The Circular Clew

  A DETECTIVE searching for the murderer of a dead man was accosted¹
by a Clew.

  "Follow me," said the Clew, "and there's no knowing what you may
discover."

  So the Detective followed the Clew a whole year through a thousand
sinuosities, and at last found himself in the office of the Morgue.

  "There!" said the Clew, pointing to the open register.

  The Detective eagerly scanned the page, and found an official
statement that the deceased was dead.  Thereupon he hastened to
Police Headquarters to report progress.  The Clew, meanwhile,
sauntered among the busy haunts of men, arm in arm with an
Ingenious Theory."