ence against Mrs. Collins
was conclusive. The grave, complex problem that had baffled his
superiors had suddenly simplified itself. A woman needed money; she
could obtain it through another's death. What more reasonable than that
she should go forth and slay him?

Britz's more penetrating mind, however, did not find the solution so
easily. It discovered a multitude of contradictions which eluded the
narrower vision of his subordinate. Nevertheless he was compelled to
concede that the aspect of the entire case had changed, that Mrs.
Collins now loomed as a figure not to be disregarded.

"I understand that policemen were sent to clear the corridor outside of
Ward's office?" inquired Britz.

"Yes," responded Manning.

"Well, send a man down there to call off the police. Let him encourage
the crowd to remain."

The lines in Manning's forehead gathered in perplexity between his
eyebrows.

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

"I'm going to put Mrs. Collins to the test."

The chief and Greig watched Britz in a sort of dumb bewilderment while
he lifted the telephone receiver off the hook and called up the Collins
house. After five minutes of anxious waiting, a voice at the other end
of the wire responded.

"Is Mrs. Collins at home?" asked Britz.

"Who wishes to speak with her?"

"This is Mr. Luckstone's office," said the detective. "Mr.
Luckstone--the attorney for Mr. Whitmore."

Evidently a maid had answered the call, for a long silence ensued while
the servant carried Britz's message to her mistress. Finally a voice at
the other end of the wire said:

"This is Mrs. Collins!"

Britz pressed the receiver tightly to his ear, as if afraid that some
word of hers might escape his hearing.

"Mr. Luckstone wishes me to say that Mr. Whitmore's will has been
found," said the detective.

If the woman realized the significance of the information, her voice did
not betray it.

"Well?" she exclaimed, as if the subject held but a mild interest for
her.

"Mr. Whitmore has named you as the chief beneficiary," Britz continued
in even tones. "You have inherited practically his entire estate."

The news provoked no cry of elation, no exclamation of surprise, no
revealing remark of any kind. Simply a non-committal "Yes!" It might
have been the indifferent acceptance of information which she knew must
eventually come to her; it might have been the meaningless affirmation
of stunned surprise.

Britz decided he had acc