ooking at me.

"A long shot," I said. "An exceedingly long shot--a
three-hundred-million to one shot. How many people are there in the
world, Swain?"

"I'm sure I don't know," and he stared at me in bewilderment.

"I think it's something like a billion and a half. If that is true,
then it's possible that there are four people in the world, beside
yourself, with the thumb and two fingers of the right hand marked
exactly as yours are."

"We must have a reunion, some day," Swain remarked, with irony.

But I refused to be diverted.

"Allowing for imperceptible differences," I went on, "I think it is
safe to assume that there are ten such people."

"Well," said Swain, bitterly, "I know one thing that it _isn't_ safe
to assume, and that is that either of those Hindus is one of those
ten. I suppose that is the assumption you will make next?"

"It's an assumption I intend to put to the proof, anyway," I answered,
somewhat testily, "and if it fails, I'm afraid you'll have to go to
jail till I can dig up some more evidence."

He turned toward me quickly, his face working.

"See here, Mr. Lester," he said, "don't misunderstand me. I'm awfully
grateful for all you're doing for me; but I don't mind going to
jail--not on my own account. I'm innocent, and I'll be able to prove
it in time. But Marjorie mustn't be left alone. I'd be ready to face
anything if I knew that she was safe. She mustn't be left in that
house--not a single night. Promise me that you'll take her with you as
soon as the inquest's over!"

"I'll promise that, Swain, gladly," I said, "provided, of course, the
doctor consents."

"We must get him," and Swain sprang to his feet. "We must explain to
him how important it is."

"Perhaps I can get him on the 'phone," I said; but the person who
answered told me that he had already started for the inquest. And, a
moment later, Mrs. Hargis tapped at the door of the study and said
that the doctor was outside. I told her to show him in at once.

"The truth is," said Hinman, shaking hands with both of us, "I thought
I'd drop in to find out if there was anything I could do. No
reasonable person," he went on, turning to Swain, "believes you killed
that defenceless old man; but those finger-prints certainly do puzzle
me."

"They puzzle me, too," said Swain; "but I'll prove my
innocence--though it will take time."

"It looks to me," said the doctor, slowly, "that about the only way
you can prove your innocence i