do. Shall I leave the watch apart this way, Colonel?"

"Yes, I may need it to show to the jury. Leave it as it is, but put it
under glass, and the needle away carefully. We may have to kill a rat
in court as we did in Singa Phut's cell."

"I think we are coming on," mused Colonel Ashley, when his two visitors
had gone. "I am entitled to a bit of recreation," and, opening his
book, he read:

"Thus you having found and fitted for the place and depth thereof, then
go home and prepare your ground-bait, which is, next to the fruit of
your labors, to be regarded."

"I wonder," mused the colonel, "If my ground bait is all prepared? Am
I right or wrong? If I could see the diamond cross that Grafton says
Larch sent back to his wife--if I knew where he got it--"

The telephone rang.

"Yes, what is it?"

"A telegram for you, Colonel."

"Send it up!"

Tearing open the envelope Colonel Ashley read:

"Spotty Morgan has confessed everything and agrees to extradition.
Shall we send him on?"

"Send him on? I should say so!" cried the colonel to himself, as he
made a grab for the telephone to dictate a message telling the police
of Sango, the Western city, to hold Spotty Morgan until he could come
for him. "And so Spotty has confessed? Well, that let's me out, even
if he did save my, life! But it was a close call!"

CHAPTER XX

IN THE SHADOWS

Colonel Ashley, after a night's sleep, was about to prepare for the
trip, when he thought of Darcy in jail.

"I've got to send him word," he reasoned. "No, I'll let his sweetheart
take it to him. It will be all the sweeter. Here, Shag!" he called.

"Yes, sah, Colonel! Whut is it?"

"Get me an auto, Shag--any kind of car will do. I want to take a run
out to Pompey where Miss Mason lives. I won't trust the telephone, and
I'll have time enough before I leave for the West. Get an auto."

"Yes, sah, Colonel!" and Shag hurried down to the hotel office.

It was while getting into the machine that a message was handed the
colonel. Hastily he tore the note open. It was from James Darcy and
read:

"Have just been informed they are going to put me on trial to-morrow
for the murder of Mrs. Darcy. I don't know what this unexpected move
on the part of the prosecutor means, but I would like to see you."

"Whew!" whistled the colonel. "I never counted on _this_. Maybe the
prosecution has something up their sleeve they're waiting to spring.
They're tr