to which both body
and nerve had been subjected was too much for even my hardy body and
that I fell to the floor of the cedar closet and from a faint went into
a sleep that lasted until two. I can easily account for the last hour
because it took me that long to cut the thick paneling from the door
of the closet. However, I am here now, sir, and in very much the same
condition in which I left that house. I thought my first duty was to
tell you that I had seen Hiram Sears in that house last night and put
you on his track."

I drew a long breath,--I think the inspector did. I had been almost
rigid from excitement, and I don't believe he was quite free from it
either. But his voice was calmer than I expected when he finally said:

"I'll remember this. It was a good night's work." Then the inspector put
to him some questions, which seemed to fix the fact that Sears had left
the house before Sweetwater did, after which he bade him send certain
men to him and then go and fix himself up.

I believe he had forgotten me. I had almost forgotten myself.

XV. SEARS OR WELLGOOD

Not till the inspector had given several orders was I again summoned
into his presence. He smiled as our eyes met, but did not allude, any
more than I did, to what had just passed. Nevertheless, we understood
each other.

When I was again seated, he took up the conversation where we had left
it.

"The description I was just about to read to you," he went on; "will you
listen to it now?"

"Gladly," said I; "it is Wellgood's, I believe."

He did not answer save by a curious glance from under his brows, but,
taking the paper again from his desk, went on reading:

"A man of fifty-five looking like one of sixty. Medium height,
insignificant features, head bald save for a ring of scanty dark hair.
No beard, a heavy nose, long mouth and sleepy half-shut eyes capable of
shooting strange glances. Nothing distinctive in face or figure save
the depth of his wrinkles and a scarcely observable stoop in his right
shoulder. Do you see Wellgood in that?" he suddenly asked.

"I have only the faintest recollection of his appearance," was my
doubtful reply. "But the impression I get from this description is not
exactly the one I received of that waiter in the momentary glimpse I got
of him."

"So others have told me before;" he remarked, looking very disappointed.
"The description is of Sears given me by a man who knew him well, and if
we could fit the de