wink at Darcy. "I'll lock the door and keep
the crowd out. The sleuths can knock when they get here. Where's your
'phone. I'll have to report to the station."

Darcy pointed to the telephone, and the policeman, showing no more than
a passing interest in the body, at which he glanced casually as he
passed, called up his precinct and reported, being told to remain on
guard until relieved.

"How'd it happen?" he asked, as he came back from the instrument and
leaned against a showcase containing much glittering silver. "Who did
it--when--how?"

"I haven't the least idea," replied Darcy, turning away so as not to
see the faces now pressed against both the front and side doors, each
being locked from the inside. "I found her just as she is now, and
called in the milkmen, who happened to be passing. I had come down to
the store early to do a little repair job, and the first thing I saw
was--her!"

"What time did it happen?"

"I don't even know that. All the clocks have stopped. I don't usually
wind the watches that are left for repair, unless I'm regulating them,
and I haven't any like that in now. The only thing going is that one
watch.

"What one watch? I do hear something ticking," and the policeman
looked at Darcy. "What watch?"

"The one--in her hand."

"Oh, I see! Hum! Well, we'll leave that for the county physician.
He'll be here pretty soon I guess. They'll notify him from the
precinct. Now how about last night--was there any row--any noise? Did
you hear anything?"

"I didn't hear anything--much. There's always a lot of noise around
here until after midnight--theaters and moving picture places let out
about 11:30. I awoke once in the night. But I guess that doesn't
matter."

"Anybody else in the house besides you?" and the policeman yawned--for
he had gone out on dog-watch--and looked into the wet, shiny,
drizzle-swept street.

"Only Sallie Page, the cook. I'll call her. There's Mrs. Darcy's
maid--Jane Metson. But she went away yesterday afternoon and won't be
back until about noon. It's past time Sallie was down to get
breakfast. I'll call her--"

Darcy made a move as though to go to the rear of the store, whence a
side door gave entrance to the stairs leading to the rooms above.

"I'll go with you," said Mulligan, and he shoved himself to an erect
posture by forcing his elbows against the showcase on which he had been
leaning in a manner to give himself as much rest as pos