l, in such cases, I may suggest an undertaker?"

"Why--talk about that at once, sir?" asked Howard with a shudder.

The physician, familiar with the subtleties of coroners, gently placed
an arm about the young man's shoulder. He nodded, understandingly, to
the Coroner, as he turned toward Shirley.

"I must be going now," the latter interposed. "Just a word with you,
Howard, that I may send a message to your mother and sister."

The physician led away the two officials as Shirley continued: "I must
go to see Cronin--deserted there like a run-over mongrel on the street.
Can I leave this house by the rear, so that none shall know of my
assistance in the case, or follow me to the hospital? If you can secure
an old hat and coat, I will leave my own, with my stick, to get them
some other time."

"I will get some from the butler, if you wait just a moment. You can
leave by the rear yard, if you don't mind climbing a high board fence."

Van Cleft hurried downstairs, in a few minutes, bearing a weather-beaten
overcoat and an English cap, which Shirley drew down over his ears. With
the coat on, he looked very unlike the well-groomed club man who had
entered. Unseen by Van Cleft he shifted an automatic revolver into the
coat pocket from the discarded garment.

"Now, Mr. Shirley, come this way. Follow the rear area-way, across to
the next yard, where after another climb you find a vacant lot where the
Schuylers are preparing to erect their new city house. Will you attend
to everything?"

"Everything. I'll start sooner than you expect."

Truly he did! For no sooner had he descended the second fence into the
empty lot than a stinging blow sent him at full length on the rocky
ground, where the excavations were already being started. Two men
pounced upon him in a twinkling--only his great strength, acquired
through the football years, saved him from immediate defeat. His
head throbbed, and he was dizzy as he caught the wrist of the nearest
assailant with a quick twist which resulted in a sudden, sickening
crunch. The man groaned in agony, but his companion kicked with
heavy-shod feet at the prostrate man. Shirley's left hand duplicated
the vice-like grip upon the ankle of the standing assailant, and his
deftness caused another tendon strain! Both men toppled to the ground,
now, and before they realized it Shirley had reversed the advantage.
His automatic emphasized his superiority of tactics. He understood their
silence, brok