id. "What sort of----"

Mr. Wicks made a sudden snatch at his wisp of hair, adjusted it quite to
the other side of his head, then as abruptly drew a paper from his pocket
and thrust it into Garrison's hand.

"Statement of the case," he interrupted. "Read it."

Garrison accepted the document, spread it open, and read as follows:

STATEMENT: Case of John Hardy.

Name--John Hardy.

Age--57.

Occupation--Real estate dealer (retired).

Residence--Unfixed, changed frequently (last, Hickwood, two days,
boarding).

Family--No immediate family (no one nearer than nephews and nieces).

Rating in Bradbury's--No rating.

Insured in any other companies--No.

Insured with us for what amount--Twenty thousand dollars.

Name of beneficiary--Charles Scott.

Residence--Hickwood, New York (village).

Occupation--Inventor.

Date of subject's death--May 27th.

Place of death--Village of Branchville (near Hickwood).

Verdict of coroner--Death from natural causes (heart failure or apoplexy).

Body claimed by--Paul Durgin (nephew).

Body interred where--Shipped to Vermont for burial.

Suspicious circumstances--Beneficiary paid once before on claim for
similar amount, death of risk having been equally sudden and unexplained.

Remarks--The body was found on the porch of an empty house (said by
superstitious neighbors to be haunted). It was found in sitting posture,
leaning against post of porch. No signs of violence except a green stain
on one knee. Deceased uncommonly neat. There is no grass growing before
the empty house, owing to heavy shade of trees. No signs of struggle
near house. Details supplied by old woman, Mrs. Webber, whose son found
deceased. Our company not represented, either at inquest or afterward,
as no notification of subject's death was filed until the 31st inst.

At the bottom, written in pencil, appeared the words:

"Quiet case. Steffas."

That was all. Garrison turned the paper. There was nothing on the
reverse. Placing it face upward on the table, he thrust his hands into
his pockets and looked at Mr. Wicks.

"I'm expected to fasten this crime on Scott?" he inquired. "Is that what
your company requires?"

"Fasten the crime on the guilty man!" replied the aggressive Mr. Wicks.
"If Scott didn't do it, we'll pay the claim. If he did, we'll send him
to the chair. It may not be murder at all."

"Of course," said Garrison. "Who wrote this report?"

"What's that to you?" s