第10章

Red，however，suddenlystraightenedfromthedeskandstoodmotionless，listening。Hemadeaslighthissingnoisethatarrestedtheattentionoftheothersandheldtheminmovelesssilence。

"Ihearsomething，"hewhispered。Hewenttothekeyholeofthedoorleadingintothepassage。Thenhewhisperedagain，"Andit"scomingthisway。"

Atthewords，Garsonsnappedhisfingers。Theroomwasplungedindarkness。

CHAPTERXVIII。THENOISELESSDEATH。

Therewasabsolutesilenceinthelibraryaftertheturningoftheswitchthatbroughtthepallofdarkness。Longsecondspassed，thenalittlenoise——theknobofthepassagedoorturning。Asthedoorswungopen，therecameagaspingbreathfromMary，forshesawframedinthefaintlightthatcamefromthesingleburnerinthecorridortheslenderformofherhusband，DickGilder。Inthenextinstanthehadsteppedwithintheroomandpulledtothedoorbehindhim。AndinthatsameinstantChicagoRedhadpouncedonhisvictim，thehugehandclappedtightovertheyoungman"smouth。Evenashispowerfularmheldthenewcomerinaninescapableembrace，therecameasoundofscufflingfeetandthatwasall。Finallythebigman"svoicecametriumphantly。

"I"vegothim。"

"It"sDick!"Thecrycameasawailofdespairfromthegirl。

Atthesamemoment，Garsonflashedhistorch，andthelightfellswiftlyonyoungGilder，bowedtoakneelingposturebeforethecouch，half-throttledbythestrengthofChicagoRed。Closebesidehim，Marylookeddowninwordlessdespairoverthisfinaldisasterofthenight。Therewassilenceamongthemen，allofwhomsavethecaptorhimselfweregatherednearthefireplace。

Garsonretiredastepfartherbeforehespokehiscommand，sothat，thoughheheldthetorchstill，heliketheotherswasinshadow。OnlyMarywasrevealedclearlyasshebentinalarmtowardthemanshehadmarried。Itwasborneinontheforger"sconsciousnessthatthefaceofthewomanleaningovertheintruderwasstrongertoholdtheprisonerandtopreventanyoutcrythanthemightofChicagoRedhimself，andsohegavetheorder。

"Getaway，Red。"

Thefellowletgohisgripobedientlyenough，thoughwithatrifleofregret，sincehegloriedinhisphysicalprowess。

Thusfreedofthatstranglingembrace，Dickstumbledblindlytohisfeet。Then，mechanically，hishandwenttothelamponthetablebackofthecouch。InthesamemomentGarsonsnappedhistorchtodarkness。When，afteralittlefutilesearching，Dickfinallyfoundthecatch，andthemellowstreamedforth，heutteredanejaculationofstarkamazement，forhisgazewasrivetedonthefaceofthewomanheloved。

"GoodGod!"Itwasacryoftorturewrungfromhissoulofsouls。

Maryswayedtowardhimalittle，palpitantwithfear——fearforherself，forallofthem，mostofallforhim。

"Hush!hush!"shepantedwarningly。"Oh，Dick，youdon"tunderstand。"

Dick"shandwasathisthroat。Itwasnoteasyforhimtospeakyet。Hehadsufferedseverelyintheprocessofbeingthrottled，and，too，hewasintheclutchofafrightfulemotion。Tofindher，hiswife，inthisplace，insuchcompany——her，thewomanwhomheloved，whom，inspiteofeverything，hehadhonored，thewomantowhomhehadgivenhisname!Maryhere!Andthus!

"Iunderstandthis，"hesaidbrokenlyatlast。"Whetheryoueverdiditbeforeornot，thistimeyouhavebrokenthelaw。"A

suddeninspirationonhisownbehalfcametohim。Forhislove"ssake，hemustseizeonthisopportunitygivenoffatetohimformastery。Hewentonwithanewvehemenceofboldnessthatbecamehimwell。

"You"reinmyhandsnow。Soarethesemenaswell。UnlessyoudoasIsay，Mary，I"lljaileveryoneofthem。"

Mary"susualquicknesswasnotlackingevennow，inthisperiodofextremity。Herretortwasgivenwithoutaparticleofhesitation。

"Youcan"t，"sheobjectedwithconviction。"I"mtheonlyoneyou"veseen。"

"That"ssoonremedied，"Dickdeclared。Heturnedtowardthehalldoorasifwiththeintentionoflightingthechandelier。

ButMarycaughthisarmpleadingly。

"Don"t，Dick，"shebegged。"It"s——it"snotsafe。"

"I"mnotafraid，"washisindignantanswer。Hewouldhavegoneon，butsheclungthecloser。Hewasreluctanttouseover-muchforceagainsttheonewhomhecherishedsofondly。

Therecameadiversionfromthemanwhohadmadethecapture，whowasmightilywonderingoverthecourseofevents，whichwaswhollyunlikeanythinginthewholeofhisownratherextensivehousebreakingexperience。

"Who"sthis，anyhow？"ChicagoReddemanded。

Therewasaprimitivepetulanceinhisdrawlingtones。

Dickansweredwithconcisenessenough。

"I"mherhusband。Whoareyou？"

Marycalledasoftadmonition。

"Don"tspeak，anyofyou，"shedirected。"Youmustn"tlethimhearyourvoices。"

Dickwasexasperatedbythispersistentidentificationofherselfwiththesecriminalsinhisfather"shouse。

"You"refightingmelikeacoward，"hesaidhotly。Hisvoicewasbitter。Theeyesthathadalwaysbeenwarmintheirglancesonherwerechillnow。Heturnedalittlewayfromher，asifininstinctiverepugnance。"Youaretakingadvantageofmylove。

YouthinkthatbecauseofitIcan"tmakeamoveagainstthesemen。Now，listentome，I——"

"Iwon"t!"Marycried。Herwordswereshrillwithmingledemotions。"There"snothingtotalkabout，"shewentonwildly。

"Therenevercanbebetweenyouandme。"

Theyoungman"svoicecamewithasonorousfirmnessthatwasnewtoit。Inthesemoments，thestrengthofhim，nourishedbysuffering，wasputtingforthitsflower。Hismannerwasmasterful。

"Therecanbeandtherewillbe，"hecontradicted。Heraisedhisvoicealittle，speakingintotheshadowswherewasthegroupofsilentmen。

"Youmenbackthere!"hecried。"IfIgiveyoumywordtoleteveryoneofyougofreeandpledgemyselfnevertorecognizeoneofyouagain，willyoumakeMaryherelistentome？That"sallI

ask。Iwantafewminutestostatemycase。Givemethat。

WhetherIwinorlose，youmengofree，andI"llforgeteverythingthathashappenedhereto-night。"TherecameamuffledguffawoflaughterfromthebigchestofChicagoRedatthisextraordinarilyingenuousproposal，whileDaceychuckledmorequietly。

Dickmadeagestureofimpatienceatthisopenderision。

"TellthemIcanbetrusted，"hebadeMarycurtly。

ItwasGarsonwhoanswered。

"Iknowthatyoucanbetrusted，"hesaid，"becauseIknowyoulo——"Hecheckedhimselfwithashiver，andoutofthedarknesshisfaceshowedwhite。

"Youmustlisten，"Dickwenton，facingagaintowardthegirl，whowastremblingbeforehim，hereyesbyturnssearchinghisexpressionordowncastinunfamiliarconfusion，whichsheherselfcouldhardlyunderstand。

"Yoursafetydependsonme，"theyoungmanwarned。"SupposeI

shouldcallforhelp？"

Garsonsteppedforwardthreateningly。

"Youwouldonlycallonce，"hesaidverygently，yetmostgrimly。

Hishandwenttothenoiselessweaponinhiscoat-pocket。

Buttheyoungman"sanswerrevealedthefactthathe，too，wasdeterminedtotheutmost，thatheunderstoodperfectlythesituation。

"Oncewouldbequiteenough，"hesaidsimply。

Garsonnoddedinacceptanceofthedefeat。Itmaybe，too，thatinsomesubtlefashionheadmiredthisyouthsuddenlygrownresolute，competenttocontroladangerousevent。TherewaseventhepossibilitythatsomeinstinctoftendernesstowardMaryherselfmadehimdesirethatthisopportunityshouldbegivenforwipingouttheeffectsofmisfortunewhichfatehithertohadbroughtintoherlife。

"Youwin，"Garsonsaid，withahalf-laugh。Heturnedtotheothermenandspokeacommand。

"Yougetoverbythehalldoor，Red。Andkeepyourearsopeneverysecond。Giveustheofficeifyouhearanything。Ifwe"rerushed，andhavetomakeaquickget-away，seethatMaryhasthefirstchance。Getthat，allofyou？"

AsChicagoRedtookuphisappointedstation，GarsonturnedtoDick。

"Makeitquick，remember。"

Hetouchedtheothertwoandmovedbacktothewallbythefireplace，asfaraspossiblefromthehusbandandwifebythecouch。

Dickspokeatonce，withahesitancythatbetrayedthedepthofhisemotion。

"Don"tyoucareformeatall？"heaskedwistfully。

Thegirl"sanswerwasutteredwithnervouseagernesswhichrevealedherownstressoffear。

"No，no，no!"sheexclaimed，rebelliously。

Now，however，theyoungmanhadregainedsomemeasureofreassurance。

"Iknowyoudo，Mary，"heasserted，confidently；"alittle，anyway。Why，Mary，"hewentonreproachfully，"can"tyouseethatyou"rethrowingawayeverythingthatmakeslifeworthwhile？

Don"tyouseethat？"

Therewasnowordfromthegirl。Herbreastwasmovingconvulsively。Sheheldherfacesteadfastlyavertedfromthefaceofherhusband。

"Whydon"tyouanswerme？"heinsisted。

Mary"sreplycamewithallthecoldnessshecouldcommand。

"Thatwasnotinthebargain，"Marysaid，indifferently。

Theman"svoicegrewtenderlywinning，persuasivewiththelongingofalover，persuasivewiththepityoftherighteousforthesinner。

"Mary，Mary!"hecried。"You"vegottochange。Don"tbesohard。

Givethewomaninyouachance。"

Thegirl"sformbecamerigidasshefoughtforself-control。Thepleatouchedtothebottomofherheart，butshecouldnot，wouldnotyield。Herwordsrushedforthwithabitternessthatwasthecoverofherdistress。

"IamwhatIam，"shesaidsharply。"Ican"tchange。Keepyourpromise，now，andlet"sgetoutofthis。"

Herassertionwasdisregardedastotheinabilitytochange。

"Youcanchange，"Dickwentonimpetuously。"Mary，haven"tyoueverwantedthethingsthatotherwomenhave，shelter，andcare，andthebigthingsoflife，thethingsworthwhile？They"reallreadyforyou，now，Mary……Andwhataboutme？"Reproachleapedinhistone。"Afterall，you"vemarriedme。Nowit"suptoyoutogivememychancetomakegood。I"veneveramountedtomuch。

I"venevertriedmuch。Ishall，now，ifyouwillhaveitso，Mary；ifyou"llhelpme。Iwillcomeoutallright，Iknowthat——sodoyou，Mary。Only，youmusthelpme。"

"Ihelpyou!"Theexclamationcamefromthegirlinanoteofincredulousastonishment。

"Yes，"Dicksaid，simply。"Ineedyou，andyouneedme。Comeawaywithme。"

"No，no!"wasthebrokenrefusal。Therewasagreatgriefclutchingatthesoulofthiswomanwhohadbroughtvengeancetoitsfullflower。Shewasgasping。"No，no!Imarriedyou，notbecauseIlovedyou，buttorepayyourfatherthewronghehaddoneme。Iwouldn"tletmyselfeventhinkofyou，andthen——I

realizedthatIhadspoiledyourlife。"

"No，notspoiledit，Mary!Blessedit!Wemustprovethatyet。"

"Yes，spoiledit，"thewifewentonpassionately。"IfIhadunderstood，ifIcouldhavedreamedthatIcouldevercare——

Oh，Dick，Iwouldneverhavemarriedyouforanythingintheworld。"

"Butnowyoudorealize，"theyoungmansaidquietly。"Thethingisdone。Ifwemadeamistake，itisforustobringhappinessoutofthaterror。"

"Oh，can"tyousee？"camethestrickenlament。"I"majail-bird!"

"Butyouloveme——youdoloveme，Iknow!"Theyoungmanspokewithjoyouscertainty，forsomeinflectionofhervoicehadtoldthetruthtohisheart。Nothingelsemattered。"Butnow，tocomebacktothisholewe"reinhere。Don"tyouunderstand，atlast，thatyoucan"tbeatthelaw？Ifyou"recaughthereto-night，wherewouldyougetoff——caughtherewithagangofburglars？

Tellme，dear，whydidyoudoit？Whydidn"tyouprotectyourself？Whydidn"tyougotoChicagoasyouplanned？"

"What？"TherewasanewqualityinMary"svoice。Asuddenthrobofshockmaskedinthesurfaceindifferenceofintonation。

Dickrepeatedhisquestion，unobservantofitsfirsteffect。

"Whydidn"tyougotoChicagoasyouhadplanned？"

"Planned？Withwhom？"Theinterrogationcamewithanabruptforcethatcriedofnewsuspicions。

"Why，withBurke。"Theyoungmantriedtobepatientoverherdensityinthistimeofcrisis。

"WhotoldyouthatIhadarrangedanysuchthing？"Maryasked。

Nowthetensenessinhermannergotthehusband"sattention，andherepliedwithasuddengravity，apprehensiveofheknewnotwhat。

"Burkehimselfdid。"

"When？"Marywasstandingrigidnow，andtherarecolorflamedinhercheeks。Hereyeswereblazing。

"Lessthananhourago。"Hehadcaughtthecontagionofhermoodandvaguealarmswepthim。

"Where？"camethenextquestion，stillwiththatvitalinsistence。

"Inthisroom。"

"Burkewashere？"Mary"svoicewassuddenlycold，verydangerous。"Whatwashedoinghere？"

"Talkingtomyfather。"

Theseeminglysimpleanswerappearedthelaststrawtothegirl"sburdenoffrenziedsuspicion。Hervoicecutfiercelyintothequietoftheroom，imperious，savage。

"Joe，turnonthatlight!Iwanttoseethefaceofeverymaninthisroom。"

SomethingfatallysignificantinhervoicesetGarsona-leaptotheswitch，and，inthesamesecond，theblazeofthechandelierflamedbrilliantlyoverall。Theothersstoodmotionless，blinkinginthesuddenradiance——allsaveGriggs，whomovedstealthilyinthatsamemoment，alittlenearerthedoorintothepassage，whichwasnearesttohim。

ButMary"snextwordscamewhollyasasurprise，seeminglytotallyirrelevanttothisinstantofcrisis。Yettheyranga-throbwithanhystericalanxiety。

"Dick，"shecried，"whatarethosetapestriesworth？"Withthequestion，shepointedtowardthedraperiesthatshroudedthegreatoctagonalwindow。

Theyoungmanwasplainlyastonished，disconcertedaswellbytheobtrusionofasordiddetailintothetragedyofthetime。

"Whyintheworlddoyou——？"hebegan，impatiently。

Marystampedherfootangrilyinprotestagainstthedelay。

"Tellme——quick!"shecommanded。Theauthorityinhervoiceandmannerwasnottobegainsaid。

Dickyieldedsullenly。

"Oh，twoorthreehundreddollars，Isuppose，"heanswered。

"Why？"

"Nevermindthat!"Maryexclaimed，violently。Andnowthegirl"svoicecamestinginglikeawhiplash。InGarson"sface，too，wasgrowingfury，forinaninstantofilluminationheguessedsomethingofthetruth。Mary"snextquestionconfirmedhisragingsuspicion。

"Howlonghaveyouhadthem，Dick？"

Bynow，theyoungmanhimselfsensedthefactthatsomethingmysteriouslybanefullaybehindthefranticquestioningonthisseeminglytrivialtheme。

"EversinceIcanremember，"hereplied，promptly。

Mary"svoicecamethenwithanintonationthatbroughtenlightenmentnotonlytoGarson"sshrewdperceptions，butalsototheheavierintelligencesofDaceyandofChicagoRed。

"Andthey"renotfamousmasterpieceswhichyourfatherboughtrecently，fromsomedealerwhosmuggledthemintothiscountry？"

Sosimplewerethewordsofherinquiry，butunderthembeatsomethingevil，deadly。

Theyoungmanlaughedcontemptuously。

"Ishouldsaynot!"hedeclaredindignantly，forheresentedtheimplicationagainsthisfather"shonesty。

"It"satrick!Burke"sdoneit!"Mary"swordscamewithaccusingvehemence。

TherewasanothersinglestepmadebyGriggstowardthedoorintothepassage。

Mary"seyecaughtthemovement，andherlipssoundlesslyformedthename:

"Griggs!"

Themanstrovetocarryoffthesituation，thoughheknewwellthathestoodinmortalperil。Hecamealittletowardthegirlwhohadaccusedhimoftreachery。Hewasverydapperinhiseveningclothes，withhisratherhandsome，well-groomedfacesetinlinesofinnocence。

"He"slyingtoyou!"hecriedforcibly，withascornfulgesturetowardDickGilder。"Itellyou，thosetapestriesareworthamillioncold。"

Mary"sanswerwasvirulentinitssuddenburstofhate。Foronce，themusicofhervoicewaslostinadiscordantcryofdetestation。

"Youstool-pigeon!YoudidthisforBurke!"

Griggssoughtstilltomaintainhisairofinnocence，andhestrovewell，sinceheknewthathefoughtforhislifeagainstthosewhomhehadoutraged。Ashespokeagain，histonesweretremulouswithsincerity——perhapsthattremulousnesswasbornchieflyoffear，yettotheearhiswordscamestoutlyenoughfortruth:

"IswearIdidn"t!Iswearit!"

Maryregardedtheprotestingmanwithabhorrence。Theperjuredwretchshrankbeforetheloathinginhereyes。

"Youcametomeyesterday，"shesaid，withmoreofrestraintinhervoicenow，butstillwithinexorablerancor。"Youcametometoexplainthisplan。Andyoucamefromhim——fromBurke!"

"IswearIwasonthelevel。Iwastippedofftothestorybyapal，"Griggsdeclared，butatlasttheassurancewasgoneoutofhisvoice。Hefeltthehostilityofthoseabouthim。

Garsonbrokeinferociously。

"It"saframe-up!"hesaid。Histonescameinadeadenedroarofwrath。

Ontheinstant，awarethatfurthersubterfugecouldbeofnoavail，Griggsswaggereddefiance。

"Andwhatifitistrue？"hedrawled，witharesumptionofhisaristocraticmanner，whilehiseyessweptthegroupbalefully。

Hepluckedthepolicewhistlefromhiswaistcoat-pocket，andraisedittohislips。

Hemovedtooslowly。Inthesamemomentofhisaction，Garsonhadpulledthepistolfromhispocket，hadpressedthetrigger。

Therecamenospurtofflame。Therewasnosound——saveperhapsafaintclickingnoise。Butthemanwiththewhistleathislipssuddenlyceasedmovement，stoodabsolutelystillforthespaceofabreath。Then，hetrembledhorribly，andinthenextinstantcrashedtothefloor，wherehelayrigid，dead。

"Damnyou——I"vegotyou!"Garsonsneeredthroughclenchedteeth。

Hiseyeswerelikeballsoffire。Therewasafrightfulgrinoftriumphtwistinghismouthinthisminuteofpunishment。

Inthefirstsecondofthetragedy，Dickhadnotunderstood。

Indeed，hewasstilldazedbythesuddennessofitall。ButthefallingofGriggsbeforetheleveledweaponoftheotherman，theretolieinthatghastlyimmobility，madehimtounderstand。

HeleapedtowardGarson——wouldhavewrenchedthepistolfromtheother"sgrasp。Inthestruggle，itfelltothefloor。

Beforeeithercouldpickitup，therecameaninterruption。Eveninthestressofthisscene，ChicagoRedhadneverrelaxedhisprofessionalcaution。Aslightnoisehadcaughthisear，hehadstooped，listening。Now，hestraightened，andcalledhiswarning。

"Somebody"sopeningthefrontdoor!"

Garsonforgothisweaponinthisnewalarm。Hesprangtotheoctagonalwindow，evenasDicktookpossessionofthepistol。

"Thestreet"sempty!Wemustjumpforit!"Hishatewasforgottennowinanemotionstilldeeper，andheturnedtoMary。Hisfacewasallgentlenessagain，wherejustbeforeithadbeenevilincarnate，aflamewiththelusttodestroy。"Comeon，Mary，"hecried。

AlreadyChicagoRedhadsnappedoffthelightsofthechandelier，hadsprungtothewindow，thrownopenapanelofit，andhadvanishedintothenight，withDaceyathisheels。AsGarsonwouldhavecalledouttothegirlagaininmadanxietyforhaste，hewasinterruptedbyDick:

"Shecouldn"tmakeit，Garson，"hedeclaredcoollyandresolutely。"Yougo。It"llbeallright，youknow。I"lltakecareofher!"

"Ifshe"scaught——!"Therewasanindescribablemenaceintheforger"shalf-utteredthreat。

"Shewon"tbe。"ThequalityofsincerityinDick"svoicewasmoreconvincingthananyvowmighthavebeen。

"Ifsheis，I"llgetyou，that"sall，"Garsonsaidgravely，asonestatingasimplefactthatcouldnotbedisputed。

Thenheglanceddownatthebodyofthemanwhomhehaddonetodeath。

"AndyoucantellthattoBurke!"hesaidviciouslytothedead。

"Youdamnedsquealer!"Therewasasupremelymalevolentcontentinhissneer。

CHAPTERXIX。WITHINTHETOILS。

ThegoingofGarsonlefttheroomdeathlystill。Dickstaredforamomentatthespaceofwindowleftuncoveredbythedraperiesnow，sincethemanhadhurriedpastthem，withoutpausingtodrawthemafterhim。Then，presently，theyoungmanturnedagaintoMary，andtookherhandinhis。Theshockoftheeventhadsomehowsteadiedhim，sinceithaddrawnhisthoughtsfromthatothermoreengrossingmoodofconcernoverthecrisisinhisownlife。Afterall，whatmatteredthedeathofthiscrook？hisfancyran。Theonethingofrealworthinalltheworldwasthelifethatremainedtobelivedbetweenhimandher……Then，violently，theselfishnessofhismoodwasmadeplaintohim。

Forthehandheheldwasshakinglikesomeslender-stalkedlilyintheclutchofthesirocco。Evenashefirstperceivedthefact，hesawthegirlstagger。Hisarmsweptaboutherinavirileprotectingembrace——justintime，orshewouldhavefallen。

Awhispercamefromherquiveringlips。Herfacewasclosetohis，elsehecouldnothavecaughttheuncertainmurmuring。Thatfacenowwasbecomeghastlypale。Thevioleteyeswerewidenedanddull。Themusclesofherfacetwitched。Sherestedsupinelyagainsthim，asifbereftofanystrengthofbodyorofsoul。

Yet，intheintensityofherutterance，thefeeblewhisperstrucklikeashriekofhorror。

"I——I——neversawanyonekilledbefore!"

Thesimple，grislytruthofthewords——wordsthathemighthavespokenaswell——stirredthemantothedeepsofhisbeing。Heshuddered，asheturnedhiseyestoavoidseeingthethingthatlaysoverynear，mercifullymergedwithintheshadowsbeyondthegentleradiancefromthesinglelamp。Withapangofinfinitepityforthewomaninhisarms，heapprehendedinsomedegreethetorturethiseventmusthaveinflictedonher。Frightfultohim，itmustintruthbevastlyworsetoher。Therewasherwomanlysensitivenesstoenhancetheinnatehideousnessofthethingthathadbeendoneherebeforetheireyes。Therewas，too，thefactthatthemurdererhimselfhadbeenthemantowhomsheowedherlife。Yes，forhim，Dickrealizedwithpoignantsympathy，thehappeningthatnightwasterribleindeed:forher，asheguessednowatlast，thetorturemustbesomethingeasilytooverwhelmallherstrength。Histouchonhergrewtenderbeyondtheordinarytendernessoflove，madegentlerbyagreatunderlyingcompassionforhermisery。

DickdrewMarytowardthecouch，therelethersinkdowninahuddledattitudeofdespair。

"Ineversawaman——killedbefore!"shesaidagain。Therewasanoteofhalf-hysterical，almostchildishcomplaintinhervoice。

Shemovedherheadalittle，asiftolookintotheshadowswhere*ITlay，thencheckedherselfviolently，andlookedupatherhusbandwiththepatheticsimplicityofterror。

"Youknow，Dick，"sherepeateddully，"Ineversawamankilledbefore。"

Beforehecouldutterthesoothingwordsthatrosetohislips，Dickwasinterruptedbyaslightsoundatthedoor。Instantly，hewasallalerttomeettheexigenciesofthesituation。Hestoodbythecouch，bendingforwardalittle，asifinapostureofintimatefondness。Then，withanewthought，hegotouthiscigarette-caseandlightedacigarette，afterwhichheresumedhisformerleaningoverthewomanaswouldtheardentlover。Heheardthenoiseagainpresently，nowsonearthathemadesureofbeingoverheard，soatoncehespokewithaforcedcheerfulnessinhisinflection。

"Itellyou，Mary，"hedeclared，"everything"sgoingtobeallrightforyouandme。Itwasbullyofyoutocomeheretomelikethis。"

Thegirlmadenoresponse。Shelivedstillinthenightmareofmurder——thatnightmarewhereinshehadseenGriggsfalldeadtothefloor。

Dick，innervousapprehensionastotheissue，soughttobringhertorealizationofthenewneedthathadcomeuponthem。

"Talktome，"hecommanded，verysoftly。"They"llbehereinaminute。Whentheycomein，pretendyoujustcamehereinordertomeetme。Try，Mary。Youmust，dearest!"Then，again，hisvoicerosetoloudness，ashecontinued。"Why，I"vebeentryingalldaytoseeyou。And，now，herewearetogether，justasI

wasbeginningtogetreallydiscouraged……Iknowmyfatherwilleventually——"

Hewasinterruptedbytheswiftswingingopenofthehallwaydoor。Burkestoodjustwithinthelibrary，arevolverpointedmenacingly。

"Handsup!——allofyou!"TheInspector"svoicefairlyroaredthecommand。

Thebelligerentexpressionofhisfacevanishedabruptly，ashiseyesfellonDickstandingbythecouchandMaryrecliningthereinlimphelplessness。Hissurprisewouldhavebeenludicrousbutfortheseriousnessofthesituationtoallconcerned。Burke"sglancerovedtheroomsharply，andhewasquicklyconvincedthatthesetwowereinfacttheonlypresentspoilofhiscarefulplotting。Hisfacesetgrimly，forthedisappointmentofthisminutesurgedfiercelywithinhim。Hestartedtospeak，hiseyesloweringasheregardedthetwobeforehim。

ButDickforestalledhim。Hespokeinavoicecoldlyrepellent。

"Whatareyoudoinginthishouseatthistimeofnight？"hedemanded。Hismannerwasoneofsterndisapproval。"Irecognizeyou，InspectorBurke。Butyoumustunderstandthattherearelimitseventowhatyoucando。Itseemstome，sir，thatyouexceedyourauthoritybysuchanintrusionasthis。"

Burke，however，wasnotawhitdismayedbytherebukeandtheairofrathercontemptuousdisdainwithwhichitwasuttered。HewavedhisrevolvertowardMary，merelyasagestureofinquisitiveness，withoutanythreat。

"What"sshedoinghere？"heasked。Therewaswrathinhisroughvoice，forhecouldnotavoidthesurmisethathisshrewdlyconcoctedschemetoentrapthiswomanhadsomehowbeensetawry。

"What"sshedoinghere，Isay？"herepeatedheavily。Hiskeeneyesweredartingoncemoreabouttheroom，questingsomecluetothisdisturbingmystery，sohatefultohispride。

Dick"smannerbecamethatofthedevotedhusbandoffendedbyimpertinentobtrusion。

"Youforgetyourself，Inspector，"hesaid，icily。"Thisismywife。Shehastherighttobewithme——herhusband!"

TheInspectorgrinnedsceptically。HewasmovednomoreeffectivelybyMary"salmosthystericalefforttorespondtoherhusband"sleading。

"Whyshouldn"tIbehere？Why？Why？I——"

Burkebrokeinonthegirl"spitifulhistrionicsruthlessly。Hewasnotintheleastdeceived。Hewasawarethatsomethinguntoward，ashedeemedit，hadoccurred。Itseemedtohim，infact，thathisfinicalmechanismsfortheundoingofMaryTurnerwereinafairwaytobethwarted。Buthewouldnotgiveupthecausewithoutastruggle。Again，headdressedhimselftoDick，disregardingcompletelythealoofmanneroftheyoungman。

"Where"syourfather？"hequestionedroughly。

"Inbed，naturally，"wastheanswer。"Iaskyouagain:Whatareyoudoinghereatthistimeofnight？"

Burkeshookhisshouldersponderouslyinamovementofimpatienceoverthisprolongingofthefarce。

"Oh，callyourfather，"hedirecteddisgustedly。

Dickremonstratedwithanexcellentshowofdignity。

"It"slate，"heobjected。"I"drathernotdisturbhim，ifyoudon"tmind。Really，theideaisabsurd，youknow。"Suddenly，hesmiledverywinningly，andspokewithagoodassumptionofingenuousness。

"Inspector，"hesaidbriskly，"Isee，I"llhavetotellyouthetruth。It"sthis:I"vepersuadedmywifetogoawaywithme。

She"sgoingtogiveallthatothersortofthingup。Yes，we"regoingawaytogether。"Therewasgenuinetriumphinhisvoicenow。"So，yousee，we"vegottotalkitover。Now，then，Inspector，ifyou"llcomebackinthemorning——"

Theofficialgrinnedsardonically。Hecouldnotintheleastguessjustwhathadinverydeedhappened，buthewasfartoocleveramantobebamboozledbyDick"smaunderings。

"Oh，that"sit!"heexclaimed，withobviousincredulity。

"Ofcourse，"Dickrepliedbravely，thoughheknewthattheInspectordisbelievedhispretenses。Still，forhisownpart，hewasinclinedasyettobeangryratherthanalarmedbythisfailuretoimpresstheofficer。"Yousee，Ididn"tknow——"

Andeveninthemomentofhissaying，thewhitebeamoftheflashingsearchlightfromtheTowerfellbetweentheundrawndraperiesoftheoctagonalwindow。ThelightstartledtheInspectoragain，asithaddoneoncebeforethatsamenight。Hisgazefolloweditinstinctively。So，withinthesecond，hesawthestillformlyingthereonthefloor——lyingwherehadbeenshadows，wherenow，forthepassingofaninstant，wasbrilliantradiance。

Therewasnomistakingthatawful，motionless，crumpledposture。

TheInspectorknewinthissingleinstantofviewthatmurderhadbeendonehere。EvenasthebeamoflightfromtheTowershiftedandvanishedfromtheroom，heleapedtotheswitchbythedoor，andturnedonthelightsofthechandelier。Inthenextmoment，hehadreachedthedoorofthepassageacrosstheroom，andhiswhistlesoundedshrill。Hisvoicebellowedreinforcementtotheblast。

"Cassidy!Cassidy!"

AsDickmadeasteptowardhiswife，fromwhomhehadwithdrawnalittleinhiscolloquywiththeofficial，Burkevoicedhiscommandviciously:

"Staywhereyouare——bothofyou!"

Cassidycamerushingin，withtheotherdetectives。Hewasplainlysurprisedtofindtheroomsonearlyempty，wherehehadexpectedtobeholdagangofrobbers。

"Why，what"sitallmean，Chief？"hequestioned。HispeeringeyesfellonDick，standingbesideMary，andtheyroundedinamazement。

"They"vegotGriggs!"Burkeanswered。Therewasexceedingrageinhisvoice，ashespokefromhiskneelingposturebesidethebody，towhichhehadhurriedafterthesummonstohisaides。Hegloweredupintothebewilderedfaceofthedetective。"I"llbreakyouforthis，Cassidy，"hedeclaredfiercely。"Whydidn"tyougethereontherunwhenyouheardtheshot？"

"Buttherewasn"tanyshot，"theperplexedandalarmeddetectiveexpostulated。Hefairlystutteredintheearnestnessofhisself-defense。"Itellyou，Chief，therehasn"tbeenasound。"

Burkerosetohisfeet。Hisheavyfacewassetinitssternestmold。

"Youcoulddriveahearsethroughtheholethey"vemadeinhim，"

herumbled。HewheeledonMaryandDick。"So!"heshouted，"nowit"smurder!……Well，handitover。Where"sthegun？"

Followedamoment"spause。ThentheInspectorspokeharshlytoCassidy。Hestillfelthimselfsomewhatdazedbythisextraordinaryevent，buthewasabletocopewiththesituation。

HenoddedtowardDickashegavehisorder:"Searchhim!"

Beforethedetectivecouldobeythedirection，Dicktooktherevolverfromhispocketwherehehadbestowedit，andhelditout。