THE RIDDLE OF THE FROZEN FLAME

CONTENTS

CHAPTER


I. The Law

II. The Frozen Flames

III. Sunshine and Shadow

IV. An Evil Genius

V. The Spectre at the Feast

VI. A Shot in the Dark

VII. The Watcher in the Shadow

VIII. The Victim

IX. The Second Victim

X. --And the Lady

XI. The Secret of the Flames

XII. "As a Thief in the Night--"

XIII. A Gruesome Discovery

XIV. The Spin of the Wheel

XV. A Startling Disclosure

XVI. Trapped!

XVII. In the Cell

XVIII. Possible Excitement

XIX. What Took Place at "The Pig and Whistle"

XX. At the Inquest

XXI. Questions--and Answers

XXII. A New Departure

XXIII. Prisoners

XXIV. In the Dark

XXV. The Web of Circumstance

XXVI. Justice--and Justification

XXVII. The Solving of the Riddle

XXVIII. "Toward Morning ..."




The Riddle of the Frozen Flame




CHAPTER I

THE LAW


Mr. Maverick Narkom, Superintendent of Scotland Yard, sat before the
litter of papers upon his desk. His brow was puckered, his fat face red
with anxiety, and there was about him the air of one who has reached the
end of his tether.

He faced the man opposite, and fairly ground his teeth upon his lower
lip.

"Dash it, Cleek!" he said for the thirty-third time, "I don't know what
to make of it, I don't, indeed! The thing's at a deadlock. Hammond
reports to me this morning that another bank in Hendon--a little
one-horse affair--has been broken into. That makes the third this week,
and as usual every piece of gold is gone. Not a bank note touched, not
a bond even fingered. And the thief--or thieves--made as clean a get-away
as you ever laid your eyes on! I tell you, man, it's enough to send an
average person daft! The whole of Scotland Yard's been on the thing, and
we haven't traced 'em yet! What do you make of it, old chap?"