er
prints is on it."

The prisoner's head jerked back as if struck a blow. He looked at
the file, he reached out for it and drew his hand back. He looked
with startled eyes at his inquisitor. He sat back in his chair. He
sneered:

"Aw, hell, it's a frame up. How can my finger prints be on--" he
sprang to his feet. "I wasn't there, I tell you, I wasn't there."
The last word ended in a scream. He stood tense, rigid and fell
back into his chair. He took an ornate handkerchief from his
pocket and wiped his palms. He passed the handkerchief over his
face.

Conners looked toward the men who had brought in the prisoner. He
asked:

"Got him booked?"

"No, we're jest holdin' him."

"Take him away and book him. Charge him with the murder of August
Schurman."

During the cross-examination, Professor Brierly had not once taken
his eyes from the prisoner. He was staring at him with the intent
absorption he gave to an interesting specimen under the
microscope. As they were about to lead Smith away, Professor
Brierly started forward.

"Just a moment, Sergeant, before you take him away, I'd like to
have an impression of his mouth, rather his teeth, his upper and
lower teeth. If there is a dentist near by--"

"His teeth, Professor. In the name of God what do you want with an
impression of his teeth."

The assistant district attorney injected himself into the
proceedings:

"District Attorney McCall, Sergeant, gave explicit orders that
Professor Brierly be given every opportunity to make a complete
examination; that he be afforded every facility--"

"Oh, all right. We'll have some dentistry. Dan, go over across the
street and ask Doc Harris to come over here with the material for
takin' an impression. Step on it."

When the impression had been taken, Professor Brierly said to the
dentist:

"Doctor, we should like to have a model of this right away,
please. It is important."

"It may not be a very good one, Professor, a stone model would be
better, but it will take--"

"Yes, I know, that will take too long. Speed is essential. It will
be accurate enough. Hasten the setting, please, doctor."

When the prisoner was taken away, the Sergeant turned to Professor
Brierly; he said with gracious condescension:

"I dunno what that impression is for, Professor, but I guess mebbe
you know what you're doin'. But we got the man who bumped off
Schurman, ain't we?"

Professor Brierly took from his pocket an object that he s