CHAPTER XXV.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

At first Jimmy thought they were the perpetrators of the deed, but almost immediately he recognized one of them as O'Donnell, the erstwhile traffic officer who had been promoted to a detective sergeancy since Jimmy had first met him.

"Compton has been murdered," said Jimmy dully. "He is dead."

"Put up your hands," snapped O'Donnell for the second time, "and be quick about it!"

It was then for the first time that Jimmy realized the meaning that might be put upon his presence alone in the office with his dead employer. O'Donnell's partner searched him, but found no weapon upon him.

"Where's the gat?" he asked.

"Whoever did this probably took it with him," said Jimmy. "Find the watchman."

They made Jimmy sit down in a corner, and while one of them guarded him the other called up central, made his report, and asked for an ambulance and the wagon. Then O'Donnell commenced to examine the room. A moment later he found an automatic behind the door across the room from where Compton's body lay.

"Ever see this before?" asked O'Donnell, holding the pistol up to Jimmy.

"If you're asking me if it's mine, no," said Jimmy. "I have a gun, but it's home. I never carry it. I didn't do this, O'Donnell," he continued. "There was no reason why I should do it, so instead of wasting your time on me while the murderer escapes you'd better get busy on some other theory, too. It won't do any harm, anyway."

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. What is the protagonist's name?
2. Who did he recognize?
3. What were his first thoughts about them?
4. What was O'Donnell's job?
5. And his current rank?
6. Had he been demoted?
7. What did the sergeant order him to do?
8. Did the officer say he could take his time?
9. What crime had been committed?
10. What was the name of the victim?
11. Had Jimmy been with him in the company of others?
12. What did the police do to him?
13. Did they locate a weapon on him?
14. Did the police ask him about a gun?
15. Where did Jimmy think it might be?
16. What did he suggest the police do?
17. What did the cops make him do next?
18. Who did they call?
19. What did they request?
20. Where did they finally locate the handgun?

Numbered answers:
1. Jimmy
2. O'Donnell
3. they were the perpetrators
4. traffic officer
5. detective sergeant
6. No.
7. Put up his hands
8. No.
9. murder
10. Compton
11. No.
12. searched him
13. No.
14. Yes.
15. Whoever did this probably took it with him.
16. Find the watchman
17. sit down in a corner
18. central
19. an ambulance and the wagon
20. behind the door