uspect.

"But you must, Zizi," wailed Julie. "You know as well as I do that Mac
never killed Gilbert. Now, find out who did!"

Wise confessed himself baffled, but asked for a little more time before
admitting himself vanquished.

"You see, Ziz," he said to his astute young helper, "there are so many
interesting side issues, that we get off the main track. I own up I'm
quite as much absorbed in this Spiritism racket as I am in the murder
case."

"That's the trouble, Penny," Zizi returned, gravely. "You're scattering
your energies. And it won't do. You've got to concentrate on the Blair
murder. And you've got to get at it from a different angle. Suppose you
take a run out West and see that mother and sister. They may give you a
line on things."

"I've been thinking I'd do that. There must be something in Blair's past
that can be unearthed and may prove enlightening. I could do it in a
week, and it might be time well spent."

"Of course it would. And, truly, there's no way to look, here. I've
thought and thought but we've no hint or clew pointing to any one but
Thorpe,--and, it wasn't Thorpe."

Then Zizi told him of the strange man she had seen in the Crane library
the night before.

"And you let him get away! Why, Zizi?"

"He was no burglar. I saw that. There was no use in alarming the house.
He was----"

"Well?"

"Oh, I knew at once who he was. He was the John Harrison who sent that
Douglas person here to interview Mr. Crane."

"Well, is he to be allowed to walk in and out as he chooses! How did he
get in?"

"I don't know, but I hope he'll come again. I like him. Why, Penny, he's
a gentleman."

"But who is he? What's he up to?"

"He didn't confide in me, but I know. He's the medium's agent. He comes
here and gets data and information and tells her and she works it off
on the Cranes. I saw through that at once. He must have a key and he
just walks in and helps himself, you see."

"Absurd!"

"Maybe; but that's what he does, all the same."

"And he told you his name!"

"Yes; but that's nothing. He'll have another name and another home
before night. These mediums resort to the strangest tricks to get their
stuff! Why, Penny, he was prowling in that drawer where the tobacco
pouch is, and I think he meant to take it away so they could
'materialize' it over again. I'm going to watch for him nights. He'll
come again."

But Zizi was mistaken. John Harrison did not come again, though the girl
was aler