out incriminating himself. Unquestionably, it was my duty to follow this plan.
I got up early the next morning and devoted two strenuous hours to following up my slender clue. At the end of that time I was in possession of information that I hoped at least might result in a disagreement of the jury.
I entered the court room just before the judge took his seat. Immediately after, the State's belated witness came into the room, leaning heavily on the arm of a companion and looking very feeble.
I leaned over and whispered to Major Rankin that I would like to conduct the case from this point. He graciously consented, thinking perhaps that I merely wanted to do something to show my connection with the case.
The witness was sworn and the direct examination began.
"What is your name?"
He cleared his throat and answered weakly:
"Hiram Hankles."
"Your occupation?"
"I was secretary to Mr. Roy Bland."
"Were you in the office of Mr. Bland on June 30th?"
"I was."
"State whether or not Mr. Bland received a package on that afternoon."
"He did."
"What was in it!"
"Negotiable securities."
"Did you see them?"
"I did. Mr. Bland examined them in my presence."
"What did he do with them?"
"Put them in the safe."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Did he lock the safe?"
"No."
"What time did you leave?"
"A little before five."
"What was Mr. Bland's custom about leaving the office for the day?"
"He usually remained a little while after five to read and sign the day's letters."
"Who were present when the securities were received?"
"Only his brother, Egbert Bland."
"A little louder, please; the jury can't hear you."
The witness repeated his statement.
"Did Egbert Bland see the securities?"
"Yes."
"Did he see them put away?"
"Yes."
"What was the attitude of the two brothers toward one another?"
"They quarreled violently."
"Before or after the package had been received?"
"After."
"What was the subject of the disagreement?"
"Money. Egbert Bland wanted my employer to furnish him with money to prosecute some scheme of his and was refused. Mr. Roy Bland said no man with any sense would undertake such a thing, and Egbert got mad; they exchanged several harsh remarks and Egbert left, slamming the door."
"What time was this?"
"About half past four."
"How long did you remain?"
"About twenty minutes."
"Did you leave Mr. Bland in the office?"
"Yes."
"Was the safe locked?"
"No."
"Were the securities then in the safe?"
"They were."
"When did you return to the office?"
"About nine that evening."
"Why?"
"I was sent for and informed that Mr. Bland had been found dead in the office."
"Were the securities in the safe when you returned?" "No."
"Did you search the office?"
"Yes."
"Unsuccessfully?"
"Unsuccessfully."
The witness was then yielded to us. At a sign from me, Major Rankin said, "No questions."
The State rested, and I called my lone witness to the stand.
A BRIGHT-FACED young woman of twenty-five or thereabouts took the oath and announced her name was Susie Watson.
"Mrs. Watson," I asked, "were you in the Corporations Building on the thirtieth of June, last?"
"I was."
"In what connection?"
"I was a clerk in the office of the World Realty Company on the eleventh floor."
"Have you been there since?"
"No. I left my position to get married. I haven't been in the building since."
"Were you acquainted with the occupants of Mr. Bland's office?" "Only with Mr. Hankles. He was a tenant of one of the World Company's houses."
"When did you learn of the death of Mr. Bland?"
"Today."
"How long had you been employed in that building?"
"Five years."
"Between six and seven o'clock, is it possible for anyone to enter or leave the building without being seen by the elevator men?"
"Oh, yes. When the one elevator running goes up they could use the stairs without being seen, because usually there is no one in the hall then."
"What time did you leave the building on June 30th?"
"I left the office at a quarter of seven. It was my last day there and I stayed late to finish up some work."
"How did you fix the time?"
"My sister, Jennie Elkins, had called for me. I remember that her watch had stopped and she set it by mine just as we rang for the elevator."
"Did you descend at once?"
"No. When the car came to our floor the scrub woman called down from the twelfth floor that she couldn't unlock a door. The man asked us to wait a minute and went up and opened it."
"How long did it take him?"
"Quite a while. Perhaps ten minutes."
"What did you do while you were waiting?"
"I went over to the stairway and leaned on the railing."
"What did you see there?"
"I saw Mr. Hankles walking down from the tenth floor."
"What was his appearance?"
The question was never answered, for just then Hankles gave a gasp and slid from his chair.
Several men sprang forward and lifted him to a table. A physician among the spectators tendered his services.
HANKLES revived sufficiently to admit taking securities. He had been surprised by Bland, who he thought had left the building.
Bland had attacked him, and in defending himself Hankles had struck him with the clock. With almost his last breath, he named the location of the valuables.
The jury rendered its verdict without leaving the room, and Egbert Bland went forth into the sunlight, a free man.
In company with Major Rankin and myself, he went to the American Trust Company, and there in a safe deposit box he found the missing securities.
"Mr. Trollusk," he said, "I don't know how you learned what you did, nor even why you so fortunately came to my assistance; but I am happy to say that now I am able to recompense both Major Rankin and yourself, as I have no one to divide my little fortune with."
Astounded, I asked:
"But what about your other brother?"
He turned a puzzled face toward me.
"My other brother?" he repeated, "I never had but one brother."
Pride, affection and grief were plainly visible in his expressive face as he opened his watch and handed it to me.
The portrait contained in the case I instantly identified as that of my midnight visitor.
