“Fourteen miles; but you need not come there. I could return to the hotel to conclude arrangements. And I think,” he added significantly, “that you would find the project a profitable one.” “Doubtless. Are you well acquainted with this part of the country, Mr. Blair?” “Yes, I’ve been coming here for years.” “Is there an army post near by?” “Not within a hundred miles.” “Nor any officers on special detail about?” “None, so far as I know.” Kent produced from his pocket the silver star with the shred of cloth hanging to it. “This may or may not be an important clue to a curious death that occurred here three days ago.” “Yes, I’ve heard something of it,” said the other indifferently. “I took it to be mostly gossip.” “Before the death there was a struggle. This star was found at the scene of the struggle.” “It looks like the star from the collar of an officer. I should say positively that it was from an army or navy uniform.” “Positiveness is the greatest temptation and snare that I have to fight against,” remarked Chester Kent. “Otherwise I should say positively that no officer, going to a dubious rendezvous, would wear a uniform which would be certain to make him conspicuous. Are you yourself an expert in woolen fabrics, Mr. Blair?” “I have been.” “Could you tell from that tiny fragment whether or not the whole cloth is all wool?” Without replying, Blair gave the steering handle a quick sweep, and the car drew up before a drug store. He took the star and was gone a few minutes. “Not all wool,” he announced on his return. “Exit the army or navy officer,” remarked Kent. “Why so?” “Because regulations require all-wool garments—and get them. What is the fabric?” “A fairly good mixture, from the very elemental chemical test I made. Something in the nature of a worsted batiste, I should judge, from what I could make out under the inferior magnifying-glass that they loaned me.” “Thank you, Mr. Blair. You’ve eliminated one troublesome hypothesis for me. I’ll telephone you before three o’clock. Good day.” From the woolen manufacturer, Chester Kent went direct to the Martindale Center library, where he interviewed the librarian. “Do you get the Agriculture Department publications?” “Yes.” “Have you a pamphlet issued by the Bureau of Entomology, Helmund on _The Swarm Phenomenon in Lepidoptera_?” “Yes, sir. It was inquired for only yesterday by Mr. Blair.” “Ah, yes. He’s quite interested in the subject, I believe.” “It must be quite recent, then,” said the librarian. “We haven’t seen him here for a long time until two days ago, when he came and put in a morning, reading on insects.”