spair.

"Let's not go too fast," said Nick.

"What stronger proof can you possibly desire?" exclaimed Deever.

He seemed to be dazed with surprise at Nick's delay, but Dr. Jarvis
plucked up his courage.

"I wish first to examine the body," said Nick.

He bent over the corpse which lay in the bright moonlight. The cause of
death was evident at a glance. The head had been beaten and cut in a
frightful manner.

"See," said Deever, bending over the body, "these wounds were made with
a spade."

"They have that appearance," said Nick.

"Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face," exclaimed Deever, utterly
losing patience.

He seized a spade from the ground and applied it to the wounds.

"The first blow, the one which killed him," said Deever, "was struck
with the side of the spade on the top of the poor boy's head. It was a
terrible blow."

Nick examined the wound. It was plain that no person could live a
minute after receiving such a fearful injury.

"The other blows," Deever continued, "were some of them made with the
side, and some with the tip of the spade.

"I can see just how it happened. Pat angered Jarvis with the words that
Klein heard. Jarvis rushed upon him, knocked him down with the spade,
and then beat him like a maniac in his rage."

"And then buried him, eh?" said Nick, in a doubtful voice.

Chick looked inquiringly at his chief. He had never seen Nick conduct a
case in that way before.

Instead of taking the lead in the investigation, the great detective
seemed to wait for suggestions. After his first glance at the body, he
had stood irresolute, as if he could not make up his mind about the
value of the evidence.

This conduct of his chief interested Chick deeply.

"Watch Nick Carter," he said to himself, "and you'll always be learning
something."

"Of course he didn't bury him then," Deever replied to Nick's question.
"Haskell saw him digging the grave after midnight."

"Where do you suppose your brother's body was in the meantime?" asked
Nick.

"Hidden in the garden somewhere."

Nick shook his head.

"There is no place in the garden where it could have been hidden. I have
searched the place thoroughly."

"He may have taken it into the hospital; into his laboratory, perhaps."

"That can't be," said Nick. "You remember that Burns met the doctor
coming in from the garden. If he had already brought in the body he
wouldn't have come out again. On the other hand, the body couldn