he handles millions of dollars' worth of precious stones each
year, and has practically unlimited opportunities for theft, without
murder, if he were seeking to steal. He has been with that company
for several years, and that fact alone is certainly to his credit."

"Very good," commented the chief ambiguously. He paused an instant
to study this little man with an interest aroused by the sum of his
salary. "And what of Haney's description? His accusation?" he
asked.

"Haney might have lied, you know," retorted Mr. Wynne. "Men in his
position have been known to lie."

"I understood you to say," the chief resumed, heedless of the note of
irony in the other's voice, "that you and Miss Kellner are to be
married?"

"Yes."

"And that she is the only heir of her grandfather?"

"Yes."

"Therefore, at his death, the diamonds would become her property?"

For one instant Mr. Wynne seemed startled, and turned his clear eyes
full upon his interrogator, seeking the hidden meaning.

"Yes, but--" he began slowly.

"That's true, isn't it?" demanded the chief, with quick violence.

"Yes, that's true," Mr. Wynne admitted calmly.

"Therefore, indirectly, it would have been to _your_ advantage if Mr.
Kellner had died or had been killed?"

"In that the diamonds would have come to my intended wife, yes," was
the reply.

Mr. Czenki clasped and unclasped his thin hands nervously. His face
was again expressionless, and the beady eyes were fastened immovably
on Chief Arkwright's. Mr. Birnes was frankly amazed at this
unexpected turn of the affair. Suddenly Chief Arkwright brought his
hand down on the arm of his chair with a bang.

"Suppose, for the moment, that Red Haney lied, and that Mr. Czenki is
_not_ the murderer, then--As a matter of fact _your_ salary isn't
twenty-five thousand a year, is it?"

He was on his feet now, with blazing eyes, and one hand was thrust
accusingly into Mr. Wynne's face. It was simulation; Mr. Birnes
understood it; a police method of exhausting possibilities. There
was not the slightest movement by Mr. Wynne to indicate uneasiness at
the charge, not a tremor in his voice when he spoke again.

"I understand perfectly, Chief," he remarked coldly. "Just what was
the time of the crime, may I ask?"

"Answer my question," insisted the Chief thunderously.

"Now look here, Chief," Mr. Wynne went on frigidly, "I am not a child
to be frightened into making any absurd statements. I do _not_