k up Ward and Collins and have them all
in jail? Then you'd be sure to have the guilty party."

"I shall see to it that Beard obtains his liberty to-morrow," was
Britz's reply.

"And then what?"

"Then for the grand climax," said Britz.

CHAPTER XIX

The first thing Britz did the following morning was to call the Chief of
Police of Atlanta on the telephone.

"Yes, I've arranged for the writ of habeas corpus," said the Atlanta
chief in response to Britz's questions. "I've also induced the Federal
district-attorney not to oppose the man's discharge. Yes, I also saw the
prisoner last night at the jail. He's worried to death that he'll be
rearrested and given a long term for aiding Whitmore to escape."

"I've helped the Federal authorities when they required local
assistance," replied Britz. "So I feel confident they'll agree to grant
him immunity for helping us to solve this murder case. When do you think
you can obtain his release?"

"This morning, I hope."

"Then he should be in New York to-morrow morning?"

"Yes."

Next Britz called up the coroner.

"Coroner," he said, "I want you to discharge Beard from prison. Mrs.
Collins will be arraigned in Jefferson Market Court this morning and
remanded to your custody. She'll have to stay in the Tombs until
to-morrow, when I'm going to ask you to continue your preliminary
investigation of Whitmore's death. Will you hold court down here?"

"Why all this maneuvering?" inquired the coroner.

"It is necessary," Britz assured him. "We'll solve this case to-morrow,
if you help me."

"Very well!" the coroner agreed.

For half an hour Britz devoted himself to the reports of his various
subordinates. He learned that Ward had spent the night in his home,
while Collins and the detective assigned to guard him, occupied a room
in a Broadway hotel. Britz was interrupted in the further perusal of the
reports by the doorman.

"Mr. Lester Ward is outside."

"Tell him to wait--and see that he does wait!" directed the detective.

It was a quarter of eleven before Britz was ready to receive his
visitor. Ward found the detective with hat and coat on, prepared to
leave the building. He had just received a telephone message from one of
his men at Delmore Park.

"I'm on my way to the coroner's office," said Britz. "Come along!"

Still dazed by the crowded incidents of the last twenty-four hours, Ward
followed the detective to the Criminal Court House, on the ground f