car with
wire wheels went through Millerstown 'bout ha'f past eight, quat' t'
nine. I know, 'cause it durn near run me down."

"Do you live in Millerstown?" the inspector questioned.

"Yep! Come over t' see the accident."

"Did that auto stop in Millerstown?"

The farmer chuckled and expectorated. "It didn't even hesitate."

"Can you tell us anything else about it?" I spoke up.

The inspector glared at me. "I'll conduct this investigation,
Mr.--err----"

The farmer scratched his head. "Waal, nothin' much. It went too
blamed fast fer me to git mor'n a right good look, but I did gee that
it was full o' men an' the tail-light was bu'sted an' they wa'n't no
license on it."

"You're sure of that?" the inspector asked.

"Yep!" he said, "I'm sure, 'cause I was goin' to report 'em."

Again the inspector turned to Feeney, who had been listening intently.

"Feeney, go in and tell the chief to issue instructions to all the
force to keep an eye out for a black limousine with wire wheels, a
broken tail-light and no license tag! My friend," he said, turning to
the farmer, "I thank you for your information. By to-morrow night
we'll have that car and the parties concerned. By gad! They had their
nerve, running away after the accident. The damned rascals--killing
people and then running away. I'll grill their toes for them."

The malice of the little detective, his readiness to jump from one
conclusion to another, reminded me for all the world of some
disagreeable, little, barking dog that chases every passing vehicle.

I bade him good night, shook hands with Pickering and was on my way
back to my car, when another automobile drove up. Three men jumped
out, and as they passed in front of the lamps, I recognized Lawrence
Brown and Fred Paisley, from the club; the third man was Frank Woods.
As I caught sight of his well-set-up figure, all the hatred I had for
him seemed to rise in my throat and choke me. Try as I would I
couldn't separate him from the tragedy. When the farmer said the black
limousine was full of men, I realized that Frank Woods couldn't have
been one of them, and yet, so great was my distrust of the man, that I
felt like accusing him on the spot.

Larry Brown caught sight of me and wrung my hand. "Dammit, old man, I
can't fell you how sorry I am." Paisley patted me on the back. "If
there is anything we can do, Thompson----"

I shook my head and tears came to my eyes. They made me real