news. I have come on some startling information which my facilities here gave me access to, and I confess I have tried my best to put some of the boys on to it. But there is a link loose somewhere. Now, what is your trouble? Do you want to get a message to anybody?"     

       "My trouble is this," said Brenton, briefly, "I am here because a few days ago I was poisoned."     

       "George Washington!" cried the other, "you don't say so! Have the newspapers got on to the fact?"     

       "I regret to say that they have."     

       "What an item that would have been if one paper had got hold of it and the others hadn't! I suppose they all got on to it at the same time?"     

       "About that," said Brenton, "I don't know, and I must confess that I do not care very much. But here is the trouble—my wife has been arrested for my murder, and she is as innocent as I am."     

       "Sure of that?"     

       "Sure of it?" cried the other indignantly. "Of course I am sure of it."     

       "Then who is the guilty person?"     

       "Ah, that," said Brenton, "I do not yet know."     

       "Then how can you be sure she is not guilty?"     

       "If you talk like that," exclaimed Brenton, "I have nothing more to say."     

       "Now, don't get offended, I beg of you. I am merely looking at this from a newspaper standpoint, you know. You must remember it is not you who will decide the matter, but a jury of your very stupid fellow-countrymen. Now, you can never tell what a jury will do, except that it will do something idiotic. Therefore, it seems to me that the very first step to be taken is to find out who the guilty party is. Don't you see the force of that?"     

       "Yes, I do."     

       "Very well, then. Now, what were the circumstances of this crime? who was to profit by your death?"     

       Brenton winced at this.     

       "I see how it is," said the other, "and I understand why you don't answer. Now—you'll 

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