to stay and see
things like that. Lead him out if you can. It will be for a few minutes
only. Tell him so--tell him he can come back then." And turned his face
away from that woeful picture as she went over and spoke to the
sorrowing old man.

"Uncle!" she said softly. "Uncle Phil! You must come away for a little
time, dear. It is necessary."

"Oh, I can't, Mirry--I can't, lovie, dear!" he answered without lifting
his head or loosening his folded hands. "My bonnie, my bonnie, that I
loved so well! Ah, let me have him while I may, Mirry--they'll take him
from me soon enough--soon enough, my bonnie boy!"

"But, dearest, you must. The--the Law has stepped in. Gentlemen from
Scotland Yard are here. Jim has brought them. They must have the room
for a little time. There--there's the window to be examined, you know;
and if they can find out anything--"

"I'll give them the half of all I have in the world!" broke in the old
man with a little burst of tears. "Tell them that. The half of
everything--everything--if they can get at the creature. If they can
find out. But"--collapsing suddenly, with his elbows on his knees and
his face between his hands--"they can't, they can't; nobody can! It
kills and kills and kills; and God help us! we all shall go the same
way! It will be my turn, too, some time soon. I wish it were mine now. I
wish it had been mine long ago--before I lost my bonnie own!"

"Takes it hard, poor old chap, doesn't he?" whispered Narkom, glancing
round and getting something of a shock when he saw that Cleek, who a
moment before had appeared to be almost on the verge of tears, was now
fumbling in his coat pockets, and, with indrawn lips and knotted brows,
was scowling--absolutely scowling--in the direction where Captain
Morford stood, biting his lips and drumming with his finger nails upon
the edge of the washstand. But Cleek made no reply. Instead, he walked
quickly across to the Captain's side, stretched forth his hand, took up
a tablet of soap, turned it over, laid it down again, stepped to the
window, stepped back, and laid a firm hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Captain," he said suddenly, in sharp, crisp tones, that sounded
painfully harsh after the old man's broken cries, "Captain, there's a
little game of cards called 'Bluff,' and it's an excellent amusement if
you don't get caught at it. We shan't have to go any further with the
search for clues in this case; but I think I shall have to ask you, m