don't want to be left--"

"Oh, you won't be alone long," observed Casey. "The police will be
here as soon as we send 'em word. And here's a crowd outside already."

There was one--made up of men and boys with, here and there, a factory
girl on her way to work. They had seen the two milk wagons in front of
the jewelry store--the store which, though most of the more valuable
pieces were in the safe--still showed in the gleaming windows much that
caught the eye of the passerby. Some one sensed the unusual. Some one
stopped--then another. Some one had caught sight, on peering into the
store, of the prostrate figure with that blotch of red in the white
hair.

The crowd, increasing each minute, pressed against the still locked
front doors. Those in the van flattened their noses against the glass
in grotesque fashion.

"Hurry and get the police!" begged Darcy.

Casey was about to telephone, when Tremlain, who had gone out into the
alley from the side door, hurried back to report:

"Here comes a cop now. Saw the crowd I guess. We can just tell him
what we saw, Casey, and then slide along. I'm late as it is."

"So'm I!"

The policeman, his heavy-soled shoes creaking importantly, came along
the street, hurrying not in the least. He knew whatever it was would
keep for him.

"What's the row?" demanded Patrolman Mulligan.

"Looks like the old lady was murdered," Casey answered. "I was just
going to telephone to headquarters." He told briefly what he knew,
which was corroborated by Tremlain, then the two left to cover their
routes, after giving their addresses to the policeman.

The crowd grew larger. From outside it looked like a convention of
umbrellas. The rain still drizzled and turned to steam and mist as it
warmed on the many bodies in the throng--a mist that mingled with that
of the rain itself. In spite of the storm, the crowd grew and
remained. Those who might be late at bench, lathe or loom unheeded the
passing of time. It was not every day they could be so close to a
murder.

The crowd filled the entire space in front of the jewelry store. The
bolder spirits rattled the knob of the locked portals, and tapped on
the glass that was now misty and grimy from hands and noses pressed
against it. The crowd began to surge into the alley, whence a side
door gave entrance into Mrs. Darcy's place. Some even ventured to
press into the store itself--the store where the silent figure lay
huddled between the showcases.

"Now then slide out of here--take a walk!" advised Mulligan, as he
shoved out some of the men and boys who had entered. "Get out! You
can read all about it in the papers. The reporters'll be here soon
enough," he added with a wink at Darcy. "I'll lock the door and keep
the crowd out. The sleuths can knock when they get here. Where's your
'phone. I'll have to report to the station."

Darcy pointed to the telephone, and the policeman, showing no more than
a passing interest in the body, at which he glanced casually as he
passed, called up his precinct and reported, being told to remain on
guard until relieved.

"How'd it happen?" he asked, as he came back from the instrument and
leaned against a showcase containing much glittering silver. "Who did
it--when--how?"

"I haven't the least idea," replied Darcy, turning away so as not to
see the faces now pressed against both the front and side doors, each
being locked from the inside. "I found her just as she is now, and
called in the milkmen, who happened to be passing. I had come down to
the store early to do a little repair job, and the first thing I saw
was--her!"

"What time did it happen?"

"I don't even know that. All the clocks have stopped. I don't usually
wind the watches that are left for repair, unless I'm regulating them,
and I haven't any like that in now. The only thing going is that one
watch.

"What one watch? I do hear something ticking," and the policeman
looked at Darcy. "What watch?"

"The one--in her hand."

"Oh, I see! Hum! Well, we'll leave that for the county physician.
He'll be here pretty soon I guess. They'll notify him from the
precinct. Now how about last night--was there any row--any noise? Did
you hear anything?"

"I didn't hear anything--much. There's always a lot of noise around
here until after midnight--theaters and moving picture places let out
about 11:30. I awoke once in the night. But I guess that doesn't
matter."



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