t until tomorrow."

"Why?"

"If Braceway won't let matters drop as they are now, he'll insist on
following Morley to Washington. If he does, I'm going, too; and we might
as well get it over."

"You're not afraid our case won't hold water, are you?"

"No. The case stands on its own feet. There's no power on earth that
could break it down."

"Well, then, why----"

"I'll tell you why, chief. I've been set down here with this
tuberculosis. You know what that means, at least, several years of
convalescence. Why shouldn't I make use of those years, develop a
business in which I can engage while I'm here? This murder case has
opened the door for me, and I'm going to take advantage of it. Lawrence
Bristow, consulting detective and criminologist. How does that strike
you?"

"Fine!" said Greenleaf heartily. "And you're right. Your reputation's
made; and, even if you had to be away from Furmville a few days at a time
now and then, it wouldn't hurt your health."

The chief's tendency to claim credit for Carpenter's arrest had
disappeared. He liked Bristow, was impressed by his quiet effectiveness.

"I'm glad you think I can get away with it," the lame man said, much
pleased. "Now, you see why I want to go to Washington with Braceway. It's
merely to keep my hold on this case. If you say I'm entitled to the
credit for reading the riddle, I'm going to see that I get the credit."

"All right. I'll let Morley know he can go tonight, and he needn't worry
about our troubling him."

"Thanks. The sooner we gather up every little strand of evidence, the
better it will be."

Greenleaf prepared to leave. As he stood up, he caught sight of a young
man coming up Manniston Road.

"A stranger," he announced. "Another detective?"

Bristow glanced down the street.

"No. It's a newspaper correspondent. That's my guess. The Washington and
New York papers have had time to send special men here by now for feature
stories."

The young man went briskly up the steps of No. 5.

"I was right," concluded Bristow. "If you run into him, chief, do the
talking for the two of us. Just tell him I refuse to be interviewed."

"Why?" demanded Greenleaf. "An interview would give you good
advertising."

"There's just one sort of publicity that's better than talking," said
Bristow laconically; "aloofness, mystery. It makes people wonder, keeps
them talking."

It happened as Bristow had thought. Greenleaf, going down the walk, met
the stranger,