“What else?” “I found this letter in the wastebasket,” said Phelan, taking it from his pocket. “It must have been written by Gordon, for it is on a letter sheet bearing his business heading, as does the envelope in which it came.” “Let me see them.” “It was mailed at two o’clock yesterday. It contains only a single line addressed to Miss Lancey, stating that Gordon would call to see her here at eleven o’clock. That must have been eleven o’clock last evening.” Nick glanced at the brief pen-written letter. He was familiar with Gordon’s writing, and he immediately recognized it. The letter seemed to corroborate all of Phelan’s statements. “Did you think that was evidence enough to warrant arresting Gordon?” Nick again inquired. “I thought it enough for a starter, Nick, at least,” Phelan bluntly asserted. “I reckon I have not shot very wide of the mark.” “Why so?” “Because Kennedy has phoned me of other facts.” “Namely?” “He met Dennis Regan, a detective from the precinct station, just before he arrived at the Gordon residence,” Phelan proceeded to disclose. “He told Regan what had occurred and whom he was after. Regan decided he would not butt in, knowing I was on the case, but he waited in the grounds south of the house while Kennedy went in to see Gordon.” “Well?” “While he was out there, pacing up and down the gravel walk, he noticed that one of the small branches of a clump of shrubbery was partly broken off and hanging down, as if something had recently been thrown in among the shrubs, disturbing the dry leaves that had fallen from them.” “He went to examine them, I infer.” “That’s what. He found under the dry leaves a double-jointed jimmy. It was parted at the socket each section being about eight inches long, and both were badly stained with blood.” “Quite a remarkable discovery,” Nick observed, with brows knitting slightly. “Anything more?” “Well, as far as that goes, this desk evidently was forced open with just such a jimmy,” Phelan continued, turning to the desk. “Here are marks on the wood, showing plainly where the curving, wedge-shaped point was forced under the top to pry it up and break the lock.” “I see,” Nick nodded. “That’s very evident, Phelan, indeed.” “The jimmy found by Regan has just that kind of a point.” “Still more evidence, eh?” “I think so, Nick. It’s a safe bet, too, that this woman’s head was broken with the same jimmy. The fractures and gashes show plainly that a bludgeon of that kind was used.” “I agree with you,” said Nick, crouching to inspect the several terrible wounds. “Both the fractures and gashes could have been caused only with a bludgeon having one or more edges. The jimmy is probably octagonal in shape.” “Very likely. I did not inquire about that.” “Well, what followed?” “Regan then decided to dip into the case,” Phelan continued. “He went into the house and found that Kennedy had discovered other evidence.” “What kind of evidence?”