He rode downtown with two of his Delmore Park friends, and one of them accompanied him to the door of the bank.
All the employes of the institution are prepared to testify that Mr.
Ward did not leave his office until two o'clock." The lawyer paused to note the impression of his words on the coroner.
That official was listening intently, fully cognizant of the weighty import of the attorney's statement.
"Is it necessary to supply an alibi for Mr.Beard ?" Luckstone inquired, as if under the impression that the secretary had been eliminated from the case.
"If he has one you may as well outline it," the coroner replied.
The lawyer complied without further urging.
"Mr.Beard spent the entire morning in the vaults of a safety deposit company whose name Lieutenant Britz already has.

He was at all times under the observation of the company's watchman." With the air of one who has succeeded in establishing his case beyond possibility of doubt, the lawyer sat down.

The faces of the coroner, the chief and Greig were cast in an expression of grave apprehension.

The frankness with which Luckstone had revealed the evidence on which he based his alibis could leave no doubt that the witnesses would confirm all he had said.

And against such a downpour of disinterested evidence the police could not hope to sustain their case.
Britz had listened to Luckstone's recital with impassive countenance.
Now, however, it was to be observed that the lines about his mouth tightened, that his forehead contracted, while his eyes darted points of fire.
"Do you want to investigate their alibis ?" asked the coroner.
"No," snapped Britz.
"Why not ?" "Because it isn't necessary." "Then you accept them ?" "Yes--without question." "But if none of the accused was within miles of Whitmore's office on the morning in question, how do you connect any of them with the actual commission of the crime ?" Britz rose and took up a position at the side of the desk, where he could see every fleeting emotion that might cross the faces of all the others in the room.