ving place to
one of fury, struggled to free himself from the detective's firm grip.

"You cannot escape, Sylvester," declared Kent, observing his efforts.
"Your carelessness in using your peculiar gift of penmanship in copying
Barbara McIntyre's signature in this memorandum of her visit here"--Kent
held up a sheet torn from his pad, "gave me the first clew. These, the
second," he showed several pieces of blotting paper freshly used.
"See, in the mirror here is reflected the impression from your clever
imitations of the handwritings of Barbara, Colonel McIntyre, and Mrs.
Brewster."

They crowded about Kent, all but Ferguson and his prisoner, who had
subsided in his chair with what the detective concluded was dangerous
quietude.

"My next step, now that suspicion was directed against Sylvester, was to
make personal inquiries regarding him," went on Kent. "Judge Hildebrand,
who had just returned to Washington, said that he first met Sylvester at
a circus sideshow where he gave exhibitions as a contortionist. One of
his special stunts was to slip out of handcuffs and ropes."

"So that explains last night," Ferguson grinned. "You'll not do it
again, Sylvester," and he shook an admonitory finger at the erstwhile
clerk.

"Judge Hildebrand became interested in Sylvester, found he was handy
with his pen and tired of the show business, and gave him an opening by
engaging him as confidential clerk," continued Kent. "You will recall,
Colonel McIntyre, that you sent business papers in your handwriting and
that of your daughters to Judge Hildebrand's office to be typed by his
staff. That is how Sylvester became so well acquainted with your writing
and was able to forge a letter to the bank treasurer directing him to
turn over your negotiable securities to Jimmie Turnbull."

"But how in the world did Sylvester induce Jimmie to present the forged
letter?" asked Colonel McIntyre.

Kent turned to the sullen prisoner. "Answer that question, Sylvester,"
he commanded, and the man roused himself from his dejected attitude.

"Anything in it for me if I do?" he asked with a cunning leer.

"That's for the courts to decide," declared Kent.

The man thought a minute. "I'll take a chance," he said finally. "But
that I waited for an opportunity to get my swag out of this safe, I
wouldn't have been caught--curse you!" and he scowled at Kent.

"Cut that out," admonished Ferguson with a none too gentle dig in the
ribs, and Sylvester cont