the loved dead from the grave in the hope of
injuring my reputation. Well, time will show my innocence."

So saying, Pattmore pressed Miller's hand warmly, as if overcome with
emotion, and passed into the office. Mr. Green and Mr. Knox were
watching him, and when he went up stairs, he was followed by Knox, who
saw him go into his room. Knox immediately came down stairs and passed
across the street to a corner where I had agreed to wait for him. Having
heard his report I said:

"Mr. Knox, you are a stranger here, so you had better go back to see
what Pattmore is doing. You can stumble into his room, as if you had
mistaken it for your own. Be quick!" I added, as he started, "for we
must keep watch of him every minute until the inquest has been held."

"Knox rushed into the hotel, ran up stairs and hastily entered
Pattmore's room, where he found Pattmore writing a letter.

"Oh! I beg pardon," said Knox, "I have mistaken the room," and so
saying, he withdrew and returned to me.

"So he is writing a letter, is he?" said I. "We must learn the contents
of that letter, and I have not a minute to lose. Knox, find Green and
Miller and bring them over here at once. Thank goodness, it is getting
so dark that we shall not be noticed."

Knox was off like a shot, and in a very few minutes all my men were with
me.

"Green," I said, "go to your hotel, pay your bill, and proceed to the
Pattmore House. When you register your name, you must hail the clerk as
an old acquaintance. This will be an easy matter, as hotel clerks are
known by hundreds of people. Miller, you must be in the office at the
same time, and you must both remain there until Pattmore puts his letter
in the mail-box. Then, Green you must ask the clerk out to take a drink,
and while you are gone, Miller must get possession of the letter. When
you have secured it, come over to the Globe Hotel, where I am stopping."

Green hurried off to the Clarendon House to get his carpet-bag, and
Miller returned to the Pattmore House. I also sent Knox to watch
Pattmore, and to follow him wherever he might go, until he retired for
the night.

Soon after Miller reached the office, Pattmore came down stairs with a
letter, which Miller carefully scrutinized, so as to be able to
recognize it among a group of others.

"Has the mail for the West closed yet?" asked Pattmore.

"No," replied the clerk, "there is still about an hour to spare."

Pattmore then dropped his letter into the