"What were you saying?" he quizzed.
Denial was useless. Salisbury, though realizing that he was placing himself in a hopeless position, was forced to rely upon the truth.
"That looks like my revolver," he gasped.
"Yes?"
The sergeant's eyes were quizzical as he looked first at the man, then at the weapon.
"H.S.," he said, noting the initials on the handle.
He broke open the revolver, and saw the one fired chamber. He looked about the room.
He could see but one answer to the situation.
"You say you were unarmed," he announced, to Salisbury. "You came down here because you heard a shot. You picked up the gun and started up again. Where did you meet the watchman?"
"Just above the head of the stairs," admitted Salisbury.