"But— Great Scott, Colonel—Shere Ali was killed in the same way!
He had the ticking watch in his hand, and his head was smashed in!"
"Yes."
"And of course he may have been struck on his head after he died from the poisoned watch?"
"Exactly."
"And this watch Darcy had in his possession to repair just before Mrs. Darcy was found dead, and she had it in her hand and—say, Colonel, where are we at?" and Jack Young looked hopelessly at his chief.
"I don't know," was the measured answer. "I wish I did. There is only one thing we can be sure of, and that is, no matter what part Darcy had in the murder—if he had any—by means of this watch in the case of Mrs. Darcy, he had none in Shere Ali's case, for Darcy was locked up when that tragedy occurred."
"That's so, Colonel. And yet— Oh, well, what's the use of speculating? What are you going to do next?"
"I don't know. I wish—"
There came another knock on the door and a voice asked:
"Is Chet in here, Colonel? I generally find him with you when he isn't in my room and—"