Witherspoon's
movements. It was easy to find out that the Detroit lawyer had left
the Hoffman House, but "with no address."

And he vainly sought counsel of Senator Dunham when he was informed
by the company's lawyers that Mr. Witherspoon declined to transact
any business with him save in writing, and through the company's
officials.

"Go out and bring your wife to terms, you young fool," roughly said
the angered statesman. "You've no rights, now, save through her."

To the consternation of the secret bridegroom, the Detroit papers
announced that "nothing whatever would be as yet announced as to
the disposition of the late Mr. Worthington's vast estate," until
the return of the executors from New York City.

With all his nerves temporarily shattered, Arthur Ferris saw all
his cardboard fortifications suddenly strewn around him by adverse
gales. His barren title of vice-president of the company now availed
him nothing. The president, manager, and directors all practically
shunned him, waiting for the word as to who would manage the
controlling interest of the dead Croesus.

There was a formal evening meeting of all concerned when the
detective captain finally reported that the whole department were
unable to find a clue of Randall Clayton's whereabouts. Arthur
Ferris gazed askance at Mr. John Witherspoon's strong face when the
company's leading New York lawyer took up the word, as the French
neatly put it. "Gentlemen," said he, "we may as well adjourn this
meeting. We have been in secret session here, till it now nears
midnight. We are all groping in the dark. Here is a remarkable
phase of a great crime. Even the 'argus-eyed press' has no theory
to offer."

There was a frightened hush when Counsellor Stillwell solemnly
said: "Are we sure that we are on the right road? It appears that
we have lost all roads. Groping! Only feeling our way in the dark!
Police and journals powerless, our rewards unanswered! It remains
for us to drop the matter of theft, and--look for a murderer.

"I now move that we double the reward and seek for the murderer
or murderers of Randall Clayton! Remember, not a bill or cheque,
not an object, the bank book, nothing has been found to indicate
either theft or flight.

"I always had implicit confidence in Clayton's honor; he was
trusted by our heaviest stockholder, named by him, backed by him;
and Mr. Worthington, even at his lamented death, proposed making
him general manager in