At the time I thought maybe it was a tire
in the street blowin' out. But come to think of it later we figured it
was a shot."

"You don't know for sure."

"Well, come to that I--I don't reckon I do. Not to say for certain
sure."

A tense litheness had passed into the rough rider's figure. It was as
though every sense were alert to catch and register impressions.

"At what time was it you thought you heard this shot?"

"I dunno, to the minute."

"Was it before James Cunningham went up in the elevator? Was it
between the time he went up an' the other two went up? Or was it after
Jack Cunningham an' Miss Harriman passed on the way up?"

"Seems to me it was--"

"Hold on." Kirby raised a hand in protest. "I don't want any guesses.
You know or you don't. Which is it?"

"I reckon it was between the time yore cousin James went up an' the
others followed."

"You reckon? I'm askin' for definite information. A man's life may
hang on this." The cattleman's eyes were ice-cold.

Hull swallowed a lump in his fat throat before he committed himself.
"Well, it was."

"Was between the two trips of the elevator, you mean?"

"Yes."

"Your wife heard this sound, too?"

"Yep. We spoke of it afterward."

"Do you know anything else that could possibly have had any bearing on
my uncle's death?"

"No, sir. Honest I don't."

Olson shot a question at the man on the grill. "Did you kill the Jap
servant, too, as well as his boss?"

"I didn't kill either the one or the other, so help me."

"Do you know anything at all about the Jap's death? Did you see
anything suspicious going on at any time?" Kirby asked.

"No, sir. Nothin' a-tall."

The rough rider signaled the taxicab, which was circling the lake at
the foot of the hill. Presently it came up the incline and took on its
passengers.

"Drive to the Paradox Apartments," Kirby directed.

He left Hull outside in the cab while he went in to interview his wife.
The lean woman with the forbidding countenance opened the door.

Metaphorically speaking, Kirby landed his knockout instantly. "I've
come to see you on serious business, Mrs. Hull. Your husband has
confessed how he did for my uncle. Unless you tell the whole truth
he's likely to go to the death cell."

She gasped, her fear-filled eyes fastened on him. Her hand moved
blindly to the side of the door for support.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

A FULL MORNING

But only for an instant. A faint co