Jimmy felt of Compton's face and hands. They were warm. And then he
placed his ear close against the man's breast, in order to see if he
could detect the beating of the heart. He was in this position when he
was startled by a gruff voice behind him.

"Put 'em up!" it admonished curtly, and Jimmy turned to see two men
standing in the doorway with pistols leveled at him.




CHAPTER XXV.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

At first Jimmy thought they were the perpetrators of the deed, but
almost immediately he recognized one of them as O'Donnell, the erstwhile
traffic officer who had been promoted to a detective sergeancy since
Jimmy had first met him.

"Compton has been murdered," said Jimmy dully. "He is dead."

"Put up your hands," snapped O'Donnell for the second time, "and be
quick about it!"

It was then for the first time that Jimmy realized the meaning that
might be put upon his presence alone in the office with his dead
employer. O'Donnell's partner searched him, but found no weapon upon
him.