-stock----"

She paused, unwilling to hurt his feelings.

But so assured of his beliefs was Benjamin Crane that he shook his head
and said:

"No fear of that, child. I'll take all risks. Have you any idea how my
book has been received? It's just gone into another big edition, and my
publishers are clamoring for my second book, which is nearly finished.
But to return to the case of McClellan Thorpe. Did Peter tell you----"

"Yes," Wise said, "according to Madame Parlato, the spirit of your son
said that Thorpe is the criminal, and it was as proof of identity that
Zizi received the handkerchief."

"Fine," said Crane, nodding his satisfaction, "I think I'll use that
_seance_ for the finale of my book, and get it in press at once."

"Do, dear," said his wife, "as far as the handkerchief is concerned. But
don't put in the book that Mac killed Gilbert."

"Oh, no, certainly not. In the first place, we're all agreed that though
Peter believes that, it is a mistake on his part; that is, it may be a
mistake. Don't let it influence you too much, Mr. Wise."

Penny Wise laughed outright. He couldn't help it.

"No, sir," he promised, "I won't!"

"But have you any other suspect?"

"I'd rather not answer that question quite yet, Mr. Crane."

"All right, take your own time. I've confidence you'll do all you can,
but my hopes of your success are dwindling."

"Don't feel that way, on the contrary, I'm beginning to see at least a
way to look for another suspect."

"Look hard, then. For I want to get Mac cleared as soon as it can be
brought about."

"We'll hope to do that. I'm going over to the Studios now, and I've a
notion I'll discover something."

Accompanied by Zizi, Wise went to the home that Blair and Thorpe had
occupied, and which was now in charge of the police.

The detective set himself to the task of looking over old letters and
papers in hope of finding out some secret of the dead man's past.

Zizi flitted about the rooms, looking for nothing in particular, and
everything in general.

"I've sized up his medicines," she said, coming from Blair's bedroom
into the studio where Wise sat at the desk.

"His cough syrup hasn't been touched lately. The dried up stickiness of
the cork shows that. And one or two other bottles are in the same
condition. But in the waste basket in his bedroom I found this."

She held up an empty bottle that was labeled soda mints.

"There's a new full bottle in the medicine chest