"Was it possible that the deceased could have shot himself?"

"Do you mean, is it possible that somebody could have tied him to the
chair after he was dead?"

"Yes."

The surgeon, taken by surprise, hesitated. "That's possible,
certainly."

James Cunningham took the witness chair after the police officers who
had arrived at the scene of the tragedy with the surgeon had finished
their testimony. One point brought out by the officers was that in the
search of the rooms the two thousand dollars was not found. The oil
broker gave information as to his uncle's affairs.

"You knew your uncle well?" the lawyer asked presently.

"Intimately."

"And were on good terms with him?"

"The best."

"Had he ever suggested to you that he might commit suicide?"

"Never," answered the oil broker with emphasis. "He was the last man
in the world one would have associated with such a thought."

"Did he own a revolver?"