You stay
right here. I'll go down to Headquarters."

CHAPTER XIII

Fortune had turned her back on Britz on two critical occasions. First,
Julia Strong had eliminated herself as a factor in the investigation of
the Whitmore murder. Next, Lester Ward had been permitted to disappear
at the very moment when he might have been induced to shed light on the
crime. Since all crimes must be proved through witnesses, the loss of
two of the most important ones was a staggering blow to Britz. It did
not diminish his confidence in himself nor in his belief that he would
eventually find the murderer. But to prove his case in court--his future
efforts would have to be attended by more luck than had been vouchsafed
him hitherto, if a successful prosecution were to be achieved.

As though the adverse fates that had pursued him were content with the
havoc they had wrought, Britz was greeted by a rare piece of good
fortune as he entered Police Headquarters. It came in the person of
Muldoon, whom Britz encountered in the corridor.

"Got a prisoner for you!" beamed Muldoon. "The gent you told me to watch
for."

"Where is he?" asked the detective.

"Downstairs."

"Where'd you get him?"

"Just where you said I would. You said he'd come around to the Tombs
lookin' for the boss, and sure enough he came about half an hour after
you left. I remembered having seen him hanging around the place
yesterday and the day before, but I wasn't sure of him so I didn't
molest him. This morning he comes to the door and asks to see Mr. Beard.
Then I knew at once I had the right man. I collared him and had the
nippers on him before he knew what struck him. Also, I relieved him of
the bundle of papers he had and Greig is lookin' through 'em now."

"Did he say anything when you arrested him?" asked Britz, favoring his
subordinate with a smile of approval.

"He cried like a woman," replied Muldoon. "Said he hadn't done anything
and wanted to give me ten dollars to let him go. The papers, he kept
saying, belonged to his boss and he didn't intend to steal them.
Evidently he thinks he's been arrested for stealin' the papers."

Britz found the prisoner in a state of collapse. Opening the door of the
butler's cell, he dragged the shivering inmate into the narrow corridor
and forced him against the wall. With drooping head and sagging body,
the butler regarded Britz as though afraid the detective had come to
execute him on the spot.

Nor did the