yes, suddenly bright, an eager note in his voice, he
shot out his hand warmly, and cried,

"You have found something?"

"My dear Mr. Shandon," smiled Kinsell, "I have found out so many things
that it's a wonder I don't have a continual headache. You'll pardon my
not having called upon you sooner? I have really been so busy--"

"You knew where to find me all the time?" incredulously.

Kinsell nodded and smiled approvingly as Wayne lighted a cigar.

"Of course. I always make it a point to be in a position to get into
close touch with my principal in case of urgent need."

"Then there is urgent need now?" eagerly. "You have got the deadwood
on Hume?"

"Not exactly. But I've got the old kettle boiling and she's due to
bubble over most any old time."

"For God's sake," cried Shandon, "tell me something. I didn't know
that you were at work even, I don't know a thing that has happened,
that is happening."

"And quite naturally you are interested? Just so." Kinsell very
carefully placed the finger tips of one hand against those of the
other, apparently giving his whole attention to the action. "Let me
see. Presently, in a few weeks at most, I'll be putting in a little
bill and you'll want to know what I've been doing to earn my money.
That's businesslike and proper. In most matters to be thorough, Mr.
Shandon, one must begin at the beginning. In my business it is
different; I have to begin in the middle and go back to a point before
the beginning. Having availed myself of Mr. Brisbane's knowledge of
the subject it became up to me to do one thing: find the man who,
before your brother's murder, was in a position to be benefitted by the
commission of the crime, or the man with a strong emotional reason for
committing it."

He paused, looking thoughtfully at the steep pitched roof his fingers
had constructed, shifted quick, measuring glance at Shandon and turned
his attention again to his fingers.

"There are three men," he resumed, "who occupy positions demanding
investigation. First, you. Your brother's heir, a man with a hot
temper, a man who had recently quarrelled with the murdered man; you
would benefit financially, you had the reputation of generally needing
money, you had the name of being a reckless, headlong sort of devil.
Second, Sledge Hume. A man as smooth running as a machine ordinarily,
cool headed, emotionless. But investigation shows that he had
knowledge of the fact that your brothe