officer comes in with a patrolman, who he's picked up; and the three of 'em nab our stylish friend in the act of pawning this ring."
He tossed a square solitaire diamond in a filigreed platinum setting on the District Attorney's desk.
"I was at the office when they brought him in, and I sent Snitkin with the ring up to Harlem to see what the maid had to say about it, and she identified it as belonging to Odell."
"But, I say, it wasn't a part of the bijouterie the lady was wearing that night, was it, Sergeant?" Vance put the question casually.
Heath jerked about and eyed him with sullen calculation.
"What if it wasn't? It came out of that jimmied jewel-case—or I'm Ben Hur."
"Of course it did," murmured Vance, lapsing into lethargy.
"And that's where we're in luck," declared Heath, turning back to Markham. "It connects Skeel directly with the murder and the robbery."
"What has Skeel to say about it?" Markham was leaning forward intently. "I suppose you questioned him."
"I'll say we did," replied the Sergeant; but his tone was troubled. "We had him up all night giving him the works. And the story he tells is this: he says the girl gave him the ring a week ago, and that he didn't see her again until the afternoon of day before yesterday. He came to her apartment between four and five—you remember the maid said she was out then—and entered and left the house by the side door, which was unlocked at that time. He admits he
