g the night entered the express car, murdered the agent, and went
through the safe. Just before reaching Black Hollow the three men left
the car. One of the three was tall and had red hair and beard. This
man, after the slaughter, left a trace behind that has led to his
identity. He left the imprint of a bloody hand on a white handkerchief
that he took from the pocket of his victim. That handkerchief was
afterward found, and the bloody mark compared with the hand of the
assassin."

"That could hardly be possible. Hands are many of them alike,"
articulated Mr. Elliston, nervously.

"True, but in this case a wart, of peculiar shape, gave the man away.
The mark of his bloody hand, leaving the wart's impress, was not only
on the handkerchief, but left against the white shirt-front of the
murdered man as well. The man who committed the murder read of the
clew in a Chicago paper, and, to obliterate the tell-tale evidence, he
cut the wart from his hand and dropped it under the seat while
journeying through Iowa in disguise, on an emigrant train."

The face of Elliston had become white as death, and he trembled from
head to foot. If Bernard had doubted before, he doubted now no longer.

"A nice story," finally sneered Bernard's visitor. "When did you learn
so much?"

"Weeks ago--"

"And you have permitted this villain to run at large so long!"

"Well, I propose to see that he does not flaunt his crimes in the face
of the world longer."

Then, with a quick movement, the youth drew a vial from his pocket and
held it up to view, exhibiting to the dilating eyes of the New Yorker
a large wart with a double top.

"Just remove the glove from your right hand, Mr. Elliston. I think we
will find a scar there that this wart will fit--"

"Furies! this is too much," cried Elliston, coming to his feet, white
with rage and fear.

"Stop. Keep your temper," warned Bernard. "I wish to bring a witness;
one that has been your companion in crime."

The curtain over the alcove was brushed aside, and a man stepped
forth, a man with red whiskers and hair, the latter surmounted with a
glossy plug hat.

Elliston stared like one bereft of sense and life.

"Allow me to introduce Professor Darlington Ruggles, Mr. Elliston,"
uttered Harry Bernard in a mocking voice.

"Hades! what does this mean?" and the trapped villain staggered,
clutching the back of a chair for support.

"It means that your race of crime and diabolism is run, Harper