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 rolled it with unusual deliberation, licking the rice paper many times before trusting himself to paste it down.

The governor bit the end from a black cigar. A blazing match passed between them.

Then Gilman told of his interview with Whalen. He did not display much spirit in the telling. When he had done, he flecked the ash from his cigarette in a thoughtful way. Resting his forearms on his knees, he regarded the floor between his feet.

"Has it ever struck you as peculiar," he said, "that the bullet was not introduced in evidence?"

"No," said the governor, "not very."

The private secretary paused. When he had done he laughed. The governor was seriously silent for many minutes, and then he said:

"Leonard, I want you to tell me your theory of this whole business."

Gilman sat up. "Well," he said, "had it never occurred to you that it would have been significant to determine where that bullet lodged as showing its direction? It bored a hole clear through Brokoski, but at which end had it entered?"

"I presume the medical testimony settled that,"