father, and now
sat huddled forward in a fallen attitude in the swing-back office chair
opposite Ross, transparent hands lying aimlessly upon the desk-top, head
downthrown, jaw dropped, and with a little sinister blackened puncture
in the temple telling the tale of the air-pistol's accurate aim only too
well.

Cleek went up to the desk and laid his hand upon Ross's shoulder. In an
instant the young man sprang to his feet, eyes ablaze, face chalk-white,
startled and not a little displeased at this intrusion upon him and his
dead by a man whom he had met only casually a few hours back, and who
had witnessed that never-to-be-forgotten quarrel between him and his
father which would sear his memory now forever.

"I-- I---- This is hardly the hour and the time, Mr. Deland," he began
in a hushed voice; but Cleek silenced him, the queer little one-sided
smile travelling up his cheek, and his eyes serious and not a little sad
as they rested upon the haggard face of this heir to an unhappy
inheritance.

"That's all right, my dear chap--really," he said in his clear,
low-pitched voice. "You see, my profession happens to be that of a
detective, and I stand at present as official representative of Scotland
Yard. The Sergeant here has come to do his unpleasant duty, and place a
guard over the body. It would be better for you, really, to go and lie
down. After such a terrible shock...."

"I'll go, and gladly!" returned Ross with a grim nod of the head and a
sudden warming of colour in the pale cheeks of him. "It's not been the
pleasantest task sitting here with--him--like that, Mr. Deland. And as
you happen to have jumped up from nowhere and taken matters so entirely
in hand, I'll relinquish my trust. But I didn't somehow like to
leave--him--alone. After what's happened--the strange method of his
death--and all the rest of this ghastly affair, I meant to keep the rest
of the world away from him, if possible, and if the murderer should
chance to come back!"--a sudden light flashed into his eyes and
involuntarily his body stiffened--"then I should be ready for him."

"Spoken like a soldier and a gentleman," said Cleek softly, with a nod
of understanding. "Now I want to have a look at your father, Mr. Duggan.
And I'd like it if you could just find it in your heart to stay here
with me for a moment or two, and acquaint me with the facts. Your sister
has told me the rough outline, and----"

"My sister?" His voice showed the surpris