disposed to pursue the subject
further, until Tom volunteered the information that since the tragedy
none of them had been wearing their shooting jackets.

"We've all been wearing city clothes," he remarked.

"Could you get your Uncle James and your Cousin Junior to go with
you for an hour or two this morning on the lake, or on a tramp in the
woods?" asked Craig after a moment's thought.

"Really, Craig," responded Tom doubtfully, "I ought to go to Saranac to
complete the arrangements for taking Uncle Lewis's body to New York."

"Very well, persuade them to go with you. Anything, so long as you keep
me from interruption for an hour or two."

They agreed on doing that, and as by that time most of the family were
up, we went in to breakfast, another silent and suspicious meal.

After breakfast Kennedy tactfully withdrew from the family, and I did
the same. We wandered off in the direction of the stables and there fell
to admiring some of the horses. The groom, who seemed to be a sensible
and pleasant sort of fellow, was quite ready to talk, and soon he and
Craig were deep in discussing the game of the north country.

"Many rabbits about here?" asked Kennedy at length, when they had
exhausted the larger game.

"Oh, yes. I saw one this morning, sir," replied the groom.

"Indeed?" said Kennedy. "Do you suppose you could catch a couple for
me?"

"Guess I could, sir--alive, you mean?"

"Oh, yes, alive--I don't want you to violate the game laws. This is the
closed season, isn't it?"

"Yes, sir, but then it's all right, sir, here on the estate."

"Bring them to me this afternoon, or--no, keep them here in the stable
in a cage and let me know when you have them. If anybody asks you about
them, say they belong to Mr. Tom."

Craig handed a small treasury note to the groom, who took it with a grin
and touched his hat.

"Thanks," he said. "I'll let you know when I have the bunnies."

As we walked slowly back from the stables we caught sight of Tom down
at the boat-house just putting off in the motor-boat with his uncle and
cousin. Craig waved to him, and he walked up to meet us.

"While you're in Saranac," said Craig, "buy me a dozen or so test-tubes.
Only, don't let anyone here at the house know you are buying them. They
might ask questions."

While they were gone Kennedy stole into James Langley's room and after
a few minutes returned to our room with the hunting-jacket. He carefully
examined it with his pocke