together the links which I have gathered, you will agree with me in the
moral certainty that George Gordon was murdered by Alexander P.
Drysdale, and no other."

"Go on, go on, Mr. Pinkerton," said Mr. Gordon, in great excitement. "It
seems impossible, yet there are some slight fancies in my mind which
seem to confirm that theory. Tell us all your conclusions, and how you
have arrived at them."

"Well, first, I am satisfied that only a particular friend would have
been admitted to the bank by George that night; second, the blow was
struck from behind, on the left side, showing that the murderer was
probably left-handed. Mr. Drysdale satisfies both of these conditions; I
visited him to-day and saw him write an address in my note-book with his
left hand. Third, I have here a note for $927.78, signed 'Alexander P.
Drysdale;' the signature, you say, is genuine, and further, you told me
yesterday that you had not held a note of Mr. Drysdale's for some
years. On reflection you will see that this note could not have been
taken from the packages of bank archives which were burned, for it never
could have been put there; moreover it is dated '1856,' and must have
been made some time last year. As you have no record of such a note, I
infer that it was drawn the night of the murder. Fourthly, I have
conclusive evidence of that fact in this slip of blood-stained paper,"
and so saying, I produced the slip upon which George had done his
figuring.

"How! where!" exclaimed my listeners.

"Near the bottom of that paper you will find in light pencil marks three
numbers arranged like an example in subtraction, while the rest are all
additions in ink. The figures are: first, 1,252.00; then, 324.22; and
927.78 below the line. Mr. Drysdale's balance was $324.22, and the
amount of this note bearing his signature is $927.78. It looks to me as
if he wanted to draw $1,252.00, and that George subtracted the amount of
his balance in bank, $324.22, from the amount he wished to draw,
$1,252.00, and that Mr. Drysdale then gave his note for the difference,
$927.78. What do you think of my witness, gentlemen?"

The three gentlemen put their heads together over the paper long enough
to convince themselves that the figures were really there, and then they
resumed their seats in silence. I had watched their faces carefully as I
drew my conclusions, and had seen their expressions change from
incredulity to uncertainty, then to amazement, finally turni