take Number One. Elverson is straight, but his office is fuller of
leaks than a sieve."

"That's probably why I found my private laboratory reeking of cyanide
fumes a fortnight later," remarked Dorr dryly. "I got to the outer air
alive, but not much more. A week later there was an explosion in the
laboratory. I didn't happen to be there at the time. The odd feature of
the explosion was that I hadn't any explosive drugs in the place."

"Where is this laboratory?"

"Over in Flatbush, where I live--or did live. Within a month after that,
a friendly neighbor took a pot-shot at a man who was sneaking up behind
me as I was going home late one night. The man shot, too, but missed me.
I reported it to the police, and they told me to be sure and not let the
newspapers know. Then they forgot it."

Average Jones laughed. "Of course they did. Some day New York will find
out that 'the finest police force in the world' is the biggest sham
outside the dime museum. Except in the case of crimes by the regular,
advertised criminals, they're as helpless as babies. Didn't you take any
other precautions?"

"Oh, yes. I reported the attempt to Judge Elverson. He sent a secret
service man over to live with me. Then I got a commission out in Denver.
When I came back, about a month ago, Judge Elverson gave me the two
dogs."

"Two?"

"Yes. Rags and Tatters."

"Where's Tatters?"

"Dead. By the same road as Rags."

"Killed at your place in Flatbush?"

"No. Right here in this room."

Average Jones became suddenly very much worried about the second button
of his coat. Having satisfied himself of its stability, he drawled,
"Er--both of--er--them?"

"Yes. Ten days apart."

"Where were you?"

"On the spot. That is, I was here when Tatters got his death. I had gone
to the wash-room at the farther end of the hall when Rags was poisoned."

"Why do you say poisoned?"

"What else could it have been? There was no wound on either of the
dogs."

"Was there evidence of poison?"

"Pathological only. In Tatters case it was very marked. He was dozing in
a corner near the radiator when I heard him yelp and saw him snapping at
his belly. He ran across the room, lay down and began licking himself.
Within fifteen minutes he began to whine. Then he stiffened out in a
sort of a spasm. It was like strychnine poisoning. Before could get a
veterinary here he was dead."

"Did you make any examination?"

"I analyzed the contents of his stomach, b