an alibi for all his clients?" Manning
said experimentally.

"You caught my meaning precisely." The lawyer smiled confidently at the
officials. "Moreover, Mr. Coroner, I shall not hesitate to disclose the
nature of our alibis. The police may investigate them and we shall lend
all the assistance in our power."

"Of course, there can be no better defense than an alibi," commented the
coroner.

"Here are the facts," Luckstone proceeded eagerly. "On the day of the
crime, Mr. Collins did not leave his home. Neither did Mrs. Collins. All
the servants will bear us out in that. But we have other disinterested
witnesses who called at Mrs. Collins's house at various times during the
morning and who saw both Mr. and Mrs. Collins in the house. There is the
employe of the lighting company who came to read the electric meter, two
employes of a vacuum cleaning company whose names you may have, and the
canvasser for a magazine who came to solicit a subscription. I have no
hesitancy in giving you their names, so you may question them privately.

"As for Mr. Ward and Mr. Beard, their alibis are equally strong. Mr.
Ward took the eight-twenty train at Delmore Park, as was his daily
custom. He was seen by the station agent and the conductor. Moreover,
seven other residents of Delmore Park were in the same coach, and all of
them are prepared to testify in Mr. Ward's behalf. His movements after
arriving at Grand Central Station fortunately came under the observation
of disinterested witnesses. He rode downtown with two of his Delmore
Park friends, and one of them accompanied him to the door of the bank.
All the employes of the institution are prepared to testify that Mr.
Ward did not leave his office until two o'clock."

The lawyer paused to note the impression of his words on the coroner.
That official was listening intently, fully cognizant of the weighty
import of the attorney's statement.

"Is it necessary to supply an alibi for Mr. Beard?" Luckstone inquired,
as if under the impression that the secretary had been eliminated from
the case.

"If he has one you may as well outline it," the coroner replied.

The lawyer complied without further urging.

"Mr. Beard spent the entire morning in the vaults of a safety deposit
company whose name Lieutenant Britz already has. He was at all times
under the observation of the company's watchman."

With the air of one who has succeeded in establishing his case beyond
possibility of doubt,