I remember the look with which her sister-in-law warned me that she would never survive a capture.

But I thought that mere exaggeration." Then after a moment of conscious silence on the part of both, the weary old man added with bitter emphasis, "Her testimony might--I do not say would--have cleared away our suspicions of Director Roberts." Sweetwater, who was acting as chauffeur, slowed down his machine till it came to a standstill at the side of the road.

Then wheeling quietly about till he faced his surprised companion, he remarked very gravely: "Mr.Gryce, I hadn't the heart to tell you this before, but the time has come for you to know that Mr.Roberts' cause is not so favorably affected, as you seem to think, by this suicidal death of one who without doubt would have proved to be a leading witness against him.

I am sure you will agree with me in this when I inform you that in pursuing the task you set me, I came upon _this_." Thrusting his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a large envelope from which he proceeded to draw forth first the tattered square of what had once been a cabinet portrait, and then a freshly printed proof of the same.

Holding them both up, he waited for the word that was sure to follow.
It came with all the emphasis he expected.
"Roberts! Director Roberts!" "The same, sir"; and the eyes of the two detectives met in what was certainly one of the most solemn moments of their lives.
They had paused for this short conference at a point where the road running for a few yards on a level gave them a view of slope on slope of varying verdure, with glimpses of the Hudson between.