looked curiously like one of these facts, and, taken in
connection with the other circumstances, pointed strongly toward
Marsh.

He wanted to know more about Marsh, and the girl had given him some
basic facts which would enable him to enlarge his fund of
information. The owner, or the real estate agent who managed the
building, seemed to be the logical starting point for securing this
information. To find out the names of these people must be his next
step.

Luckily, at this moment the janitor of the apartment building
appeared, rolling a barrel of ashes up from the basement. While it
was quite obvious that such was the case, Morgan opened the
conversation by inquiring, "Are you the janitor of this flat house?"

"Yes, sir," replied the man.

"Does the owner run this building, or has he placed an agent in
charge?"

"A real estate agent manages it," the janitor informed him. "Parker
Cole--over on Broadway."

"Thanks," said Morgan, and returned down the alley to Lawrence
Avenue where he turned west and walked over to Broadway. A few
minutes later he stood at the counter in the real estate office, and
a man approached him.

"Is either Mr. Parker or Mr. Cole in?"

"I am Mr. Cole," announced the man. "What can I do for you?"

Morgan opened his coat a minute to give Cole a glimpse of his badge;
then said, "I would like to talk confidentially with you for a few
minutes."

"Step into my private office," directed Cole, opening a gate as he
spoke, and indicating a space partitioned off at the rear.

"What is the trouble?" he inquired, when they were seated.

"I came to see you in connection with the trouble in the Hillcrest
last night."

"A most unfortunate affair!" exclaimed Cole. "It is the first time
anything of the kind ever occurred in any of the buildings under our
management. It is most unfortunate," he repeated.

"I have been assigned to the case," Morgan informed him, "and I am
gathering all the information possible. Then I can formulate some
theory upon which to work. Just at this time I want a little
information regarding your tenants in the building."

"Very fine people--very fine people, indeed," protested Cole. "There
couldn't be a breath of suspicion against any of them."

"I'll be the judge of that," said Morgan, sharply.

"But really," cried Cole, "you must not annoy our tenants. Surely it
was only a quarrel among burglars. One man probably wounded his pal
and then, alarmed at the disturba