a
business trip."

"Who is Mr. Beard?"

"Mr. Whitmore's confidential secretary. He took charge of the business
while Mr. Whitmore was away."

"Isn't it somewhat unusual that nobody called to see Mr. Whitmore on his
return this morning?"

"I guess they didn't know he was back," the boy replied.

"Did Mr. Whitmore have any trouble with anyone before he left?"

"Not that I know of. But after he was gone a man came around here every
day for four weeks looking for him. The man looked like a Broadway
dude--like he drank a whole lot and didn't sleep much. I once heard him
tell Mr. Beard that Mr. Whitmore had run away from him."

The coroner and the visitors exchanged meaning glances.

"Where is Mr. Beard?" inquired the coroner.

"He didn't come down to-day."

Again the coroner looked gravely at the others, but their faces failed
to indicate what import they attached to the boy's statements.

"Lieutenant, is there any other question you desire to ask?"

"No, coroner, I think we'd better adjourn to the private office," said
the man addressed.

Entering the merchant's office, the coroner closed the door behind them.

"Lieutenant Britz," he remarked cordially, "I'm glad they sent you up.
This looks like a mystery worthy of your talents."

Lieutenant Britz disregarded the implied compliment. He had taken up a
position of survey in the center of the room, from which his eyes
traveled slowly about the place, studying every inch of the carpet,
lingering on the black leather surface of the chairs, covering the wide
area of the walls.

"Have you searched the body?" he asked.

"Yes," replied the coroner. "Only a key ring with four keys attached was
found in the pockets."

"How about the papers in the desk?"

"Nothing but business papers."

At this juncture a clerk poked his head timidly into the room and said:

"Officers, it's three o'clock now and we haven't been out to lunch. May
we go?"

"I'll let you know in a minute or two," answered the coroner. When the
clerk had withdrawn his head, the official stepped over to Britz.

"Those clerks are in a conspiracy of silence," he declared. "This man
could not have committed suicide. The pistol found on the desk was fully
loaded. The clothing is devoid of powder stains. Moreover, a most
careful search has failed to reveal any other weapon. Now, someone
entered this room and fired the shot. Yet all those clerks maintain that
no one has been in here and that they he