As he repeated it now for Terry's benefit, the evidence against Radnor appeared conclusive.

A full confession of guilt could scarcely have been more damning.
Terry threw back his head and laughed.
"Take care, young man," he warned, "you'll be eating your words one of these days, and some of them will be pretty hard to swallow." As we mounted the steps I nodded to several of the men whom I remembered having seen before; and they returned an interested, "How-dy-do?
Pleasant day," as they cast a reconnoitering glance at my companion.
"Gentlemen," I said with a wave of my hand toward Terry, "let me introduce Mr.Terence Kirkwood Patten, the well-known detective of New York, who has come down to look into this matter for us." The chairs which were tipped back against the wall came down with a thud, and an awed and somewhat uneasy shuffling of feet ensued.
"I wish to go through the cave," Terry remarked in the crisp, incisive tones a detective might be supposed to employ, "and I should like to have the same guide who conducted Mr.Crosby the time the body was discovered." "That's Pete Moser, he's out in the back lot plowin'," a half dozen voices responded.
"Ah, thank you; will some one kindly call him?
We will wait here." Terry proceeded with his usual ease to make himself at home.

He tipped back his hat, inclined his chair at the same dubious angle as the others, and ranged his feet along the railing.

He produced cigars from various pockets, and the atmosphere became less strained.

They were beginning to realize that detectives are made of the same flesh and blood as other people.