e we were continually obliged to dodge around some
obstruction. First, Knox stumbled headlong over a low grave, and then I
became entangled in some trailing vines. As I regained my feet, I saw
Green rising from an encounter with a chain which had tripped him, and
we simultaneously abandoned the chase. It was clearly useless to follow
them further, but we fired at them with our revolvers in the hope of
frightening them into a surrender. One of them instantly stopped,
returned our fire, and then continued his flight. This satisfied me that
they were old hands at the business of grave-robbing, and that they were
not to be scared by long-range pistol practice. After watching for a
couple of hours, I returned with my men to the city, being convinced
that the body-snatchers would not make another attempt to rob the grave.
As I walked back, I tried to account, in my own mind, for this new move
of Pattmore. I could not see the advantage to be gained by the removal
of Mrs. Pattmore's body, and I retired to rest with that problem still
unsolved.

Being greatly fatigued, it was eight o'clock next morning before I
awoke. While I was at breakfast Mr. Miller came in, but he had nothing
to report, except that Pattmore seemed greatly troubled, and looked very
haggard. I ordered Miller to watch Pattmore closely, and to engage him
in conversation as much as possible. I then went in search of Sheriff
Tomlinson, whom I soon found. Believing him to be a thoroughly
trustworthy man, I related to him all that had occurred the night
before. He was much astonished at my story, and said that he was sorry I
had not asked him to accompany me, as he knew the graveyard well. If the
body-snatchers had been caught, they might have been able to give very
important testimony at the inquest. Pattmore might have been held to
appear before the grand jury on their testimony alone.

"Yes," I replied; "no one regrets their escape more than I do; but I am
almost equally annoyed by the fact that I cannot reach a satisfactory
conclusion as to Pattmore's motive in having his wife's body carried
off. Of course, if the coroner's men should have found the body gone,
every one would suspect Pattmore of having had it removed. However, I
propose to solve the mystery in some way. By the way, Mr. Tomlinson,
when do you expect the body to arrive?"

"It will be here by eleven o'clock, and the men having it in charge,
will take it directly to Coroner Van Valkenburgh's offi