meet a charge
of murder?"

"Between the time that Mr. Whitmore entered his office and the time he
was found dead, I was at the vault, continuously within sight of two
guards," declared Beard.

The butler and the other servants were entirely empty of helpful
knowledge concerning the crime. All of them united in declaring that Mr.
Whitmore had left the house six weeks ago, that no one had seen him
leave and he had not been back. Mr. Beard had taken charge of his
affairs, in fact he had come to the house to live. None of them had seen
Mr. Whitmore since the night of his disappearance, nor had they received
any word from him. While they had not accepted unequivocally Mr. Beard's
assurance that their employer was on a business trip, nevertheless they
had no other knowledge concerning their master's whereabouts and
therefore did not openly question Beard's assertions.

"Mr. Beard," said Britz, when he had finished questioning the servants,
"I shall not arrest you for the present. But you will hold yourself in
readiness to appear at Police Headquarters whenever I may want you."

"I shall not leave the city," promised Beard.

"Very well. Now kindly leave the house," requested Britz.

The secretary left reluctantly, as if unwilling to permit the detectives
to be alone with the servants. But he offered no resistance as Britz
escorted him to the door and closed it behind him. Relieved of Beard's
presence, the detective summoned the butler.

"Who visited Mr. Whitmore on the night he disappeared?" Britz said
sharply.

"A lady," answered the butler.

"Who was she?"

"I don't know. I had never seen her before."

"Did you see Mr. Whitmore after her departure?"

"Yes, sir, in the library."

"Did he say anything?"

"He asked me about a letter I had mailed."

"Did you observe the address on the letter?"

"Yes, sir. It was addressed to Mrs. George Collins, at Delmore Park."

"Was the lady whom you admitted that night Mrs. Collins?"

"I don't believe so. I don't know Mrs. Collins, but it couldn't have
been she, for Mr. Whitmore did not seem to know the visitor."

"Thank you," said Britz, extending his card. "If Mr. Beard should
discharge the servants, please call me up at Police Headquarters."

"Yes, sir," promised the butler.

Britz donned his hat and coat.

"Come on, Greig," he called to his assistant. "We're going to Delmore
Park."

Outside, they found the newsboys shrieking the crime. The afternoon
papers