"What luck?" asked Kennedy.

"I've got a list of purchasers of that kind of revolver," he
said. "We have been to every sporting-goods and arms-store in the
city which bought them from the factory, and I could lay my
hands on pretty nearly every one of those weapons in twenty-four
hours--provided, of course, they haven't been secreted or
destroyed."

"Pretty nearly all isn't good enough," said Kennedy. "It will
have to be all, unless--"

"That name is in the list," whispered Riley hoarsely.

"Oh, then it's all right," answered Kennedy, brightening up.
"Riley, I will say that you're a wonder at using the organisation
in ferreting out such things. There's just one more thing I want
you to do. I want a sample of the notepaper in the private desks
of every one of these people." He handed the policeman a list of
his 9 "suspects," as he called them. It included nearly every one
mentioned in the case.

Riley studied it dubiously and scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"That's a hard one, Mr. Kennedy, sir. You see, it means getting
into so many different houses and apartments. Now you don't want
to do it by means of a warrant, do you, sir? Of course not. Well,
then, how can we get in?"

"You're a pretty good-looking chap yourself, Riley," said