ing of anything
but you."

"He went to a lot of trouble that he could have spared himself for all
of me!" grunted Krech, feeling his forehead. "I must look like the
happy end of a barroom brawl. Why didn't he mail it?"

"By golly, I don't know. That's a mighty pertinent question, Mr.
Krech. We'll get the answer when we get the crook, I expect. I'm not
so fearfully surprised at getting back this notebook; did it ever
strike you that there might be another explanation of its disappearance
other than simple theft?"

"N-no. If there's another reason, I missed it."

"The dagger wasn't used to further the looting of Varr's desk. Just
the contrary is the truth, I believe. The notebook was stolen to cover
the theft of the dagger."

"Gee Joseph!" Krech whistled softly. "That checks up with the theory
of an inside job! Creighton--_who_?"

"That's something I hope to find out pretty soon," replied the
detective gravely. "Come on back to the house--and, listen! We lost
sight of the monk. We hunted a while until you tripped and hurt your
head, then we gave up the search and came home. Get it? Not another
word!"

"Right," said the big man obediently.

There was no one on the veranda when they emerged from the woods. Two
figures moved in the lamp-lit hall as they entered the house. Bates
came up to greet them nervously, and young Merrill lurked in the offing
looking curious.

"Is everything all right, sir?" asked the butler timidly.

"Perfectly all right. Where is Miss Copley?"

"Retired, sir. She left word for you that she would not be down again
this evening."

The news that she had left a message for him was welcome. He had been
troubled by the recollection of the cavalier fashion in which he had
shaken off her hand on his arm, and he was uncomfortably certain that
in his haste he had addressed her, as he thought of her, by her family
nickname.

"Go tap on her door, please, Bates, and tell her that I am back with
nothing to report. Wait--take Mr. Krech up with you and show him my
room. He has a forehead he wants to bathe."

The butler went off, and Krech, after a mild protest, accompanied him.
Creighton, when they were out of sight, beckoned Merrill to follow and
went swiftly into the living-room.

"Find out at once if any one has been absent from the house during the
past hour. Let me know."

"Done it already, sir. Thought you'd want it. Only one person I
haven't had my eye on."

"