was dead. The widow didn't relish the idea, but she ain't strong-minded enough to push her views. Now we'll suppose a case again. I like that style, it don't commit you to anything. Well, suppose this fellow Mark thinks he'll get into the good graces of the widow by hindering the cremation. He stands out agin it. Amos he says the old fellow wanted to be burned, and let him burn. 'He'll burn in hell, anyway.' That nice, sweet remark he did make, I'll tell you that much. Then the brothers they quarrel. And a right good row they did have, so I hear. Now we'll suppose again. Why couldn't our friend, Mr. Mark, have got up this scheme to stop the cremation?" Mr. Barnes was startled to hear this man suggest exactly what Mark himself had hinted at. Could it [Pg 54] be only a coincidence or was it really the solution of the mystery? But if so, what of the body that was really cremated? But then again the only evidence in his possession on that point was the bare statement in the note received from Mr. Mitchel. Two constructions could be placed upon that note. First, it might have been honestly written by Mr. Mitchel, who really believed what he wrote, though, smart as he was, he might have been mistaken. Secondly, the note might merely have been written to send Mr. Barnes off on a wrong clue, thus leaving Mr. Mitchel a chance to follow up the right one. Resuming his conversation with Randal, Mr. Barnes said: [Pg 54] "Then you imagine that Mr. Mark Quadrant hired this man Morgan to take away the body and hide it until after the funeral?" "Oh, I don't know. All I'll say is, I don't think Jerry would be too good for a little job like that. Say, you're not a bad sort, as detectives go. I don't mind givin' you a tip." "I am much obliged, I am sure," said Mr. Barnes, smiling at the fellow's presumption. "Don't mention it. I make no charge. But see. Have you looked at the corpse at the Morgue?" "No. Why?" "Well, I stopped in this morning and had a peep at him. I guess it's Quadrant all right." "Have you any special way of knowing that?" "Well, when the boss was injectin' the embalmin' fluid, he stuck the needle in the wrong place [Pg 55] first, and had to put it in again. That made two holes. They're both there. You might wonder why we embalmed a body that was to be cremated. You see, we didn't know the
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