er despair in the rumbling,
animal-like note. Nora laughed.

"Laugh away," the inspector roared, "but make Garth forget he's a
detective if he can't do better than hound a sick man with a cheap
automobile case."

From her dark and striking face Nora's quiet eyes smiled sympathetically
at Garth.

"These unimportant things, father, are sometimes the most important of
all," she said. "Jim's right. It's odd no witnesses can be found."

As if there had been something prophetic in her words and her attitude,
a muffled knock came from the outer door.

"Why doesn't he ring?" the inspector growled. "You haven't had the bell
disconnected, Nora? Good Lord! Am I as sick as that?"

Nora, a trifle bewildered, moved towards the door. "Queer! And I think
there are two in the hall."

Garth, as he always did, marveled at her acute perception. For, although
he had heard no footsteps, no voices, two men followed Nora into the
living room. The one in advance was young, with a frightened and
apprehensive face. His companion was older and portlier, with narrow
eyes and full-blooded cheeks. And those eyes were uneasy. For Garth they
did not quite veil a sense of sheer terror. With a growing discomfort he
guessed the cause of this visit.

Nora's voice betrayed none of the amazement Garth knew she felt.

"It's Mr. Alsop, father," she said--"Mr. Addington Alsop."

The inspector had already struggled to rise. He conceded the importance
of this unexpected call. He apologized for his failure.

"Nora's got me wound up like a mummy--"

Alsop broke in rapidly.

"No politeness, inspector. I must speak to you. I'm up against it.
They're after me."

He sat down heavily. The young man, whom he introduced as his secretary,
Arthur Marvin, lighted a cigarette with trembling fingers. Garth watched
them both while the inspector explained that they might speak freely
before him and Nora. Alsop, he knew, because of his genius for
organizing money and industry, and his utter ruthlessness in dealing
with those whom necessity had thrown within his power, had made
dangerous and active enemies. Garth was aware, moreover, that recently
Alsop had publicly defied certain organizations which had asked what he
believed to be too much. The detective could understand the financier's
position. His death might be a cheap risk for outside fanatics to take
to destroy his leadership against the forces of radicalism, for there
were few men strong enough to replac