murder has
precipitated things. We can no longer delay giving our information. The
only thing is that I should have liked Hilliard to be here to tell it
instead of me, for our discovery is really due to him."

"I can see Mr. Hilliard afterwards. Meantime tell me the story
yourself."

Merriman thereupon related his and Hilliard's adventures and experiences
from his own first accidental visit to the clearing when he noticed
the changing of the lorry number, right up to his last meeting with Mr.
Coburn, when the latter expressed his intention of breaking away from
the gang. He hid nothing, explaining without hesitation his reasons
for urging the delay in informing the authorities, even though he
quite realized his action made him to some extent an accomplice in the
conspiracy.

Willis was much more impressed by the story than he would have admitted.
Though it sounded wild and unlikely, then was a ring of truth in
Merriman's manner which went far to convince the other of its accuracy.
He did not believe, either that anyone could have invented such a story.
It's very improbability was an argument for its truth.

And if it were true, what a vista it opened up to himself! The solution
of the murder problem would be gratifying enough but it was a mere
nothing compared to the other. If he could search out and bring to
naught such a conspiracy as Merriman's story indicated, he would be a
made man. It would be the crowning point of his career, and would bring
him measurably nearer to that cottage and garden in the country to
which for years past he had been looking forward. Therefore no care and
trouble would be too great to spend on the matter.

Putting away thoughts of self, therefore, and deliberately concentrating
on the matter in hand, he set himself to consider in detail what his
visitor had told him and get the story clear in his mind. Then slowly
and painstakingly he began to ask questions.

"I take it, Mr. Merriman, that your idea is that Mr. Coburn was murdered
by a member of the syndicate?"

"Yes, and I think he foresaw his fate. I think when he told them he was
going to break with them they feared he might betray them, and wanted to
be on the safe side."

"Any of them a tall, stoutly built man?"

"Captain Beamish is tall and strongly built, but I should not say he was
stout."

"Describe him."

"He stooped and was a little round-shouldered, but even then he was
tall. If he had held himself up he would hav