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the telephone was off its stand。 He had suggested that Woodstock leave it so； in order not to be troubled by outside calls。
〃I typed this statement myself；〃 asserted Woodstock。 〃I have no objections to signing it。〃
Woodstock flourished the pen； he hesitated before applying his signature。
His drawly tone was troubled as he remarked：
〃This may be a mistake after all。 I can't sign this statement； Ruthley。 It would bee an incriminating document if I did。〃
〃Hardly；〃 smiled Ruthley。 〃Not while it remains in my hands； Woodstock。〃
〃I did not pay the money to you。〃
〃You paid it to Marclot。〃
〃The statement does not say so。 It indicates that I could have retained the funds myself。〃
Ruthley reached for the statement。 He studied it； nodded his agreement with Woodstock's opinion。 Observing the contractor's typewriter on a table； Ruthley inserted the statement in the machine。 At the bottom of the sheet； he typed two dotted lines； one an inch and a half below the other。
Here。〃 Ruthley spoke briskly； as he laid the paper on the table。 〃Let me have your pen； Woodstock。 I shall sign the statement also； to give it my approval。〃
He took the pen； it slipped slightly between his fingers。 Ruthley tightened his grip； signed his name on the lower line。 He handed the pen to Woodstock； who placed a much…used blotter upon the signature； then prepared to sign his own name； by taking the pen from Ruthley's grasp。
In order to sign the lower line； Ruthley had e over beside the contractor。 He stood there； one hand upon the table； while Woodstock signed the upper line。
Ruthley was on Woodstock's right。 He thrust his hand into his right coat pocket as Woodstock was reaching for the blotter。 His head still tilted to the right； Woodstock did not spy Ruthley's move。 The contractor simply planked the blotter upon the statement； pressed it firmly with his fingers。
There was a glimmer as Ruthley's hand moved upward。 ing from cover was a 。32 revolver。 Taking advantage of Woodstock's tilted head； Ruthley jabbed the gun muzzle squarely against the contractor's temple and pulled the trigger。 He stepped away as he felt the slight recoil of the weapon。
For a full second； Adam Woodstock's body remained rigid； blood seemed to hold back from the gaping wound that the bullet had blasted in his temple。 Then the tilt of Woodstock's head began to overbalance him； he sagged in Ruthley's direction。 Stone dead； Woodstock would have sprawled to the floor； had Ruthley not intervened。
WITH his left hand； Ruthley thrust Woodstock's right shoulder in a forward direction； so that the dead man slumped upon the desk。 As Ruthley expected； Woodstock's right hand shoved out ahead of him。 Ruthley waited until the motion had ended。 In deliberate fashion； he placed the revolver in Woodstock's hand； carefully clamped the dead man's fingers about the weapon。
Ruthley was not disturbed by the noise that the gun shot had made。
Woodstock's house was isolated； the windows of this room were closed。 Nor did Ruthley bother about wiping the handle of the revolver to remove fingerprints。
He knew that there were none of his own prints upon the gun。
This was explained when Ruthley held his hands palms upward in the light of the desk lamp； to give them brief examination。 The glow made the murderer's finger tips look glassy。
Ruthley chuckled。 Before beginning this expedition； he had taken the precaution to dip his fingers in collodion。 That liquid had dried； leaving a smooth； gelatine surface upon the fingers。 The presence of collodion explained why the pen had slipped slightly from Ruthley's grip。 With larger objects； especially the revolver； the collodion did not matter。
Stepping to the far side of the desk； Ruthley reached across and whisked away the statement that he and Woodstock had signed。 The paper slid easily from beneath Woodstock's left hand； but the blotter could not be so easily gained。 It was beneath Woodstock's elbow。
Ruthley observed the projecting blotter edge； decided not to disturb it。
The blotter was an old one； its upper surface showed enough ink smears to cover any recent marks。
ing around beside Woodstock's body； Ruthley opened a desk drawer on the dead contractor's right。 There he found objects that he wanted。 The first was a long pair of scissors； that served as paper shears。 Ruthley used these on the signed statement； he carefully clipped off the lower portion of the paper； just beneath the line that bore Woodstock's signature。 Ruthley's own signature was removed with the clipped…off portion。
Crumpling the strip of paper； the master crook tucked it in his vest pocket。
From the desk drawer； Ruthley took a ring of keys。 He walked across the room and stopped in front of a metal strong…box； where he knew that Woodstock kept important papers。 Unlocking the box with the proper key； Ruthley found a suitable pigeonhole into which he tucked the signed statement。
Returning to the desk； Ruthley gathered other papers that he had brought with him。 He pocketed some； carried others to the strong…box and placed them there。 From another pocket； Ruthley drew a small wad of letters。 Checking them over； he smiled as he noted Beezer Dorsch's signature。 Choosing another pigeonhole； Ruthley planted the fake letters。 He closed the door of the strong…box and locked it。
THE murderer's task was almost finished。 Ruthley went back to the desk； replaced the scissors and the keys。 He picked up the telephone and put it on its stand。
Ruthley looked around the room； smiled in pleased manner as he observed the drawn window shades。 He made a last survey of Woodstock's position at the desk； in precise fashion； Ruthley shifted the dead man slightly； so that his position would better suit the killer's design。
The set…up was perfect。 Adam Woodstock looked as if he had braced himself for an ordeal； then pressed a revolver against his right temple。 Assuming that Woodstock had been leaning forward； a bullet from his own hand would have produced the present result。 It looked like a positive case of suicide。
Two details more； Ruthley attended to them。 One was the matter of the pen； which had dropped from Woodstock's hand。 Ruthley replaced it on the rack。 The other was the drawer； that Ruthley had closed。 Carefully； the murderer opened it again。 From his pocket； he brought out a small box of cartridges； to match those in the death gun。 He buried the cartridge box deep in the drawer。
Ruthley left the drawer open； to create the impression that Woodstock had reached into it for the gun。 No other details were necessary。 The suicide picture was plete； an examination of Woodstock's strong…box would fully support it。 The signed statement； the letters from Beezer Dorsch would be as good as a written confession。
After a long； cold glance toward Woodstock's crumpled body； Ruthley turned and left the study。 In a darkened hallway； he chose a flight of stairs that led to the back of the ground floor。
Descending； Stephen Ruthley went out by a side door。
The master crook was deliberate； even in his departure。 In fact； he had almost decided to linger a while longer upon the scene of his crime； for he was confident that no intruder