n, in the tone of an advocate
addressing a high tribunal on a question of law, rather than of fact.
"It has been established beyond question that he arrived at his office
between nine and ten o'clock, and that he did not leave his office all
morning. It is also a matter of common knowledge that he had no visitors
that morning, and the twenty or thirty clerks in the outer office have
all sworn that they heard no shot fired and saw no one enter or leave
Mr. Whitmore's private room. Now I do not pretend to offer any
explanation as to how Mr. Whitmore was killed. But I do maintain that
the accusing police officer should be asked to tell how the alleged
murderer got to his victim."

"I am not prepared to go into that as yet," Britz interrupted.

"But you mean to imply that you have a satisfactory explanation to
offer?" questioned the lawyer.

"That phase of the case gives me no concern," Britz replied curtly. "It
is a minor feature of this investigation."

A shade of anxiety passed over the lawyer's face as he noted the
coolness with which the detective dismissed what was generally regarded
as the most puzzling feature of the entire case. It occurred to him,
however, that the detective might be indulging in the favorite police
game of bluff--that his easy dismissal of one of the most important
features of the mystery was but a sham, a pretense designed to cover his
ignorance.

"If you regard the matter so lightly, why don't you disclose your
knowledge to the coroner?" he taunted the detective.

"Perhaps he has already done so," the coroner interjected. "At any rate
it is self-evident that somebody _did_ get to Whitmore and that Whitmore
was killed by a bullet wound."

"Very well," said the lawyer, accepting the suggestion. "It is none of
my affair, nor does it concern my clients, how the assassin managed to
enter and leave Mr. Whitmore's office without being seen by the clerks.
The point is, that Collins wasn't within fifteen miles of Mr. Whitmore's
office on the day Mr. Whitmore was found dead. And the same circumstance
of remoteness from the scene of the crime, absolves Mrs. Collins, Mr.
Ward and Beard from participation in the crime."

The lawyer shot an exultant glance at Britz, a glance that adequately
conveyed the conviction that he had shattered the entire case against
his clients.

Coroner Hart glanced inquiringly from Britz to Chief Manning, as if
waiting for some cue.

"Does Mr. Luckstone mean he's got