't even give me a hint?" cried Holmes
reproachfully.

"Why, I thought I'd tell Mr. Griffin first," answered Dick.

"I have seldom heard anything that interested me more," admitted
the lawyer. "Yet, why didn't you bring Dr. Davidson and Dr. Carter
here with you?"

"One good reason," replied Dick bluntly, "was that I didn't know
anything about you, Mr. Griffin. I am glad to say that I have
found you most fair minded. But, not knowing you, I wanted to
see you and judge for myself whether there was any chance that
you were in league with my enemies. Had I made up my mind that
you were anywhere nearly as bad as young Dodge, I would have let
this matter get as far as the courts, when I would have overwhelmed
you all with charges of perjury, and would have proved my charges
at least against Bert Dodge and his three tools."

"Mr. Prescott, of course I don't mean to throw any doubt over the
truth of what you have just told me. At the same time, as counsel
for the Dodges, I shall have to satisfy myself on these particulars.

"Do you know Dr. Carter's voice well?" asked Prescott.

"Very well."

"Then kindly allow me to use your telephone."

Pulling the desk instrument toward him, and hailing central, Dick
called for "33 Main."

"Hello, is Dr. Carter in," called Dick after a moment. "This
is Prescott. Do you recognize my voice? Very good, sir; will
you now talk with Lawyer Griffin, who is beside me, and tell him
what you heard last night in the room of one Peters? Here is
Dr. Cater waiting for you Mr. Griffin."

Lawyer and physician talked together for some minutes, the attorney's
excitement increasing. Greg, in the meantime, was executing a
silent jig over near the door of the room.

"Now, you can call up Dr. Davidson," suggested Cadet Prescott.

"I don't need to," replied the lawyer. "Dr. Carter has substantiated
all that you told me, and has informed me that Dr. Davidson is
ready to be called upon for the same information. Instead, I
shall call upon some one else."

An instant later the attorney called up another number.

"Hello," he said presently. "Connect me with Mr. Dodge. Hello,
is that you, Mr. Dodge? Can you reach your son readily? Oh,
he is there at the bank with you, is he? This is Mr. Griffin.
I shall expect you both at my office within five minutes. Yes;
about the Prescott matter. No; I can't tell you over the 'phone.
Both of you come here. Goodbye!"

As though to wind up the c