“This is a great space-eating story,” he told them in their own language—­the jargon of the fourth estate—­“and the more it eats the better it’ll be for me.  We want publicity on this case—­all you can hand out big chunks of it.  We want to know who that woman was.  The way I figure it, this city is going to get a jolt at breakfast.  Every one is going to be comparing notes.  Out of that mass of gossip we may get some valuable information.  Get that?”

“We do.  Space in the morning edition will be limited, but by evening, and the next morning—­oh, baby!”

They took voluminous notes and telephoned in enough additional information to keep the city rooms busy.  When they would have gone, Carroll stopped them.

“Either of you chaps know anything of Warren’s personal history?”

The elder of the two nodded.

“I do.  Know him personally, in fact.  I’ve played golf with him.  Pretty nice sort.”

“Rich, isn’t he?”

“Reputed to be.  Never works; spends freely—­not ostentatiously, but liberally.  Pretty fine sort of a chap.  It’s a damned shame!”

“How about his relations with women?”

The reporter hesitated and glanced guiltily at the dead body.

“That’s rather strong—­”

“It’s not going beyond here, unless I find it necessary.  I’ve played clean with you boys.  Suppose you do the same with me.”

“We-e-ell”—­reluctantly—­“he was rather much of a rounder.  Nothing coarse about him, but he never was one to resist a woman.  Rather the reverse, in fact.”

“Ever been mixed up in a scandal?”

“Not publicly.  He’s friendly with a good many men—­and with their wives.  A dozen, I guess; but the husbands invite him to their homes, so I don’t suppose there could be anything in the gossip.  You see, folks are always too eager to talk about a man in his position and whatever woman he happens to be friendly with.  And anyway, there hasn’t been nearly so much talk about him since his engagement was announced.”

“He is engaged?”

“Why, yes.”

“To a girl in this city!”

“Sure!  I thought you knew that.  Dandy girl—­Hazel Gresham.  You’ve heard of Garry Gresham?  It’s his kid sister.”

“So-o!  How long has this engagement been known?”

“Couple of months.  Pretty soft on both sides; he’s got money and so has she.  She’s a good scout, too, even if she is a kid.”

“How old?”

“Hardly more than twenty; but her family seemed to welcome the match.  Warren and Garry Gresham were pretty good friends.  Warren was about thirty-three or thirty-four, you know.  Gossip had it that the family was going to object because of the difference in ages, but they didn’t.”

Carroll was silent for a moment.

“Nothing else about him you think might prove interesting?”

“No-o.”

“And your idea of the murderer, after what you’ve heard?”