ce. "You did, I tell you! You
did!"

Garson leaned still further forward, until his face was almost level
with the Inspector's. His eyes were unclouded now, were blazing. His
voice came resonant in its denial. The entire pose of him was intrepid,
dauntless.

"And I tell you, I didn't!"

There passed many seconds, while the two men battled in silence, will
warring against will.... In the end, it was the murderer who triumphed.

Suddenly, Burke dropped the pistol into his pocket, and lolled back in
his chair. His gaze fell away from the man confronting him. In the same
instant, the rigidity of Garson's form relaxed, and he straightened
slowly. A tide of secret joy swept through him, as he realized his
victory. But his outward expression remained unchanged.

"Oh, well," Burke exclaimed amiably, "I didn't really think you did,
but I wasn't sure, so I had to take a chance. You understand, don't you,
Joe?"

"Sure, I understand," Garson replied, with an amiability equal to the
Inspector's own.

Burke's manner continued very amicable as he went on speaking.

"You see, Joe, anyhow, we've got the right party safe enough. You can
bet on that!"

Garson resisted the lure.

"If you don't want me----" he began suggestively; and he turned toward
the door to the outer hall. "Why, if you don't want me, I'll--get
along."

"Oh, what's the hurry, Joe?" Burke retorted, with the effect of stopping
the other short. He pressed the buzzer as the agreed signal to Cassidy.
"Where did you say Mary Turner was last night?"

At the question, all Garson's fears for the woman rushed back on him
with appalling force. Of what avail his safety, if she were still in
peril?

"I don't know where she was," he exclaimed, doubtfully. He realized his
blunder even as the words left his lips, and sought to correct it as
best he might. "Why, yes, I do, too," he went on, as if assailed by
sudden memory. "I dropped into her place kind of late, and they said
she'd gone to bed--headache, I guess.... Yes, she was home, of course.
She didn't go out of the house, all night." His insistence on the point
was of itself suspicious, but eagerness to protect her stultified his
wits.

Burke sat grim and silent, offering no comment on the lie.

"Know anything about young Gilder?" he demanded. "Happen to know where
he is now?" He arose and came around the desk, so that he stood close to
Garson, at whom he glowered.

"Not a thing!" was the earnest answer. But