The colonel, who had taken the watch from some tissue paper in which it was wrapped, laid it down on the low stool, and turned his attention to his visitor.  Chet with a whine and stretch, indicating that he was warmed and rested, and would not object to a little play, walked slowly over toward the colonel.

“But,” went on the detective, “since the finding of the electric wires running to Darcy’s desk—­Jack, I tell you what it is.  You helped me out wonderfully on that robbery of the Chatham bank, when the cashier ran some wires to the time lock and had it open five hours ahead of time, I wish you’d come and have a look at those wires with me.  Maybe you could give me a hint that would clear up some of the doubt I have regarding Darcy.”

“All right, Colonel, I’ll come.  But I think I’d better follow King now.  He’s got a date with Larch, the hotel keeper, and there may be something in it.”

“Oh, go by all means!  The wires will keep.  Here, I’ll give you an idea about how they run,” and the colonel drew a sort of diagram of the jewelry store, indicating the showcase where the hidden wires had been found, explaining to his man the effect on the young woman clerk who had been shocked.

Jack Young studied the diagram carefully and shook his head.  The colonel, meanwhile, sat back and waited.  Chet was worrying the tissue paper in which the Indian’s watch was wrapped.

“Well, Colonel, I’ll tell you what it is,” said Jack, after a series of questions, “I’d have to see the place to get at any right idea of it.  Not to cast any aspersions on your ability as an artist, I can’t just make out how the wires run, from this sketch,” and he smiled, after having studied the drawings for perhaps ten minutes.

“Don’t blame you a bit!” laughed the colonel.  “I never was much on pencil work.  But now you follow Harry King.  If you need more money, come to me,” he added as he handed over a roll of bills.  “And then we’ll have to go at those wires.  I’m not so sure—­”

The colonel’s remarks were interrupted by peculiar actions on the part of Chet.  The little animal appeared to have gotten something into his mouth which bothered him.  He was whining and pawing at his jaws.

“Look at the dog, Colonel!” exclaimed Jack.  “Look!”

“Gad! he’s got hold of the Indian’s watch!” cried the detective.  “He’s been worrying it as he would a bone, and he’s got it in his mouth and can’t get it out!  Easy there! don’t touch it!” came the sharp command, as Jack Young took a step forward, evidently with the intention of helping the distressed animal.

“What’s the matter, Colonel?” asked Jack.  “You don’t want to see the dog suffer, do you?”

“No, but—­there, he’s got it out himself!”

With an effort the dog had pawed from his mouth the watch, which, being rather large and of peculiar shape, had for some time, been stuck in his jaws.  It rolled out on the floor, and the colonel stooped to pick it up.  But Jack noticed that his chief used a wad of the tissue paper with which to handle the timepiece, which was no longer ticking.