"Come!" said Clippers, when he got second wind, "maybe you can get the other one to release you."
"He won't do that. The bargain's been sealed."
"You're not going to retire?"
"Well, hardly."
"That's good, anyhow. If the other fellows, Hargraves or Irwin, get at fault you won't refuse to join in the hunt for the murderer of poor Marrow?"
"I will be free at the end of a year under certain contingencies—perhaps a good deal sooner."
"Well, I wish it was to-morrow," cried Clippers. "I want you to take this case; but we'll have to see the others and let Tom or Pappy reap new fame."
Half an hour later the two detectives named Hargraves and Irwin knew all there was to know at the time of the death of Jason Marrow.
It was not much, for the slayer had done his work with great secrecy and had left no clews behind.
The matter was destined to become a mystery to the department, a deep puzzle to the best men on the force for months.