ill fix that all right. I do not
intend to work, and you need not do so either."

Sommers looked up at his friend, who smiled in a peculiar manner, and
was about to question him further upon the subject, but at that
moment the conversation for that day was interrupted by the
announcement of a visit from Mr. Bollman, one of the counsel Bucholz
had employed to conduct his case, and who was the only one of the
attorneys who made frequent visits to their client.

Sommers bade his friend good morning, and, as he left the cell, he
ran forcibly against the listening Brown, who had ensconced himself
near the door. The two men glared at each other for a moment, and
then, without speaking, each went their separate ways. Sommers
determined to keep his eye on this fellow, and dispose of him in a
very decisive way should he prove further troublesome.

Thus day by day did the intimacy between Bucholz and Sommers
increase, while the watchfulness of Brown had not diminished in the
least. He seemed to keep his searching eyes upon the pair, and
scarcely any movement was made that escaped his notice.

CHAPTER XXI.

_A Romantic Theory Dissipated._--_The Fair Clara becomes
communicative._--_An Interview with the Barkeeper of "The Crescent
Hotel."_

While these events were transpiring within the jail, I was actively
engaged in the attempt to follow the clue in relation to the two
suspicious individuals who had made their mysterious appearance at
Stamford on the night of the murder of Henry Schulte.

It will be remembered that their actions attracted universal
attention, and that, after inquiring for a train to New York, they
had taken one going in a directly opposite direction.

Judicious inquiries soon brought my officers in personal contact with
several parties who distinctly recollected the two strange persons
above mentioned, and from their descriptions we were enabled to trace
them to their places of residence.

It was ascertained that they were two respectable and peaceably-disposed
Germans who resided at New Haven, and who had come to Stamford on
that evening to attend a frolic at the house of a German farmer who
lived near to that place. They had spent the evening in a jovial
manner, and had left the house under the impression that by hastening
their steps they would be in time to catch the train for their homes.
They had consequently run the greater part of the distance to the
station, which being nearly a mile a