"No, except that it corroborates a theory I had about the matter. It merely fits in with the rest of the devilish pattern." No difficulty was encountered when the three men came to the Tombs. Sergeant Conners was there ahead of them. He was not going to permit the prisoner to work a sympathetic gag on the old scientist. Conners realized that Brierly had considerable influence. If 'Fingy' could induce the old man to use his influence in his behalf, it would not be so easy to convict him. 'Fingy' was not pleased at the presence of the police officer. He made the best of it however. He realized that he was not in a position where he could dictate terms. "Professor," he began, "I don't know about this taking an impression of my mouth and the other new fangled scientific bunk. But I know about you. I hear you're a straight shooter and I want to spill the whole thing to you." He gulped painfully and after a glance at the police officer he went on: "All the police is after is a record, see? And even the D.A.'s office is the same. When the D.A. gets you before the jury he'll do what he can to send you to the hot seat. "Well I'm gonna give you the straight of this, Professor. Like I said, I was giving a party to some friends of mine that night. Early in the evening I get into a studd game on Second Avenue and go broke, see? Cleaned, Professor. And here's this party comin' off with some good guys and nice gals comin'. "All I had in the apartment was about a quart and a half of gin and a little rye. Not a thing to eat, not even a slice of bread or a drop of ginger ale. "So what do I do? I breaks into a delicatessen store and gets a load of stuff. That was just about ten o'clock, the time the papers say old man Schurman is croaked." Sergeant Conners, who had listened with a sneer now emitted a loud snort. The prisoner cast in his direction a fleeting look of defiance. His eyes returned to Professor Brierly who had been staring at him intently, while his tale unfolded. He continued: "I know this sounds fishy, and what I'm gonna say now sounds even more so, mebbe, but if you'll just listen to me, sir, I'll prove what I say. "This delicatessen store is a little place on Grove Street near Eighth Avenue. Now you can think that I hears about this delicatessen store being broke in and I tells you about it because the real thief ain't comin' to the front to say he done it. You can think I can't prove it; you can think this ain't much of a alibi. But just listen, Professor. Look at this!" He sprang from his chair and tore off his coat and vest. Conners had also sprung to his feet, but subsided when he saw that the prisoner did not contemplate violence. The prisoner in his haste to unbutton his outer shirt, ripped the buttons. He exposed his arm high up near the shoulder. He showed a ragged scar several days old. 'Fingy' continued: