the
twins had swapped identities.

CHAPTER IX. "B-B-B"

The return of the morgue master to the platform caused Coroner Penfield
to break off his whispered conversation with Dr. Mayo.

"Colonel McIntyre just telephoned that his car had a blow-out on the way
here," explained the morgue master. "He will arrive shortly."

Penfield consulted a list of names. "Call Grimes, the McIntyre butler,"
he said. "We will hear him while waiting for the Colonel."

Grimes, small and thin, with the stolid countenance of the well-trained
servant, was exceedingly short in his replies to the coroner's
questions. Yes, he had lived with the McIntyre during their residence
in Washington, something like five years, he couldn't quite remember the
exact dates. No, there was never any quarreling, upstairs or down; it
was a well-ordered household until this.

"Exactly," remarked the coroner dryly. "What about Monday night? Tell
us, Grimes, what occurred in that house between midnight Monday and five
o'clock Tuesday morning."

"Haven't much to tell," was the grumpy response. "I went upstairs about
half-past eleven and got down the next morning at the usual hour, seven
o'clock."

"And you heard no disturbing sounds in the night?"

"No; sir. We wouldn't be likely to; the servants' rooms are all at the
top of the house and the staircase leading to them has a brick wall on
either side, like stairs leading to an ordinary attic, and there's a
door at the bottom which shuts off all sound from below." It was the
longest sentence the butler had indulged in and he paused for breath.

"Who closes the house at night. Grimes?"

"I do, sir.

"Why did you leave the window in the reception room open?"

"I didn't, sir," was the prompt denial. "I had just locked it when Mrs.
Brewster came in, along with Colonel McIntyre and Mr. Clymer, and they
sat down to talk. When I left the room the window was locked fast, and
so was every door and window in the place," he declared aggressively.
"I'll take my dying oath to it, sir." Penfield looked at Grimes; that he
was telling the truth was unmistakable.

"Who sits up to let in the young ladies when they go to balls?" he
asked.

"Generally no one, sir, because Colonel McIntyre accompanies them or
calls for them, and he has his latch-key. Lately," added Grimes as an
after-thought, "Miss Helen has been using a duplicate latch-key."

"Has Miss Barbara McIntyre a latch-key, also?" asked Penfield.

"No, sir,