“The other blows,” Deever continued, “were some of them made with the side, and some with the tip of the spade.

“I can see just how it happened.  Pat angered Jarvis with the words that Klein heard.  Jarvis rushed upon him, knocked him down with the spade, and then beat him like a maniac in his rage.”

“And then buried him, eh?” said Nick, in a doubtful voice.

Chick looked inquiringly at his chief.  He had never seen Nick conduct a case in that way before.

Instead of taking the lead in the investigation, the great detective seemed to wait for suggestions.  After his first glance at the body, he had stood irresolute, as if he could not make up his mind about the value of the evidence.

This conduct of his chief interested Chick deeply.

“Watch Nick Carter,” he said to himself, “and you’ll always be learning something.”

“Of course he didn’t bury him then,” Deever replied to Nick’s question.  “Haskell saw him digging the grave after midnight.”

“Where do you suppose your brother’s body was in the meantime?” asked Nick.

“Hidden in the garden somewhere.”

Nick shook his head.

“There is no place in the garden where it could have been hidden.  I have searched the place thoroughly.”

“He may have taken it into the hospital; into his laboratory, perhaps.”

“That can’t be,” said Nick.  “You remember that Burns met the doctor coming in from the garden.  If he had already brought in the body he wouldn’t have come out again.  On the other hand, the body couldn’t have been in the garden, or Burns would have seen it.  He looked all around for your brother.”

For the first time Deever looked puzzled.  He hesitated a long time before he replied.  Then he said: 

“Jarvis must have thrown Pat’s body over the wall.  He must have hidden it among the bushes in the direction of the river.”

“Yes,” Nick rejoined; “that seems probable.”

“Well,” cried Deever, “will you make the arrest?”

“I think not.  The evidence does not seem to warrant it.”

Deever threw up his hands in utter amazement.

“Not sufficient!” he exclaimed.  “What remains to be proved?”

“I should like some evidence bearing on the question where the body was hidden during the evening, and how it was got back to the garden.”

“You don’t mean to say that you will wait for that before taking this man into custody?”

“Yes,” said Nick, slowly; “I shall wait for that.”

“But, meanwhile, how will you guard against his escape?”

“I will take him back to the hospital, where one of my assistants is waiting.  I will put him in charge of that officer, who will remain with him until I feel justified in taking him to headquarters.”

“Then you practically put him under arrest,” said Deever, with evident satisfaction.

“Yes; but it will not be known except to us who are here.  I expect your friends to be silent for the present.”