“I wonder if that’s a new kind of burglar alarm,” thought the colonel.  “If it is, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen one hooked up to the electric light circuit.  A bad thing in case of a short circuit.  A person might get a shock that would knock him down and—­”

Something seemed to give the colonel a new idea.  He made a hurried examination of the wires and then left the store, to be seen a little later at the establishment of an electrician, where he stayed some time.

It was late that afternoon, when the papers, in extra editions, announced the indictment of James Darcy for the murder of his cousin.

When Colonel Ashley returned to his hotel from the electrician’s, he found Amy Mason waiting for him.

“Oh, Colonel! isn’t this dreadful?” she exclaimed, holding out a paper.  “It’s so—­so—­”

“Tut, tut! my dear young lady, this is nothing!  It is only a little shoot on the main stem.  Don’t let it distress you.  It was to be expected.”

“I know!  But it sounds so dreadful!  Before, he was only suspected, even though formally charged.  Now it seems as if he were found guilty!”

“Far from it.  The only evidence against him, just as it has been all along, is circumstantial.  They have yet to prove anything, and I don’t believe they can.  Cheer up!  I’ll get him off yet!”

“Are you sure, Colonel?” and her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

“Sure?  Why, of course I am!”

And yet the colonel had to force himself a bit to make that sound natural.  Perhaps it was because he had said it so often and was tired.

Or did it have anything to do with the strange wires that led to the work table of James Darcy?

CHAPTER X

THE DEATH WATCH

Doctor Warren, the county physician, stopping in at police headquarters, as he often did on returning from his round of private visits, to see if there were any official calls for him, encountered Detective Carroll.

“Hello, Doc!” was the genial greeting, for Doctor Warren was more than a physician.  He was a politician, and politics and the police were no more divorced in Colchester than elsewhere.  “Seen that colonel guy to-day?” asked Carroll.

“The colonel guy?” The doctor’s voice showed his puzzlement.

“Yes, the chap that’s working with Kenneth on the Darcy case.”

“Seen him?  No, I haven’t.”

“He was here looking for you a little while ago.  Seemed quite anxious about meeting you.  Here he is now.  Say, if he lets out anything we can use against Darcy—­you know, legitimate stuff—­pass it on to me and Thong, will you?  You know we’ve got to go on the stand, and, between you and me, our case ain’t any too strong.”

“That’s right.  I’ll let you know what I hear,” and the two ended their half-whispered talk as Colonel Ashley entered police headquarters.