the smile of a boy. Moreover, his face was a certificate of
manhood. It was a recommendation more effective than words.

"I think you're wrong, Jack," the older brother said. "Kirby had no
more to do with this than I had."

"Thanks," Kirby nodded.

"Let's investigate this man Hull. What Kirby says fits in with what
you saw a couple of evenings ago, Jack. I'm assuming he's the same man
Uncle flung downstairs. Uncle told you he was a black-mailer.
_There's_ one lead. Let's follow it."

Reluctantly Kirby broached one angle of the subject that must be faced.
"What about this girl in Uncle's office--the one in trouble? Are we
goin' to bring her into this?"

There was a moment's silence. Jack's black eyes slid from Lane to his
brother. It struck Kirby that he was waiting tensely for the decision
of James, though the reason for his anxiety was not apparent.

James gave the matter consideration, then spoke judicially. "Better
leave her out of it. No need to smirch Uncle's reputation unless it's
absolutely necessary. We don't want the newspapers gloating over any
more scandals than they need."

The cattleman breathed freer. He had an odd feeling that Jack, too,
was relieved. Had the young man, after all, a warmer feeling for his
dead uncle's reputation than he had given him credit for?

As the three cousins stepped out of the Equitable Building to Stout
Street a newsboy was calling an extra.

"A-l-l 'bout Cunn'n'ham myst'ry. Huxtry! Huxtry!"

Kirby bought a paper. A streamer headline in red flashed at him.

HORIKAWA; VALET OF CUNNINGHAM, DISAPPEARS

The lead of the story below was to the effect that Cunningham had drawn
two thousand dollars in large bills from the bank the day of his death.
Horikawa could not be found, and the police had a theory that he had
killed and robbed his master for this money.

CHAPTER XI

THE CORONER'S INQUEST

If Kirby had been playing his own hand only he would have gone to the
police and told them he was the man who had been seen leaving the
Paradox Apartments by the fire escape. But he could not do this
without running the risk of implicating Wild Rose. Awkward questions
would be fired at him that he could not answer. He decided not to run
away from arrest, but not to surrender himself. If the police rounded
him up, he could not help it; if they did not, so much the better.

He made two more attempts to see Wild Rose during the day, but he could