"No you won't!" interposed Collins. "I'll give my version of it."

"Officer, I have nothing to hide! I'll tell the circumstances precisely
as they occurred," Ward repeated.

"No he won't!" protested Collins. "Let me speak! I'm willing to swear to
everything I say."

It was almost ludicrous to behold the utter demoralization into which
Luckstone's clients were thrown. Britz had brought them out of their
coverts and forced them into the open--and instantly they started
fighting among themselves.

Luckstone made one ineffectual effort to re-unite them in solid rank
against the attacking police enemy, then he also surrendered.

"Let Beard talk!" he exclaimed. "He may be able to save himself from an
awful predicament."

"Sit down, gentlemen!" Britz said, as he motioned them to their seats.
"I'll hear what Mr. Beard has to say."

CHAPTER XXIV

Beard began to speak, but the tremor of overmastering excitement in his
voice, made his words indistinct, incomprehensible. Not until he had
proceeded for several minutes did he regain control of his voice, and
then he had to repeat what in his agitation he had but half-uttered.

"I met Mr. Whitmore when he left the train at Philadelphia after the
substitution of prisoners had been achieved," Beard said. "We proceeded
to New York, arriving here about three in the afternoon. I knew that
Ward and Mrs. Collins were extremely anxious to see Mr. Whitmore, and he
likewise was aware of it. So I telephoned Mrs. Collins and her brother
to come to my home.

"As a precautionary measure, Mr. Whitmore had decided to stay at my
house until the mustache which he had shaved off was restored to his
lip. He thought it best not to appear in the streets as there was grave
danger of meeting one of the officials with whom he had come in contact
after his arrest.

"Evidently Collins was at home when Mrs. Collins received my message
asking her to come to my house. She and Ward arrived there about five
o'clock. It was already dark and I switched on the electric lights.

"They met Mr. Whitmore in the library. The greetings were most cordial.
Then Ward began to recite his business troubles. He had proceeded only a
few minutes when the door-bell rang. I responded and Collins forced his
way into the house. Hearing voices in the library upstairs, he darted up
the steps and burst in on Mr. Whitmore. Collins had been drinking--just
enough to make him ugly. As I entered the room I heard him up-bra