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Even Gwen, I think, noticed Browne's deterrateful that your forethought preventedhier"

She paused aof the officers' theories When they have convinced themselves that no one of us has removed the weapon, what then?"

"In my opinion," said Maitland, "they will ultimately fall back upon the suicide theory, but they must find the weapon here before they can substantiate it; for if it be not here someone must have taken it away and that someone could have only been the one who used it --the assassin, in short--but here are the officers Let each one of us insist upon being searched They can send to the station for a woman to search you," he said in an undertone to Gwen and then added: "I trust you will pardona course which, in your case, seeent reasons for it which I can explain later If ould hope to solve this hness at this juncture"

"I should evince but poor appreciation," Gwen replied, "of the ability you have already shown should I fail to follow your slightest suggestion It is all I can offer you by way of thanks for the kind interest you have taken"

The return of Officer Barker, accoed the tide of conversation Maitland advanced and shook hands with one whoentleman in turn introduced his brother officer, a Mr Allen, and M Godin, a special detective

Osborne ihly imbued with the idea that he is exceptionally clever He spoke loudly and, I thought, a bit ostentatiously, yet withal in athe fellow

M Godin, on the contrary, seeation He said but little, apparently preferring to keep in the background, where he could record his own observations in his note-book without too frequent interruption His manner was polished in the extrelass through whoht shone unhindered I wondered how one who seemed powerless to conceal his own emotions should possess a detective's ability to thread his way through the dark and hidden duplicity of cri voice, that fell upon the ear with an irresistible charht with bitterness for Gwen, such an expression of pain would flit across M Godin's fine face as one occasionally sees in those highly organised and sy women if a doctor's experience may be trusted,--which catch the throb of another's hurt, even as adjacent strings strive to sing each other's songs