"Mr. Clyde is ready to see you," he reported after a minute.
I went over at once,--the distance was not great. Clyde was alone, and he looked up and nodded when I entered. His manner was pleasant enough, yet I was instantly aware of something of reserve that had not been there at our former interview. "He is sorry he took me into his confidence, now that it has turned out this way," I thought to myself.
"Well, somebody saved us the trouble of paying further attention to Mr. Barker," he said lightly.
"So it seems."
"Did you speak to him at all?"
"No."
"I didn't know but that you might have seen him since--since I spoke to you about him."
"I did see him the other day, but not to speak to him." And I told him of the incident in the Phœnix Building. He listened with close attention.
"I have no doubt he had enemies on all sides," he said with a certain tone of satisfaction. "From what we know of his methods, it is easy to guess that. He has lived an underground life for years, but always keeping on the safe side of the law. His end was bound to come sooner or later."
"Do you know whether he was married?"