“But you hadn’t met him before?” “No; and I didn’t hear his name till late in the day, and even then I didn’t connect him with the company, though I remember wondering a little how he knew so much about poor Judson. You see, I was terribly excited.” “No wonder.” “It worries me a great deal,” continued Folsom, “to think that my angry words might have led Judson to suicide. He meant well, I am sure of that, and he was deceived by the rascals as much as the rest of us.” “Hum!” murmured Nick; “seems to me that’s setting Claymore out in rather a black light.” “Yes, it is. I hadn’t given it much thought, for my attention was taken up with the death of Judson, but I have no doubt that Claymore is crooked. A dishonest promoter, you know. One of these fellows who knows how to swindle and keep on the right side of the law. Don’t you think so?” “Maybe.” Folsom looked as if he wished that Nick would say more, but the detective was silent. Shortly after this, a waiter came to the room to say that a telegraph messenger wished to see Mr. Kerr. “Send him up at once!” exclaimed Kerr. The boy came in with his book. “Boss said you wanted to see it,” said he, laying it on the table, and going out again at once. Kerr opened the book with great eagerness. After looking down the columns of names and time marks until he came to the one he wanted, his eyes glowed with delight, and he passed the book to Nick, with his finger on a certain line where the hotel clerk’s name was written. “There!” he cried, triumphantly; “see that?” Nick looked. He saw the clerk’s name in one column, and against it in another column the figures, “3-31.” “You see!” added Kerr, too excited to wait for Nick’s opinion, “Hank Low did it.” “I see,” responded Nick, slowly, “that Hank Low could have done it.” The reply disappointed Kerr. He began to argue, but Nick interrupted. “Excuse me a moment, gentlemen,” he said. He arose and looked at Patsy. They withdrew to a corner of the room, and whispered together a moment. Then Patsy went out. Nick returned to the table. “Excuse me,” said Nick, again. “I don’t mean to interfere with your handling of the case, Mr. Kerr——” “Oh! bless you!” exclaimed Kerr, “that’s what we all want. You do just what you think best, Mr. Carter.” “Thank you. I was going to say that I had forgotten something and sent my assistant out to look after it. Now, as to this time mark, it is very important. I can see that.” “Of course,” said Kerr, encouraged by the great detective’s tone. “The testimony of the clerk cannot be doubted. Here is the sure testimony that Hank Low started for Judson’s room four minutes before the man fell from his window. It is known that Low left the hotel and drove away just before word was brought in that the man had fallen out. See?” “Yes.” “Then do you think we ought to lose any time before arresting Low?” “Do you say that he lives some eight miles from here?” “Yes—about eight.”