He turned with a shudder while speaking and gazed again at the lifeless man on the floor.
Chick arose from the telephone at the same moment.
“I got him, Nick, all right,” he remarked. “He will start for home immediately.”
“Did he ask any questions?”
“None of any importance. He said he would be here in about ten minutes.”
“Very good.”
Nick turned again to Clayton’s private secretary. Although he had readily answered the detective’s questions,[Pg 10] he still appeared quite overcome by the tragic circumstances. That he had told the truth concerning them, however, in so far as he was able to do so, appeared quite obvious, and Nick continued his inquiries.
“You know this man, then,” said he, approaching the lifeless form.
“Yes, indeed, Mr. Carter, though I hardly recognized him at first,” was the reply. “He is Mr. Clayton’s family physician, Doctor Joseph Thorpe. His home is about two blocks from here.”
“Were you well acquainted with him?”