brought the greeting of Avery by Robeson’s other

  his car to a scr
eeching stop and glared at his friend, a carefully veiled feeling that would companion.

  not be noticed by others, but which registered

  “Don’t bring her into this, Bret!” he

  unmistakably in Bret’s consciousness. This

  hissed. “I’ve warned you before and I warn

  was no triangle. It was a quadrangle.

  you again. There’s more to this than you

  In the locker room Doctor Robeson

  think, and I’ll thank you not to meddle. Help was the personification of affability. It seemed Frank if you can, but do not intrude in his

  that he went to special pains to make Bret feel personal affairs. And God help you if he finds at home; this to the evident satisfaction of out that you’re butting in.”

  Doctor Van Brunt. But Avery was moody and

  Bret started to protest, but Hobart had

  taciturn. He sulked like a boy, and Bret was stepped on the accelerator, and, with his shift much relieved when he found himself paired

  lever in second gear, let in the clutch so with Robeson for the game. Hobart Avery had suddenly that they were literally jerked from changed greatly since he had last seen him.

  the spot. The car roared up the drive to the At the first tee the honor fell to Frank

  clubhouse and further conversation was out of Robeson and he made a beautiful drive,

  the question.

  straight down the center of the fairway, for a Fine state of affairs, thought Bret, and

  full two hundred and sixty yards.

  becoming more and more mystifying. Looked