looked over the ground and talked with Miss Mason and him, I was
willing to take up his case just because I believed he had nothing to
do with the murder."

The colonel, who had taken the watch from some tissue paper in which it
was wrapped, laid it down on the low stool, and turned his attention to
his visitor. Chet with a whine and stretch, indicating that he was
warmed and rested, and would not object to a little play, walked slowly
over toward the colonel.

"But," went on the detective, "since the finding of the electric wires
running to Darcy's desk--Jack, I tell you what it is. You helped me
out wonderfully on that robbery of the Chatham bank, when the cashier
ran some wires to the time lock and had it open five hours ahead of
time, I wish you'd come and have a look at those wires with me. Maybe
you could give me a hint that would clear up some of the doubt I have
regarding Darcy."

"All right, Colonel, I'll come. But I think I'd better follow King
now. He's got a date with Larch, the hotel keeper, and there may be
something in it."

"Oh, go by all means! The wires will keep. Here, I'll give you an
idea about how they run," and the colonel drew a sort of diagram of the
jewelry store, indicating the showcase where the hidden wires had been
found, explaining to his man the effect on the young woman clerk who
had been shocked.

Jack Young studied the diagram carefully and shook his head. The
colonel, meanwhile, sat back and waited. Chet was worrying the tissue
paper in which the Indian's watch was wrapped.

"Well, Colonel, I'll tell you what it is," said Jack, after a series of
questions, "I'd have to see the place to get at any right idea of it.
Not to cast any aspersions on your ability as an artist, I can't just
make out how the wires run, from this sketch," and he smiled, after
having studied the drawings for perhaps ten minutes.

"Don't blame you a bit!" laughed the colonel. "I never was much on
pencil work. But now you follow Harry King. If you need more money,
come to me," he added as he handed over a roll of bills. "And then
we'll have to go at those wires. I'm not so sure--"

The colonel's remarks were interrupted by peculiar actions on the part
of Chet. The little animal appeared to have gotten something into his
mouth which bothered him. He was whining and pawing at his jaws.

"Look at the dog, Colonel!" exclaimed Jack. "Look!"

"Gad! he's got hold of the Indian's watch!" cried the detective. "He's
been worrying it as he would a bone, and he's got it in his mouth and
can't get it out! Easy there! don't touch it!" came the sharp command,
as Jack Young took a step forward, evidently with the intention of
helping the distressed animal.

"What's the matter, Colonel?" asked Jack. "You don't want to see the
dog suffer, do you?"

"No, but--there, he's got it out himself!"

With an effort the dog had pawed from his mouth the watch, which, being
rather large and of peculiar shape, had for some time, been stuck in
his jaws. It rolled out on the floor, and the colonel stooped to pick
it up. But Jack noticed that his chief used a wad of the tissue paper
with which to handle the timepiece, which was no longer ticking.

"What's the matter--'fraid of soiling your hands?" asked Jack with a
laugh.

"Well, yes, in a way--"

"Look at the dog's mouth! It's bleeding!" cried Jack, pointing.

"I was afraid it would be," said the colonel, quietly. "Don't go near
him, Jack, for, unless I'm much mistaken--"

The two men gazed at the dog. The little animal suddenly looked up at
them in a peculiar manner. It whined and its body was shaken as with a
cold shiver. A little blood was running down the lips which were now
foam-flecked.

"The dog's going mad!" cried Jack. "Look out, Colonel, or--"

"You needn't be afraid," was the calm answer, as the other turned
toward the door. "He'll never hurt any one. Ah, I thought so!"

And, as the colonel spoke, Chet gave a shudder, fell over on his side
and, with a long sigh, lay very still.




CHAPTER XVI

THE COLONEL WONDERS

"What did that, Colonel? What devilish thing did that?" and with a
trembling finger Jack Young pointed to the body of the dead dog on the
floor of the detective's room. "What killed the poor brute?"



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