silence, the thoughts of each busy with the problem Merriman had
set. Both were realizing that detective work was a very much more
difficult business than they had imagined. Had not each had a
strong motive for continuing the investigation, it is possible they
might have grown fainthearted. But Hilliard had before him the
vision of the kudos which would accrue to him if he could unmask a
far-reaching conspiracy, while to Merriman the freeing of Madeleine
Coburn from the toils in which she seemed to have been enmeshed
had become of more importance than anything else in the world.

The two friends had already left the distillery half a mile behind,
when Hilliard stopped and looked at his watch.

"Ten minutes to twelve," he announced. "As we have nothing to do
let's go back and watch that place. Something may happen during
the afternoon, and if not we'll look out for the workmen leaving
and see if we can pick up something from them."

They retraced their steps past the distillery and depot, then
creeping into a little wood, sat down on a bank within sight of
the enclosure and waited.

The day was hot and somewhat enervating, and both enjoyed the
relaxation in the cool shade. They sat for the most part in
silence, smoking steadily, and turning over in their minds the
problems with which they were faced. Before them the country
sloped gently down to the railway bank, along the top of which the
polished edges of the rails gleamed in the midday sun. Beyond was
the wide expanse of the river, with a dazzling track of shimmering
gold stretching across it and hiding the low-lying farther shore