"Why did he think it was unimportant?" "Said he thought Barker was probably looking for a job." "And he doesn't think so now?" "No-o. That is: he thinks circumstances make an investigation worth while. You see, just a few minutes ago Barker went to the Lawrence home again. This time he was there four minutes." "Does Cartwright know who was at home at that time?" "He thinks so. He says a maid let Barker in and that apparently Mrs. Lawrence let him out. A young girl--whom Cartwright believes to be Mrs. Lawrence's sister--drove up just as Barker was leaving. She was in the car with some man--but he didn't get out. Then, just a minute ago, Gerald Lawrence reached home. So the idea is that Mrs. Lawrence was alone with the servants when Barker called." "And yet he only remained four minutes?" "That's what Cartwright 'phoned." Leverage paused. "What do you make of it, Carroll?" "Off-hand," answered the youthful-appearing detective, "I'd say that Barker had called to see _Mr_. Lawrence." "Why?" "We'll suppose Lawrence was home on the occasion of Barker's first visit--do you know whether he was?" "No. I asked. Cartwright doesn't know. Couldn't stay, you know--because he was under orders to follow Barker. Tonight he sent Reed after Barker and he watched the Lawrence house." "Good. If it is so that Lawrence was at home when Barker called yesterday evening and Barker then remained eighteen minutes; whereas this afternoon, when we know that no one but Mrs. Lawrence was there--and he remained but four minutes--it is fairly reasonable to suppose that he was calling to see Mr. Lawrence." "I think you're right, Carroll." "I'm not at all convinced about that. But if we're proceeding along lines of pure logic, that is the answer." "How about the man who drove up with the kid sister?" Carroll smiled. "I'm sure he had nothing whatever to do with the murder." "Good Lord! I didn't think he had. But still he may have been a friend, and--" "That man was all right. I know that." "You _know_?" Leverage was incredulous. "Yes." Carroll grinned. "I was the man!" "You--? Holy sufferin' mackerel! Sa-a-ay! Was that chicken I seen you with downtown, Lawrence's sister-in-law?" "Yes. Miss Evelyn Rogers. And Good Lord! Leverage, how that girl can talk! She holds all records for conversational distance and speed. She talked me dumb." Leverage was staring respectfully at Carroll. "If you were the man who was with her, David--you must have seen Barker when he left the house." "I did." The face of the chief showed his disappointment: "That's what I get for thinking I had a real surprise up my sleeve. You sit back with that innocent kid face of yours and let me spill all the dope--and then tell me perfectly matter-of-factly that you knew it all the time. How'd you ever get wise to the thing, anyway?"