insane, like the others--had regarded his confession as the
maundering of a maniac. The discovery froze Granice with horror--he
seemed to see the mad-house gaping for him.

"Isn't there a man a good deal like him--a detective named J. B.
Hewson?"

But he knew in advance what McCarren's answer would be. "Hewson? J.
B. Hewson? Never heard of him. But that was J. B. Stell fast
enough--I guess he can be trusted to know himself, and you saw he
answered to his name."






VI





SOME days passed before Granice could obtain a word with the
District Attorney: he began to think that Allonby avoided him.

But when they were face to face Allonby's jovial countenance showed
no sign of embarrassment. He waved his visitor to a chair, and
leaned across his desk with the encouraging smile of a consulting
physician.