?
I think I know why you came to Washington. It wasn't your belief in
Morley's guilt. It was your desire to clear Withers. But you know as well
as I do that Withers isn't guilty. So, why worry?"

Braceway sprang to his feet.

"Morley isn't out of the woods yet," he said grimly. "This case isn't
settled yet, by a long shot. I'm going to stick right here."

He made no reference to Withers.

Bristow went to his room, paid and dismissed Miss Martin, and began to
undress. He was more than satisfied with everything that had happened.
He had bested Braceway again, this time finally; his reputation as a
"consulting detective" was more than safe; and, knowing now why Braceway
had pursued Morley, he would return to Furmville in the morning, his mind
thoroughly at ease.

CHAPTER XXIV

MISS FULTON WRITES A LETTER

As long as the public's morbid curiosity clamoured for details of the
case, the newspapers provided them lavishly. This curiosity was
intensified by two things: first, the search for a murderer after so much
almost convincing evidence had been found against the negro, and, second,
the duel between Bristow, the amateur, and Braceway, the professional,
each bent on making his theory "stand up." The amateur had achieved far
more celebrity than he had expected.

It would have been hard to find two men less alike than he and Braceway.
Bristow was capable now and then of manifesting the strength and
impressive authority he had exhibited in his questioning of Morley.
Braceway, on the other hand, was always keyed up, dashing, imperious. And
he had a kindness of heart, a very live tenderness, such as the lame man
never displayed.

Braceway was of the tribe of dreamers.

He had learned that no man may hope to be a great detective unless he
has imagination, unless he can throw into the dark places which always
surround a mysterious crime the luminous and golden glow of fancy. He had
found also that, if a man's vocabulary is without a "perhaps" or a "but
why couldn't it be the other way?" he will never be able to judge human
nature or to consider fairly every side of any question.

He discussed these views at breakfast with Bristow, who was interested
only in his own decision of the night before to return at once to
Furmville.

"My health demands it," he said; "and I can't convince myself that either
you or I can dig up anything here to affect the final outcome of the
case."

"You're right about the health p