der Hunt's name. This was
immediately answered by the clicking of the electric door opener.
Hunt's man-servant stood at the apartment door, and after closing it
behind him, ushered Marsh down a short hall and into the living
room. Marsh's quick eye took in the luxuriousness of the
furnishings--and something more. He surmised that Hunt was a
bachelor. Hunt advanced to meet him with extended hand.

"Good evening, Mr. Marsh," Hunt greeted him, affably. "I hope you
bring me some important information."

"I think it will at least be interesting," returned Marsh, as he
handed his hat and coat to Hunt's man.

A log fire blazed in a large open fireplace. Before this was a
deeply upholstered davenport plentifully supplied with extra
cushions, and at either side of the fireplace were large lounging
chairs. Hunt called Marsh's attention to these and told him to make
himself comfortable. As Hunt seated himself on the davenport, Marsh
decided to take one of the chairs near the fire. This gave him the
advantage of having the firelight on Hunt's face while his own was
more or less in the shadow, for the heavily shaded lamps about the
room furnished only a soft glow that made details indistinct.

Hunt clasped his hands and leaning forward rested his elbows on his
knees. "Tell me what you found in Merton's rooms yesterday," he
said.

"I found absolutely nothing of importance," replied Marsh. It might
be splitting hairs, he thought, but it was Morgan who had actually
discovered the notebook. "I looked carefully through his dresser,"
he want on, "and also examined all the papers in the desk."

"And you found nothing of importance, Mr. Marsh?"

"Nothing," replied March, putting as strong a note of positiveness
into his voice as possible, for he now began to suspect to whom the
notebook had belonged. "The desk contained only personal and a
little business correspondence. Morgan and I examined all the
signatures. If you looked that correspondence over, as I presume you
did, you will acknowledge that no suspicion could be directed at the
men whose names appeared there."

Hunt nodded in an absent-minded way and again asked, "Perhaps this
man Morgan found something?"

"I would have known if he had," said Marsh, again evasively. "I
entered the room with him, and as you know, we left together."

Hunt now seemed satisfied that Marsh had no special information to
give him about the contents of Merton's rooms: "Well, tell me just
what