"That's it," growled McGuire, "We have not. We have not heard of him alive, nor do we know that he is dead. We know in police circles that men can disappear for a great many years. We have received those damnable notes with the number '14.' That's no proof that he's alive, but--" Professor Brierly, always impatient at speculation, interrupted. "Let us start this inquiry at the nearest point. Let us begin with the known, if possible, and work forward or backward to the unknown. About which phase of this entire matter are you gentlemen principally disturbed?" The eleven old men exchanged glances. Senator Ross spoke. "Between our reunion last year, which broke up about July tenth, until fifteen minutes ago, nine of our group died, seven of them are _said_ to have committed suicide. We have not yet heard from '14' about the two deaths of which we heard this morning, but judging from past experiences we will, sooner or later. "Call this number '14' mythical if you will, Professor, until we have evidence to the contrary. Nevertheless, seven suicides out of such a small group is disturbing--to say the least." "Unusual, at any rate," commented Professor Brierly. "Just what, if anything, do you suspect?" "Well, Professor," said Justice Higginbotham, "I, for one, should like to have indubitable proof that these men really committed suicide." Professor Brierly's deeply sunken, penetrating blue eyes swept around the circle of faces. He nodded: "Oh, I see. That should be easily determined, certainly with respect to the last two." "But," objected Lorenzo Tonti, leaning forward, his swarthy features etched in lines of earnest thought, "we have it on competent medical authority that these men committed suicide. What right have we to question that?" "We have it on medical authority," tartly interposed Professor Brierly, "but I am not certain it is competent medical authority. I have seen too many careless autopsies made and read too many loosely written reports to have abiding faith in such things." McCall nodded emphatically. "Professor Brierly is right there, of course. I have seen, in my official capacity, the things he mentions." "So have I," chimed in Higginbotham, Fletcher and McGuire. "Very well, then," said Professor Brierly. "We will not indulge in guesses, conjectures or surmises. Such things are likely to induce an unhappy state of mind. Schurman, you say lives in New York. We shall go to New York if we have to. Is there not something nearer, something--" "Morris," interrupted several members of the group, "lives in Lentone." Judge Fletcher corrected, "right outside of Lentone."