"Relatives and friends frequently endeavor to give a case of suicide the aspect of murder." "But you don't really believe it of this case ?" asked the coroner.
"I do not," confessed Britz.
"Then your theory must be that some invisible person fired a silent shot"-- the coroner paused a moment, then as if struck by a sudden thought--"of course, a Maxim muffler might have deadened the sound of the pistol." "The office boy would have heard the click of the hammer," interposed Britz.
The coroner repressed with difficulty the smile that struggled to his lips.
"Lieutenant," he said disparagingly, "you don't attribute this crime to the work of spirits, do you ?" "No," laughed Britz.

"Spirits don't murder people outside of story books.

No ghostly significance attaches to the murder of Mr.Whitmore." "Well, what is your theory ?" demanded the coroner.
"I haven't any--as yet.

I shall wait until I'm in possession of more facts before formulating one.

Of this I am certain, however.