“Suppose I were to tell you that at this minute a murder is being planned--what could you do?” “That’s a hard one,” said Smith, but he was sitting erect and tense. “Don’t you think you’d better be more explicit?” Breese nodded. “I’ll put all my cards on the table, Mr. Smith. I’ve got to, although there are certain things I’d rather not talk about. I suppose you know that my wife divorced me recently. I came down here--well, I thought I was hasty, inconsiderate. I was willing to make amends, do anything to save my family. Even if I weren’t fond of my wife, I’m crazy enough about my children to do anything. I came down here for a reconciliation. When I got here, my wife wouldn’t see me. My children wouldn’t see me.” He paused, swallowing, as if this bitter pill were more than he could bear. Smith made no comment. “I discovered my wife contemplated marrying this actor, Guy Thomas. Since my wife wouldn’t permit me to talk to her, I did my best to get word to her. But no use. She can be very headstrong, as anyone who knows her will tell you. Well, I was just about ready to go back, licked, when through certain sources I needn’t disclose to you, I learned that my wife was making a will. Now remember this--for it’s very important. She is making--probably has made it by now--a will leaving her entire fortune to Guy Thomas. “Shortly after I learned this, I put certain detectives to work in New York to discover facts about this young man. I felt if I could expose him to Dora she would see the light. Well, I did get some facts about the young man, in a cable today. Mr. Thomas has a certain young lady in New York waiting for him. She got word from him two days ago to be prepared to sail for Europe.” Ben Smith listened attentively as the old man continued: “That isn’t all. I went to see Mrs. Breese, and waited in the reception-room for her. While I waited, I heard Mr. Thomas on the telephone, talking to New York. I heard him say: ‘For God’s sake, wait, can’t you. I’m going to make a lot of money soon.’ That’s all I heard because Mrs. Breese sent out word that she would not receive me and I had to go. “Now, gentlemen, as sure as I’m sitting here I know that Guy Thomas is preparing to do away with Mrs. Breese!” He had risen in his excitement. “I know that he influenced her to make out this will. I’m not easily frightened. I’m sane. I’m a practical man of business. I know it sounds wild, but----” The telephone buzzed softly. Annoyed, impatient, Mr. Breese picked it up. “Yes, who is it?” Then---- “Good God, man!” I saw him grow deathly white. The telephone fell from his limp hands. He tottered for a moment, and then steadied himself against a chair. “_Mrs. Breese has--has--just been found dead!_” CHAPTER VII INQUIRY Smith and I literally threw ourselves into a taxi, and raced to the Gilded Cage. Breese had said he had not the strength to accompany us, and after looking at his ashen face I could readily believe him.