picuous
because of the light-colored boards about it.

The colonel made a careful examination of the premises, and had
described to him the exact position of the body, being told all that
went on that tragic morning.

It was after this, and following some busy hours spent in various parts
of the city, that the defective sent to one of his trusted men in New
York this telegram:

"Spotty Morgan's vacation is over. Have him spend a few days with you
until I can invite him to my country place."

"I hate to do it, after what he did for me," mused the colonel with a
sigh. "But business is business from now on. I'm officially in the
case, and I wasn't before."

Having sent the somewhat cryptic message, the old detective sat in his
room and took from his pocket a little green book.

"Well, old friend, I guess I'm not going to have much use for you from
now on," he remarked dolefully. He glanced to where his rods and flies
were gathering dust. "Nor you, either," he went on. "Now for a last
glimpse--"

He opened the book and read:

"And now I shall tell you that the fishing with a natural fly is
excellent and affords much pleasure."

"It won't do!" ejaculated the colonel as he closed the book and threw
it aside.

One matter puzzled the colonel as well as the other detectives. There
was no sign of the jewelry store having been entered from the outside,
so that if a stranger had come in he must have done so when the doors
were unlocked or made a false key, or else he had forced a passage so
skilfully as to leave not a sign.

Of course this was possible, and it added to the inference of some that
a burglar, used to such work, had entered the place, and, being
detected at work by Mrs. Darcy, had killed her.

However, there was not so much as a cuff button missing, as far as
could be learned after the contents of the store had been checked up,
though of course an intruder might have been frightened off before he
had taken anything.

Many of Darcy's friends could not help but admit that appearances were
against him. He and his cousin had quarreled, somewhat bitterly, over
money, and about his refusal to give up work on his electric lathe.
There was also King's testimony about words over Amy, though Darcy
contended that this talk was nothing more than his relative had
indulged in before regarding the unsuitableness of the match. Darcy
admitted resenting his cousin's imputation.

All this Colonel Ashley h