loquy with the official, Burke voiced his command viciously:

"Stay where you are--both of you!"

Cassidy came rushing in, with the other detectives. He was plainly
surprised to find the room so nearly empty, where he had expected to
behold a gang of robbers.

"Why, what's it all mean, Chief?" he questioned. His peering eyes fell
on Dick, standing beside Mary, and they rounded in amazement.

"They've got Griggs!" Burke answered. There was exceeding rage in his
voice, as he spoke from his kneeling posture beside the body, to which
he had hurried after the summons to his aides. He glowered up into the
bewildered face of the detective. "I'll break you for this, Cassidy,"
he declared fiercely. "Why didn't you get here on the run when you heard
the shot?"

"But there wasn't any shot," the perplexed and alarmed detective
expostulated. He fairly stuttered in the earnestness of his
self-defense. "I tell you, Chief, there hasn't been a sound."

Burke rose to his feet. His heavy face was set in its sternest mold.

"You could drive a hearse through the hole they've made in him," he
rumbled. He wheeled on Mary and Dick. "So!" he shouted, "now it's
murder!... Well, hand it over. Where's the gun?"

Followed a moment's pause. Then the Inspector spoke harshly to Cassidy.
He still felt himself somewhat dazed by this extraordinary event, but
he was able to cope with the situation. He nodded toward Dick as he gave
his order: "Search him!"

Before the detective could obey the direction, Dick took the revolver
from his pocket where he had bestowed it, and held it out.

And it so chanced that at this incriminating crisis for the son, the
father hastily strode within the library. He had been aroused by the
Inspector's shouting, and was evidently greatly perturbed. His usual
dignified air was marred by a patent alarm.

"What's all this?" he exclaimed, as he halted and stared doubtfully on
the scene before him.

Burke, in a moment like this, was no respecter of persons, for all his
judicious attentions on other occasions to those whose influence might
serve him well for benefits received.

"You can see for yourself," he said grimly to the dumfounded magnate.
Then, he fixed sinister eyes on the son. "So," he went on, with somber
menace in his voice, "you did it, young man." He nodded toward the
detective. "Well, Cassidy, you can take 'em both down-town.... That's
all."

The command aroused Dick to remonstrance against such indig