Herman had answered the question, but when I examined the answer I
found it contained precious little. Perhaps it was indeed all he
knew, for, although Garrick put several other questions to him and
he answered quite readily and with apparent openness, there was
very little more that we learned.

"Yes," concluded Herman, "someone cooked her, all right. They
don't take long to square things with anyone who raps to the
'bulls.'"

"That's right," agreed Garrick. "And the underworld isn't alone in
that feeling. No one likes a 'snitch.'"

"Bet your life," emphasized Herman heartily, then edging toward
the door, he said, "Well, gentlemen, I'm glad to meet you and I'll
work with you. I wish you success, all right. It's a hard case.
Why, there wasn't any trace of a murder or violence in that place
in which Rena Taylor must have been murdered. I suppose you have
heard that there wasn't any bullet found in the body, either?"

"Yes," answered Garrick, "so far it does look inexplicable."

Inspector Herman withdrew. One could see that he had little faith
in these "amateur" detectives.

A telephone message for Dillon about another departmental matter
terminated our interview and we went our several ways.

"Much help I've ever got from a regular detective like Herman,"
remarked Garrick, phrasing my own idea of the matter, as we paid