the fact of his having been on that late train Tuesday night.
Why, I discussed with him the possibility of Hall's coming out on it,
and it would have been only natural to say he was on it, and didn't see
Hall."

"Unless he did see him," remarked the district attorney.

"Yes; there's that possibility. He may be shielding Hall for Miss
Lloyd's sake--and--"

"Let's go to see him," suggested Mr. Goodrich. "I believe in the
immediate following up of any idea we may have."

It was about five in the afternoon, an hour when we were likely to find
Mr. Crawford at home, so we started off at once, and on reaching his
house we were told that Mr. Randolph was with him in the library, but
that he would see us. So to the library we went, and found Mr. Crawford
and his lawyer hard at work on the papers of the Joseph Crawford estate.

Perhaps it was imagination, but I thought I detected a look of
apprehension on Philip Crawford's face, as we entered, but he greeted us
in his pleasant, simple way, and asked us to be seated.

"To come right to the point, Mr. Crawford," said the district attorney,
"Mr. Burroughs and I are still searching for new light on the tragedy of
your brother's death. And now Mr. Burroughs wants to put a few questions
to you, which may help him in his quest."

Philip Crawford looked straight at me with his piercing eyes, and it
seemed to me that he straightened himself, as for an expected blow.

"Yes, Mr. Burroughs," he said courteously. "What is it you want to ask?"

So plain and straightforward was his manner, that I decided to be
equally direct.

"Did you come out in that midnight train from New York last Tuesday
night?" I began.

"I did," he replied, in even tones.

"While on the train did you sit behind a lady who left a gold bag in the
seat when she got out?"

"I did."

"Did you pick up that bag and take it away with you?"

"I did."

"Then, Mr. Crawford, as that is the gold bag that was found in your
brother's office, I think you owe a more detailed explanation."

To say that the lawyer and the district attorney, who heard these
questions and answers, were astounded, is putting it too mildly. They
were almost paralyzed with surprise and dismay.

To hear these condemning assertions straight from the lips of the man
they incriminated was startling indeed.

"You are right," said Philip Crawford. "I do owe an explanation, and I
shall give it here and now."

Although what he was going to s