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Charlie nodded. “I have thought of that. But consider—he offers to produce testimony of old couple with whom he sat until moment murder was discovered. Truth of that will be examined to-morrow, but I do not doubt it. No—I am plenty certain he did not visit house of Shelah Fane until I took him there. Other points absolve him.”

“What, for example?”

“I have told you he spoke to me before murder was done, hinting we would to-night make arrest in famous case. That would have been strangely foolish move if he contemplated murder himself. And Tarneverro is not foolish—he goes far the other way. Then, too, indicating he has earnest desire to assist he points out the matter of the watch. It was bright act—not very necessary since I already knew facts from Wu Kno-ching—but all same plenty good proof he sincerely aims to help. No, I do not believe him guilty killer, and yet———”

“Yet what, Charlie?”

“I prefer to hold that safe in mind for the present. It may mean much, and it may mean nothing.”

“You've got something on Tarneverro?” asked the Chief, looking at him keenly.

“With regard to killing—not one solitary thing. At moment when that took place, I believe he was most decidedly elsewhere. Gazing in another direction—kindly permit that I gaze that way a few hours longer before I divulge my thoughts.” The plump detective put one hand to his head. “Haie, just now I wander, lost in maze of doubts and questionings.”

“You'll have to cut that out, Charlie,” his Chief told him in a kindly but somewhat worried tone. “The