"By the side of a chair in the next room. I fancy it may have belonged to some one who was with the murderer or murderers."
"'S. S.'" mused the chief, as he caught sight of those initials in one corner of the handkerchief; "I'd give something handsome to know what those two letters stand for."
Old Spicer took the handkerchief from him, and after a moment's inspection, said:
"Yes, this may prove a valuable clew. It may be well to cultivate the acquaintance of S. S."
Chief Bollmann seized the cambric clew and hurried away.
The old detective turned to Maier Zunder and abruptly said:
"You have had charge of the dead woman's financial affairs for a long time, I believe, sir?"
"Yes," was the reply, "for a good many years. In fact, I have looked after her money matters and kept charge of her bank books of deposit ever since she came to this city."
"You think she did not have a very large sum by her last night?"
"I am pretty sure she did not."