ago, that is
exactly what we have _not_ done," rejoined Cleek, dropping to his knees
and examining the wall plug which had interested him before. Meanwhile,
Mr. Narkom strolled to the other side of the room, leaned against the
spinning wheel in an attitude of ease, and then ... as Cleek's fingers
began to trace an invisible path along the edge of the carpet, the
Superintendent gave out a sudden little cry and jumped as though he had
been shot.

"Eh?--what's the matter, old friend?" Cleek was on his feet in an
instant, for the Superintendent had gone a little pale, and was running
his hands up and down his back in a curious fashion.

"Pins and needles! Funniest sensation I've ever come across. Brrh! Just
like a slight electric shock."

Electric shock! Cleek was beside him in an instant, his face suddenly
alight, and his hands searching over the instrument, here, there, and
everywhere. Electric shock, eh? That was peculiar, to say the least of
it.

Then he stopped suddenly and sucked in his breath, and, whipping round
upon his heel, clapped the Superintendent upon the shoulder.

"And it takes _you_, after all, to lead us to the actual secret!" he
said affectionately, smiling into Mr. Narkom's astonished face. "For
here's the thing in a nutshell. What a blind fool I've been all the
time, old friend. Here's the murderer, the perpetrator of last night's
crime--the mechanical means of doing away with human life in such a
perplexing manner. Here--right here. See?"

"What the--what are you driving at, my dear chap?" ejaculated the
Superintendent excitedly, stooping at the pressure of Cleek's arm upon
his shoulder. "This--spinning-wheel thing? You don't mean to tell me
that _It_ murdered Sir Andrew, do you? Because I'm not fool enough to
believe _that_ story--and not dunderhead enough to be taken in by a
practical joke. What _do_ you mean, old chap? I'm on pins and needles to
know."

"And it's just those particular pins and needles of yours which have
found the thing out," returned Cleek in the sharp staccato of
excitement. "Look here! It's as easy as A B C--once you've got the hang
of it. And that sensation of yours _was_ an electric shock all right.
And it was just this spinning wheel which gave it to you. The thing's
wired--see? Devilishly well done, too, and disguised very successfully.
But here it is. Under the wheel. And see that funny box-like thing
attached, which looks as though it belonged to a part of the
m