ar remained stationary upon the crest of the hill, a
stubborn, lifeless mass of metal.

Evidently that jerk had wrought havoc with some delicate adjustment, he
reasoned, perhaps the wiring, but it was too dark to diagnose just where
the trouble lay. It was cold, also, and his numb fingers refused to be
of much assistance. He gave over his efforts finally, and stared about
with a troubled look in his eyes. This was childish, utterly idiotic. He
wanted to laugh, but instead he cursed, then cranked the motor viciously
until the sweat stood out upon his forehead.

An hour later he was towed into town behind a rescue-car summoned by
telephone from the nearest garage. As he left his machine to board a
Subway train, the mechanic announced:

"Maybe it was a good thing you broke down before you hit that hill,
boss. There was a bad accident at the turn, to-day; the police are going
to close the street till spring."

Murray was not superstitious, but, recalling his many failures at
Goldfield, he decided he would make no further attempt to do away with
himself by means of his motor-car. Now that this particular road was
closed to traffic, he knew of no other place so favorable to his
project, and, inasmuch as the time was growing short, to be only
partially successful in his attempt would mean utter ruin. With no
little regret, therefore, he made up his mind to fall back upon poison,
which at least was certain, even though possessed of obvious drawbacks.

His experience with DeVoe had rendered him a bit cynical regarding the
value of friendship, hence it was with no fear of a checkmate that he
telephoned to Dr. Herkimer and made an appointment for that afternoon.
When the doctor arrived at the club, Murray laid the matter before him
in a concise, cold-blooded manner, and was relieved to hear him voice
exactly the words DeVoe had used.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to call here for me to-morrow morning. You will find me dead
in my bed. I want you to examine me and call it heart failure or
whatever you think best. Your word will be sufficient; there will be no
suspicion, no further examination, at least, until the poison I intend
to use will have had time to disappear or change its form."

"And why should I do this?" The doctor looked his friend over oddly.

"Here is one reason which I hope is sufficient." Murray held out a
promissory note for the same amount as the one he had executed for
DeVoe.

Herkimer to