ng for the first time with only curiosity and
no fear. The curve made by Mr. Bruce shows great agitation and--"

I heard a metallic click at my side and turned hastily. It was Inspector
Barney O'Connor, who had stepped out of the shadow with a pair of
hand-cuffs.

"James Bruce, you are under arrest," he said.

There flashed on my mind, and I think on the minds of some of the
others, a picture of another electrically wired chair.

II. The Scientific Cracksman

"I'm willing to wager you a box of cigars that you don't know the most
fascinating story in your own paper to-night," remarked Kennedy, as I
came in one evening with the four or five newspapers I was in the habit
of reading to see whether they had beaten the Star in getting any news
of importance.

"I'll bet I do," I said, "or I was one of about a dozen who worked it
up. It's the Shaw murder trial. There isn't another that's even a bad
second."

"I am afraid the cigars will be on you, Walter. Crowded over on the
second page by a lot of stale sensation that everyone has read for the
fiftieth time, now, you will find what promises to be a real sensation,
a curious half-column account of the sudden death of John G. Fletcher."

I laughed. "Craig," I said, "when you put up a simple death from
apoplexy against a murder trial, and such a murder trial; well, you
disappoint me--that's all."

"Is it a simple case of apoplexy?" he asked, pacing up and down the
room, while I wondered why he should grow excited over what seemed a
very ordinary news item, after all. Then he picked up the paper and read
the account slowly aloud.

JOHN G. FLETCHER, STEEL MAGNATE, DIES SUDDENLY

SAFE OPEN BUT LARGE SUM OF CASH UNTOUCHED

John Graham Fletcher, the aged philanthropist and steelmaker, was found
dead in his library this morning at his home at Fletcherwood, Great
Neck, Long Island. Strangely, the safe in the library in which he kept
his papers and a large sum of cash was found opened, but as far as could
be learned nothing is missing.

It had always been Mr. Fletcher's custom to rise at seven o'clock. This
morning his housekeeper became alarmed when he had not appeared by nine
o'clock. Listening at the door, she heard no sound. It was not locked,
and on entering she found the former steel-magnate lying lifeless on
the floor between his bedroom and the library adjoining. His personal
physician, Dr. W. C. Bryant, was immediately notified.

Close examination