ifferent actors. For to say that it was the ruby did not clear the
fog any--unless I accepted the growing assurance that Alfred Fluette
was the active instrument of death.

Still, every detail I had gathered was necessary to complete the
circle. When finally I did have my case all in hand there was no
single point that remained obscure.

My brooding inertia was dispelled by a shout from Stodger. He was
standing on the front porch, regarding me with considerable curiosity.

"Hi! What you doing down there, Swift? Come here!"

I soon learned that he had something of interest to report.

"D' ye know, Swift," said he, with much seriousness, extending his
chubby hands to the welcome warmth of the library fire, "it's an
outrage--damme, if it is n't--that I 'm so fat. H'm! Believe in
ghosts?"

I was instantly all attention. Genevieve's terrifying experience was
too recent and real for me to scout any supernatural suggestion of my
colleague.

I quickly asked:

"Seen anything about the house?"

"Not in here. Outside. Could n't chase 'em."

"I'm glad you are fat, then; who would have watched the house while you
were chasing whatever it was you thought you saw?"

He clapped one hand on top of his bullet of a head, and stared at me in
comical surprise.

"Say! You're right, Swift! You are, by George! First time I ever
found a--ah--you know--a consolation for my--er m--my stoutness.

"Two shadows. Didn't get to see 'em plain. All the time you were gone
I could glimpse 'em now and then--first one place, then
another--slipping and sliding through the bushes, trying to keep hid,
y' know."

As may be imagined, I was profoundly interested.

"What did they look like?" I asked.

Stodger shook his head. "Bushes too thick. No leaves; but they would
n't come close enough for me to get a good look. H'm. Watching the
house, all right."

The matter was serious enough, in all conscience. Our incessant
vigilance was most certainly justified by the pertinacity of these
mysterious prowlers, for as long as they surreptitiously sought to
enter the house, my belief that the ruby lay hid somewhere beneath its
roof was in a way confirmed.

Stodger was sagely nodding his head at me.

"To-night," he said, with meaning. "Bet anything you like."

"To-night," I thoughtfully echoed. "It would not surprise me in the
least."

Although a close watch was maintained throughout the remainder of the
day, we saw no more