t ax."

The lock snapped under their assault. They stumbled through into the
vestibule. Garth choked. He was aware of fine particles of dust in his
nose and his throat. The inspector had been similarly affected.

"Filthy lot!" he sneered. "One more door."

They attacked the inner door. They burst through into a black hallway.
The dust rose in clouds. The inspector snapped his flashlight and fell
back with an exclamation, disappointed and surprised.

The light shone on bare floors and walls. Its power was radically
diminished by the long accumulated dust their entrance had disturbed. As
far as the first floor was concerned they stood in an empty house.

Manford sneered.

"A fine plan of yours, inspector!"

The inspector glared his dislike.

"I'm beginning to think you were jealous a minute ago, young man."

"Then you've quite disarmed my unworthy emotion," Manford laughed.

Garth had read more than dislike in the inspector's manner. It had
veiled, he was sure, a positive, an increasing fear; and the scorn of
his voice had not thoroughly cloaked its uncertainty.

"Get up stairs," he snarled to his men. "Scour every inch of this
place."

He turned back to Manford.

"I'll swear they were here this afternoon. This house was used as a dive
no later than this afternoon."

Manford chuckled, indicating the dust which still whirled in the rays of
the flash light.

The plain-clothes men returned almost at once. There was not a person in
the house--not a piece of furniture. The grime on the walls, the thick
dust testified to its long disuse.

Manford's superior wisdom appeared justified. The intolerance of a
position and a success, both inherited, shone in his eyes, expressed
itself in his voice. He drew his coat closer about him. He touched his
hat. It assumed a jauntier air.

"Good night, inspector," he drawled. "I cut the opera to take in this
example of police efficiency. I hope my society, on its own initiative,
will be able to make more progress with the case. Maybe I'll find some
amusement chatting with the lieutenant at the station house. At least I
can learn from the police what sins to omit."

The inspector strangely, did not answer. Manford lighted a cigarette,
grinning, and strolled down the steps.

Garth marvelled at the inspector's lack of belligerency. He looked at
him more closely. The big man's jaw had fallen. He stared without
purpose at the blank walls. The picture made Garth afraid. He gr