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The Mystery of the Oil Baron and a Pair of False Teeth

The hospital at Magpie Crossing was a somber grey. Its Victorian architecture and stark lawns, shrouded by willow trees gave it a strange air of foreboding.

One evening, just before the onset of the second Great War, I went walking in its gardens.

Twilight was upon me as I made my way along a stone pathway, a little unsteadily. I was still recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia with complications and was very weak.

Rounding the corner I bumped into an old lady in a wheelchair.

"Good evening to you ma'am" said I but received no reply.

"Must be deaf!" I muttered.

On closer inspection, my heart missed a beat. I rather fancied I was about to reach. The old dear had her head flung far back. It lay limply, lolling like a rag doll. She was lifeless; her eyes bulged and were glassy. Her face was purple and blotchy and blood ran down the side of her mouth.

I scuttled away my heart thumping like a banging drum.

Hobbling into the hospital, I called out:

"Nurse, nurse, help there's a corpse in the yard!"

Sister Agnes came forward hurriedly and sent several nurses to investigate. She bade me return to my bed at once.

Later, once more tucked up in the ward, a nurse popped her head around the door and said:

"Visitor for you!"

I was delighted as it would be somebody to talk to.

A tall gent in a dark coat removed his hat and introduced himself:

"I'm Gerald Coffins of the county police department. I'm here to ask you a few questions about the death of Miss Gainsborough."

"With pleasure." I related my story in graphic detail including a full description of my illness and was glad to have such an attentive listener.

"Thank you, Sir. I would ask you not to leave the hospital at this time." He responded when I had finished.

"Good Sir, I am in no fit state to leave. Am I a suspect then?"

The answer came as a bolt out of nowhere. My feeble attempt at humor had backfired:

"I'm afraid so. " He gave me a long look. My blood ran cold. I could feel it drain from my cheeks.

"Goodness me, fellow, you don't think I had something to do with this, do you?"

Coffins shrugged his shoulders and turned on his heels without as much as another sound.

I summoned Sister Agnes and in a peevish tone, harangued her at length, livid beyond words.

"Madam, I have paid you good money for the pleasure of being ill at your illustrious institution. That I am now so compromised by a fellow patient in your care is nothing short of a travesty. I trust you will attend to the matter

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