"Haney says Saturday morning," he answered. "The coroner's physician agrees with that."
"Yesterday morning," Mr. Wynne mused; then, after a moment: "I think, Chief, you know Mr. Birnes here? And that you would accept a statement of his as correct?"
"Yes," the chief agreed with a glance at Mr. Birnes.
"Mr. Birnes, where was I all day Saturday?" Mr. Wynne queried, without so much as looking around at him.
"You were in your house from eleven o'clock Friday night until fifteen minutes of nine o'clock Saturday morning," was the response. "You left there at that time, and took the surface car at Thirty-fourth Street to your office. You left your office at five minutes of one, took luncheon alone at the Savarin, and returned to your office at two o'clock. You remained there until five, or a few minutes past, then returned home. At eight you—"
"Is that sufficient?" interrupted Mr. Wynne. "Does that constitute an alibi?"
"Yes," he admitted; "but how do you know all this, Birnes?"
"Mr. Birnes and the men of his agency have favored me with the most persistent attentions during the last few days," Mr. Wynne continued promptly. "He has had two men constantly on watch at my office, day and night, and two others constantly on watch at my home, day and night. There are two there now—one in a rear room of the basement, and another in the pantry, with the doors locked on the outside. Their names are Claflin and Sutton!"
So, that was it! It came home to Mr. Birnes suddenly. Claflin and Sutton had been tricked into the house on some pretext, and locked in! Confound their stupidity!
"Why are they locked up?" demanded the chief, with kindling interest.
"Why have you been watched?"