e for the present. He's an obstacle to the
progress of the investigation, if not the actual murderer."

Again Manning studied the newspaper account of the crime.

"Confound it!" he exploded, crumpling the paper. "I've read every line
printed about the case. I've talked with the Coroner and discussed the
case with Greig for half an hour this morning. If it meant a seat in
heaven for me, I couldn't offer a guess as to how the assassin got to
Whitmore. That man came down to his office yesterday morning, greeting
his employes with a smile, distributing the most kindly remarks. It
can't be that two or three hours later all those men would join in a
conspiracy to shield his murderer. And yet, if they didn't see him enter
or leave and didn't hear a shot, how the devil did the assassin get in
and out?"

Britz smiled indulgently on his chief.

"When I have examined an enlarged photograph of Whitmore's wound and
studied the report of the autopsy, I'll answer your question. That part
of the mystery gives me no concern. It solves itself. Moreover, the
solution is so simple, you'll kick yourself for not having thought of it
immediately."

Manning looked annoyed.

"Your confounded habit of never revealing anything until you're
absolutely sure you're right is a damned nuisance," he blurted. "But I
suppose it's useless to urge you to tell. I've got a headache trying to
figure it out, but now I'll leave it to you."

"You may," Britz accepted the responsibility. "What we've got to
ascertain is who committed the murder."

"And when we've done that, he'll bring thirty clerks forward to swear
that no one entered Whitmore's room," said the chief, a note of sarcasm
in his voice. "How are we going to obtain legal evidence, not deductions
against him?"

"By first making sure which of the persons intimately connected with the
case did NOT commit the murder, and accusing him or her of the crime."

Manning eyed the lieutenant dubiously.

"In other words, you're going to prepare a lamb for slaughter in the
hope that the wolf will come forward and confess?" drawled the chief.

"Yes," acknowledged Britz.

"It's an established characteristic of wolves--saving the innocent lamb
from slaughter, isn't it?" mocked Manning.

"This wolf may be a domesticated animal--or perhaps not a wolf at all."

"Suppose you find that Beard is the murderer?" the chief shot at the
detective.

"Then we'll release him and lock up someone that isn't."

"