I found this the most convenient
stopping place."

"Are you going back to Lakeside?"

"Oh, yes!" There was prompt decision in the answer.

"Then you haven't finished that unfortunate affair? You haven't found
out what caused the death of Mr. Carwell?"

"Oh, yes, I know what killed him."

"But not who?"

"Not yet."

"Do you hold to the suicide theory?"

"I don't hold to anything, my dear Mr. Garrigan," answered the colonel,
who was in a sufficiently mellow mood to be amused by the rather vapid
talk of his host--for such he had constituted himself on the ordering of
the drinks and cigars. "That is I haven't such a hold on any theory that
I can't let go and take a new one if occasion warrants it."

"I see. And so you came up to get away from the rather gruesome
atmosphere down there?"

"Not exactly. I came up on business--I have a business in New York you
know, in spite of the fact that I am here," and the colonel smiled as he
looked about the room where were gathered men of wealth and leisure, who
did not seem to have a care or worry in the world.

"Oh, yes, I know that," agreed Garrigan. "Well, has your trip been
satisfactory?"

"I can't say that it has. In fact it's pretty poor fishing around here,
and I'm thinking of going back. I want to hear the click of the reel and
the music of the brook. I wasn't cut out for a city man, and the longer
I stay here the worse I hate the place, even if I do have a business
here."

"Then you don't care for--this," and Garrigan waved his hand at the
congestion of automobiles and stages which had come to a halt opposite
the big windows of the exclusive and fashionable club.

It was four in the afternoon, just when traffic both of automobiles and
pedestrians is at its height on the avenue. Of horse-drawn equipages
they were so few as to be a novelty.

"I care so little for it that I am going back to-night," the detective
responded.

"Then you have found what you came looking for?"

"I told you the fishing was very poor," said the colonel with a smile.
"My friend Mr. Walton, were he alive now, would never forgive me for
deserting the place I left to come here. When did you come up?"

"Last night. They insisted I had to put in an appearance at the office
merely to take away the salary that's been accumulating for me--said it
cluttered up the place. So I obliged. Do you know how many automobiles
pass this window every twenty-four hours?" Garrigan asked suddenly.

"