e eating. It is a good place to eat, too. I've had nearly all of
my meals there since I took this apartment."

The others agreeing, the three men then walked down to the little
restaurant. As it was an off hour they were able to get a table in a
secluded corner where their conversation could not be overheard.

"I think this lunch should be on me," said Morgan, as he looked at
Marsh with a twinkle in his eye.

"No," objected Marsh, "I should hardly call you a loser. Your work
has really disclosed a lot."

"Anyway, Headquarters will think you're doing something, Morgan,"
broke in Tierney. "All those descriptions you shot over the 'phone
today looked as if you were getting the dope on somebody."

"I suggest," said Marsh, "that as you fellows have been my guests
most of the day, you now be my guests for luncheon. Order what you
like. You can get anything here from waffles to a full meal."

"A big, fat, juicy steak for mine!" cried. Tierney.

"Yes, you're an invalid, aren't you!" scoffed Morgan.

Tierney rubbed the bump on his head and grinned.

They gave their orders to the waitress, and while waiting, Morgan
explained Marsh's participation in the work in reply to an anxious
reminder from Tierney. The startling shattering of the net, which
they believed they had drawn around Marsh, for once stunned Tierney
into silence. When their hunger had been partly satisfied, Morgan
reminded Marsh that they had not yet analysed the peculiar situation
discovered in the Atwood apartment.

"I hurried you fellows out so we could talk over that suitcase,"
Morgan explained. "Of course, I've got some ideas of my own, but I'd
like to know what you think, Marsh."

"Well," replied Marsh, "if you and Tierney will tell me exactly what
you discovered, I'll tell you what I think."

"My part's easy to tell," said Tierney. "I didn't find anything
suspicious. I spent most of the time turning over a lot of pink silk
and lace things that almost made me blush. There were no letters or
photographs, and as far as I could see, none of the things had been
disturbed until I turned them over myself."

"And I," said Morgan, "found the mess that you saw in the maid's
room. I also discovered that the back door was unlocked."

"I had a theory," explained, Marsh, "and what you say about the back
door clinches it. Now, suppose you were a crook, and had committed a
crime that, through careless management, had brought the police
right next door to your