ntical.

But this discovery, while it robbed the affair of its most dramatic
feature, could not affect in any serious way the extreme significance of
the remaining real and compromising facts which told so heavily against
this unfortunate man. Indeed, the well-known baseness of the father made
it easier to distrust the son, and Mr. Ferris had just come to the
conclusion that his duty compelled him to draw up an indictment of the
would-be suicide, when the door opened, and Mr. Byrd and Mr. Hickory
came in.

To see these two men in conjunction was a surprise to the District
Attorney. He, however, had no time to express himself on the subject,
for Mr. Byrd, stepping forward, immediately remarked:

"Mr. Hickory and I have been in consultation, sir; and we have a few
facts to give you that we think will alter your opinion as to the person
who murdered Mrs. Clemmens."

"Is this so?" cried Mr. Ferris, looking at Hickory with a glance
indicative of doubt.

"Yes, _sir_," exclaimed that not easily abashed individual, with an
emphasis decided enough to show the state of his feelings on the
subject. "After I last saw you a woman came in my way and put into my
hands so fresh and promising a clue, that I dropped the old scent at
once and made instanter for the new game. But I soon found I was not the
only sportsman on this trail. Before I had taken a dozen steps I ran
upon this gentleman, and, finding him true grit, struck up a partnership
with him that has led to our bringing down the quarry together."

"Humph!" quoth the District Attorney. "Some very remarkable discoveries
must have come to light to influence the judgment of two such men as
yourselves."

"You are right," rejoined Mr. Byrd. "In fact, I should not be surprised
if this case proved to be one of the most remarkable on record. It is
not often that equally convincing evidence of guilt is found against two
men having no apparent connection."

"And have you collected such evidence?"

"We have."

"And who is the person you consider equally open to suspicion with Mr.
Hildreth?"

"Craik Mansell, Mrs. Clemmens' nephew."

The surprise of the District-Attorney was, as Mr. Hickory in later days
remarked, nuts to him. The solemn nature of the business he was engaged
upon never disturbed this hardy detective's sense of the ludicrous, and
he indulged in one of his deepest chuckles as he met the eye of Mr.
Ferris.

"One never knows what they are going to run upon in