"No indeed, just a formality. You see that is what I have to do in all cases like this, but you can tell your story to the lieutenant."
They waited a few minutes and then the sound of tramping feet was heard on the stairs and the lieutenant of the police force entered the room followed by a man carrying a black bag, evidently a doctor and probably the coroner.
The police officer cast a scrutinizing look over the room and then waved the doctor to make his examination. This took only a few minutes.
"What do you find Doc?" asked the officer familiarly.
"This man was stabbed or cut some time ago, probably two or three weeks, but the cause of his death seems to be heart failure, induced no doubt by lack of care, improper nourishment, and a severe shock that finished him off with his organically weak heart."
"What do you mean, stabbed or cut, accidentally?" asked the officer gruffly.
"Not accidentally, but by a blow inflicted by someone," returned the doctor.
"What do you chaps know about this?" he asked, turning suddenly on the three boys. Garry opened his mouth to answer.
"We——"
"Wait till I get through talking before you are spoken to. What are you chaps, runaways, and where did you get those clothes, steal 'em?"