e," he added as he handed over a roll of bills. "And then
we'll have to go at those wires. I'm not so sure--"

The colonel's remarks were interrupted by peculiar actions on the part
of Chet. The little animal appeared to have gotten something into his
mouth which bothered him. He was whining and pawing at his jaws.

"Look at the dog, Colonel!" exclaimed Jack. "Look!"

"Gad! he's got hold of the Indian's watch!" cried the detective. "He's
been worrying it as he would a bone, and he's got it in his mouth and
can't get it out! Easy there! don't touch it!" came the sharp command,
as Jack Young took a step forward, evidently with the intention of
helping the distressed animal.

"What's the matter, Colonel?" asked Jack. "You don't want to see the
dog suffer, do you?"

"No, but--there, he's got it out himself!"

With an effort the dog had pawed from his mouth the watch, which, being
rather large and of peculiar shape, had for some time, been stuck in
his jaws. It rolled out on the floor, and the colonel stooped to pick
it up. But Jack noticed that his chief used a wad of the tissue paper
with which to handle the timepiece, which was no longer ticking.

"What's the matter--'fraid of soiling your hands?" asked Jack with a
laugh.

"Well, yes, in a way--"

"Look at the dog's mouth! It's bleeding!" cried Jack, pointing.

"I was afraid it would be," said the colonel, quietly. "Don't go near
him, Jack, for, unless I'm much mistaken--"

The two men gazed at the dog. The little animal suddenly looked up at
them in a peculiar manner. It whined and its body was shaken as with a
cold shiver. A little blood was running down the lips which were now
foam-flecked.

"The dog's going mad!" cried Jack. "Look out, Colonel, or--"

"You needn't be afraid," was the calm answer, as the other turned
toward the door. "He'll never hurt any one. Ah, I thought so!"

And, as the colonel spoke, Chet gave a shudder, fell over on his side
and, with a long sigh, lay very still.

CHAPTER XVI

THE COLONEL WONDERS

"What did that, Colonel? What devilish thing did that?" and with a
trembling finger Jack Young pointed to the body of the dead dog on the
floor of the detective's room. "What killed the poor brute?"

"Unless I'm very much mistaken this did," was the answer in a low
voice, and the colonel, with the watch still wrapped carefully in the
wad of tissue paper, placed it on the table.

"That ticker killed the