air.

"Now what is it?" North spoke pleasantly as he took his seat. "I've been
cursing you two all the way home from Chicago."

"I am sorry you were subjected to any annoyance in the matter, but it
couldn't be helped," said Moxlow.

"I'm getting over my temper," replied North. "Fire away with your
questions!"

The prosecuting attorney glanced at his fellow official.

"You are already acquainted with the particulars of the shocking tragedy
that has occurred here?" said Taylor with ponderous dignity.

"Yes," said North soberly. "And when I think of it, I am more than
willing to help you in your search for the guilty man."

"You knew of the murder before you left town?" remarked Moxlow casually.

"Yes."

"But you weren't on the Square or in the store Thanksgiving night?" said
Moxlow.

"No, I dined with General Herbert." The prosecuting attorney elevated
his eyebrows. "I must have been on my way there when the crime was
discovered; I was returning home perhaps a little after eleven when I
met a man who stopped me to tell me of the murder--"

"You were with Mr. McBride Thanksgiving afternoon, were you not?" Moxlow
now asked.

"Yes."

"What was the hour, can you state?"

"About half past four, I should say; certainly no later than that. I
went there on a matter of business, to dispose of some bonds Mr.
McBride had agreed to take off my hands; I was with him, maybe twenty
minutes."

"What were those bonds?"

"Local gas bonds."

"How many were there in the lot you sold?"

"Five."

"He paid you the money for them?"

"Yes, a thousand dollars."

"Do you know, we haven't unearthed those bonds yet?" said the doctor.

Moxlow frowned slightly.

"I suppose they were taken," said North.

"But it will be a dangerous thing, to attempt to realize on them,"
snapped Moxlow.

"Decidedly," agreed North.

"You left McBride's store at, say, five o'clock?" said Moxlow.

"Not later than that--see here, Moxlow, what are you driving at?"
demanded North, with some show of temper.

For an instant Moxlow hesitated, then he said:

"The truth is, North, there is not a clue to go on, and we are thrashing
this thing over in the hope that we may sooner or later hit on something
that will be of service to us."

"Oh, all right," said North, with a return of good nature.

"During your interview with McBride you were not interrupted, no one
came into the store?"

"No one; we were alone the entire time."

"And you s