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Rh notorious Farley Drew, Odell decided to look into the matter without delay.

He rapped smartly on the door, to hear an astonished and perturbed "Hello?" from within, followed by:

"Be with you in a second."

Then came the subdued clatter of heavy glassware, a pause, the scratching of a match, and finally footsteps. Gene; puffing furiously at a pipe, opened the door.

"Oh, I say, I didn't know it was you, Sergeant. Come in; hope you don't mind my pipe. Anything I can do for you?" He was plainly flustered.

Odell took in the room in one swift, comprehensive glance: the bed had not yet been made, and the chifferobe was open, its trays and drawers in disorder, but the desk was closed. The top of the cut-glass tobacco-jar upon it was open, and the tobacco strewn all about it bore evidence of the haste with which the pipe had been filled. In the open grate was a little heap of gray, flaky ashes from which a thin spiral of smoke still wound its way; and the detective saw to his satisfaction that a few pieces of hastily torn paper were scattered unburned upon the hearth.

"I came to ask you if you would help Mr. Titheredge and myself carry your father to his room." His eyes came casually back to the young man's flushed face. "There is no hurry, however. I believe this room was occupied by your late brother? I should like to see just where his death took place. Can you show me, Mr. Chalmers?" He had indicated the front room by a gesture.

Gene hesitated.

"Both doors are locked and my father has the keys," he said at last; and there was an undercurrent of sullen