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diff --git a/old/50209-8.txt b/old/50209-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index e104bd8..0000000 --- a/old/50209-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9030 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mystery of the Sycamore, by Carolyn Wells - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Mystery of the Sycamore - -Author: Carolyn Wells - -Release Date: October 14, 2015 [EBook #50209] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE SYCAMORE *** - - - - -Produced by Mardi Desjardins, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at -http://www.pgdpcanada.net - - - - - - - - - - THE MYSTERY OF - THE SYCAMORE - - - By CAROLYN WELLS - - - Author of - _"The Vanishing of Betty Varian," "The Mystery Girl," "Anybody But - Anne," "The Come-Back," "The Curved Blades," "A Chain of Evidence," - "In the Onyx Lobby," "The Luminous Face," "Raspberry Jam," etc_. - - - A. L. BURT COMPANY - Publishers New York - - Published by arrangement with J. B. Lippincott Company - Printed in U. S. A. - - COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY STREET & SMITH CORPORATION, - UNDER TITLE OF "THE PARDON TREE" - COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I. The Letter that Said Come 9 - II. North Door and South Door 28 - III. One Last Argument 47 - IV. The Big Sycamore Tree 65 - V. The Bugle Sounded Taps 83 - VI. The Other Heir 101 - VII. Inquiries 119 - VIII. Confession 137 - IX. Counter-Confessions 155 - X. The Phantom Bugler 173 - XI. Fleming Stone 191 - XII. The Garage Fire 209 - XIII. Sara Wheeler 227 - XIV. Rachel's Story 245 - XV. The Awful Truth 263 - XVI. Maida's Decision 281 - XVII. Maida and Her Father 299 - XVIII. A Final Confession 317 - - - - - THE MYSTERY OF - THE SYCAMORE - - - - - CHAPTER I - THE LETTER THAT SAID COME - - -As the character of a woman may be accurately deduced from her -handkerchief, so a man's mental status is evident from the way he opens -his mail. - -Curtis Keefe, engaged in this daily performance, slit the envelopes -neatly and laid the letters down in three piles. These divisions -represented matters known to be of no great interest; matters known to be -important; and, third, letters with contents as yet unknown and therefore -of problematical value. - -The first two piles were, as usual, dispatched quickly, and the real -attention of the secretary centred with pleasant anticipation on the -third lot. - -"Gee whiz, Genevieve!" - -As no further pearls of wisdom fell from the lips of the engrossed reader -of letters, the stenographer gave him a round-eyed glance and then -continued her work. - -Curtis Keefe was, of course, called Curt by his intimates, and while it -may be the obvious nickname was brought about by his short and concise -manner of speech, it is more probable that the abbreviation was largely -responsible for his habit of curtness. - -Anyway, Keefe had long cultivated a crisp, abrupt style of conversation. -That is, until he fell in with Samuel Appleby. That worthy ex-governor, -while in the act of engaging Keefe to be his confidential secretary, -observed: "They call you Curt, do they? Well, see to it that it is short -for courtesy." - -This was only one of several equally sound bits of advice from the same -source, and as Keefe had an eye single to the glory of self-advancement, -he kept all these things and pondered them in his heart. - -The result was that ten years of association with Lawyer Appleby had -greatly improved the young man's manner, and though still brief of -speech, his curtness had lost its unpleasantly sharp edge and his -courtesy had developed into a dignified urbanity, so that though still -Curt Keefe, it was in name only. - -"What's the pretty letter all about, Curtie?" asked the observant -stenographer, who had noticed his third reading of the short missive. - -"You'll probably answer it soon, and then you'll know," was the reply, as -Keefe restored the sheet to its envelope and took up the next letter. - -Genevieve Lane produced her vanity-case, and became absorbed in its -possibilities. - -"I wish I didn't have to work," she sighed; "I wish I was an opera -singer." - -"'Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition,' murmured Keefe, his eyes -still scanning letters; 'by that sin fell the angels,' and it's true you -are angelic, Viva, so down you'll go, if you fall for ambition." - -"How you talk! Ambition is a good thing." - -"Only when tempered by common sense and perspicacity--neither of which -you possess to a marked degree." - -"Pooh! You're ambitious yourself, Curt." - -"With the before-mentioned qualifications. Look here, Viva, here's a line -for you to remember. I ran across it in a book. 'If you do only what is -absolutely correct and say only what is absolutely correct--you can do -anything you like.' How's that?" - -"I don't see any sense in it at all." - -"No? I told you you lacked common sense. Most women do." - -"Huh!" and Genevieve tossed her pretty head, patted her curly ear-muffs, -and proceeded with her work. - -Samuel Appleby's beautiful home graced the town of Stockfield, in the -western end of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Former Governor Appleby -was still a political power and a man of unquestioned force and -importance. - -It was fifteen years or more since he had held office, and now, a great -desire possessed him that his son should follow in his ways, and that his -beloved state should know another governor of the Appleby name. - -And young Sam was worthy of the people's choice. Himself a man of forty, -motherless from childhood, and brought up sensibly and well by his -father, he listened gravely to the paternal plans for the campaign. - -But there were other candidates, and not without some strong and definite -influences could the end be attained. - -Wherefore, Mr. Appleby was quite as much interested as his secretary in -the letter which was in the morning's mail. - -"Any word from Sycamore Ridge?" he asked, as he came into the big, -cheerful office and nodded a kindly good-morning to his two assistants. - -"Yes, and a good word," returned Keefe, smiling. "It says: 'Come.'" The -secretary's attitude toward his employer, though deferential and -respectful, was marked by a touch of good-fellowship--a not unnatural -outgrowth of a long term of confidential relations between them. Keefe -had made himself invaluable to Samuel Appleby and both men knew it. So, -as one had no desire to presume on the fact and the other no wish to -ignore it, serenity reigned in the well-ordered and well-appointed -offices of the ex-governor. - -Even the light-haired, light-hearted and light-headed Genevieve couldn't -disturb the even tenor of the routine. If she could have, she would have -been fired. - -Though not a handsome man, not even to be called distinguished looking, -Samuel Appleby gave an impression of power. His strong, lean face -betokened obdurate determination and implacable will. - -Its deep-graven lines were the result of meeting many obstacles and -surmounting most of them. And at sixty-two, the hale and hearty frame and -the alert, efficient manner made the man seem years younger. - -"You know the conditions on which Wheeler lives in that house?" Appleby -asked, as he looked over the top of the letter at Keefe. - -"No, sir." - -"Well, it's this way. But, no--I'll not give you the story now. We're -going down there--to-day." - -"The whole tribe?" asked Keefe, briefly. - -"Yes; all three of us. Be ready, Miss Lane, please, at three-thirty." - -"Yes, sir," said Genevieve, reaching for her vanity-box. - -"And now, Keefe, as to young Sam," Appleby went on, running his fingers -through his thick, iron-gray mane. "If he can put it over, or if I can -put it over for him, it will be only with the help of Dan Wheeler." - -"Is Wheeler willing to help?" - -"Probably not. He must be made willing. I can do it--I think--unless he -turns stubborn. I know Wheeler--if he turns stubborn--well, Balaam's -historic quadruped had nothing on him!" - -"Does Mr. Wheeler know Sam?" - -"No; and it wouldn't matter either way if he did. It's the platform -Wheeler stands on. If I can keep him in ignorance of that one plank----" - -"You can't." - -"I know it--confound it! He opposed my election on that one point--he'll -oppose Sam's for the same reason, I know." - -"Where do I come in?" - -"In a general way, I want your help. Wheeler's wife and daughter are -attractive, and you might manage to interest them and maybe sway their -sympathies toward Sam----" - -"But they'll stand by Mr. Wheeler?" - -"Probably--yes. However, use your head, and do all you can with it." - -"And where do I come in?" asked Genevieve, who had been an interested -listener. - -"You don't come in at all, Miss. You mostly stay out. You're to keep in -the background. I have to take you, for we're only staying one night at -Sycamore Ridge, and then going on to Boston, and I'll need you there." - -"Yes, sir," and the blue eyes turned from him and looked absorbedly into -a tiny mirror, as Genevieve contemplated her pleasant pink-and-whiteness. - -Her vanity and its accompanying box were matters of indifference to Mr. -Appleby and to Keefe, for the girl's efficiency and skill outweighed them -and her diligence and loyalty scored one hundred per cent. - -Appleby's fetish was efficiency. He had found it and recognized it in his -secretary and stenographer and he was willing to recompense it duly, even -generously. Wherefore the law business of Samuel Appleby, though carried -on for the benefit of a small number of clients, was of vast importance -and productive of lucrative returns. - -At present, the importance was overshadowed by the immediate interest of -a campaign, which, if successful would land the second Appleby in the -gubernatorial chair. This plan, as yet not a boom, was taking shape with -the neatness and dispatch that characterized the Appleby work. - -Young Sam was content to have the matter principally in his father's -hands, and things had reached a pitch where, to the senior mind, the -coöperation of Daniel Wheeler was imperatively necessary. - -And, therefore, to Wheeler's house they must betake themselves. - -"What do you know about the Wheeler business, kid?" Keefe inquired, after -Mr. Appleby had left them. - -Genevieve leaned back in her chair, her dimpled chin moving up and down -with a pretty rhythm as she enjoyed her chewing-gum, and gazed at the -ceiling beams. - -Appleby's offices were in his own house, and the one given over to these -two was an attractive room, fine with mahogany and plate glass, but also -provided with all the paraphernalia of the most up-to-date of office -furniture. There were good pictures and draperies, and a wood fire added -to the cheer and mitigated the chill of the early fall weather. - -Sidling from her seat, Miss Lane moved over to a chair near the fire. - -"I'll take those letters when you're ready," she said. "Why, I don't know -a single thing about any Wheeler. Do you?" - -"Not definitely. He's a man who had an awful fight with Mr. Appleby, long -ago. I've heard allusions to him now and then, but I know no details." - -"I, either. But, it seems we're to go there. Only for a night, and then, -on to Boston! Won't I be glad to go!" - -"We'll only be there a few days. I'm more interested in this Wheeler -performance. I don't understand it. Who's Wheeler, anyhow?" - -"Dunno. If Sammy turns up this morning, he may enlighten us." - -Sammy did turn up, and not long after the conversation young Appleby -strolled into the office. - -Though still looked upon as a boy by his father, the man was of huge -proportions and of an important, slightly overbearing attitude. - -Somewhat like his parent in appearance, young Sam, as he was always -called, had more grace and ease, if less effect of power. He smiled -genially and impartially; he seemed cordial and friendly to all the -world, and he was a general favorite. Yet so far he had achieved no great -thing, had no claim to any especial record in public or private life. - -At forty, unmarried and unattached, his was a case of an able mentality -and a firm, reliable character, with no opportunity offered to prove its -worth. A little more initiative and he would have made opportunities for -himself; but a nature that took the line of least resistance, a -philosophy that believed in a calm acceptance of things as they came, -left Samuel Appleby, junior, pretty much where he was when he began. If -no man could say aught against him, equally surely no man could say -anything very definite for him. Yet many agreed that he was a man whose -powers would develop with acquired responsibilities, and already he had a -following. - -"Hello, little one," he greeted Genevieve, carelessly, as he sat down -near Keefe. "I say, old chap, you're going down to the Wheelers' to-day, -I hear." - -"Yes; this afternoon," and the secretary looked up inquiringly. - -"Well, I'll tell you what. You know the governor's going there to get -Wheeler's aid in my election boom, and I can tell you a way to help -things along, if you agree. See?" - -"Not yet, but go ahead." - -"Well, it's this way. Dan Wheeler's daughter is devoted to her father. -Not only filial respect and all that, but she just fairly idolizes the -old man. Now, he recips, of course, and what she says goes. So--I'm -asking you squarely--won't you put in a good word to Maida, that's the -girl--and if you do it with your inimitable dexterity and grace, she'll -fall for it." - -"You mean for me to praise you up to Miss Wheeler and ask her father to -give you the benefit of his influence?" - -"How clearly you do put things! That's exactly what I mean. It's no harm, -you know--merely the most innocent sort of electioneering----" - -"Rather!" laughed Keefe. "If all electioneering were as innocent as that, -the word would carry no unpleasant meaning." - -"Then you'll do it?" - -"Of course I will--if I get opportunity." - -"Oh, you'll have that. It's a big, rambling country house--a delightful -one, too--and there's tea in the hall, and tennis on the lawn, and -moonlight on the verandas----" - -"Hold up, Sam," Keefe warned him, "is the girl pretty?" - -"Haven't seen her for years, but probably, yes. But that's nothing to -you. You're working for me, you see." Appleby's glance was direct, and -Keefe understood. - -"Of course; I was only joking. I'll carry out your commission, if, as I -said, I get the chance. Tell me something of Mr. Wheeler." - -"Oh, he's a good old chap. Pathetic, rather. You see, he bumped up -against dad once, and got the worst of it." - -"How?" - -Sam Appleby hesitated a moment and then said: "I see you don't know the -story. But it's no secret, and you may as well be told. You listen, too, -Miss Lane, but there's no call to tattle." - -"I'll go home if you say so," Genevieve piped up, a little crisply. - -"No, sit still. Why, it was while dad was governor--about fifteen years -ago, I suppose. And Daniel Wheeler forged a paper--that is, he said he -didn't, but twelve other good and true peers of his said he did. Anyway, -he was convicted and sentenced, but father was a good friend of his, and -being governor, he pardoned Wheeler. But the pardon was on condition--oh, -I say--hasn't dad ever told you, Keefe?" - -"Never." - -"Then, maybe I'd better leave it for him to tell. If he wants you to know -he'll tell you, and if not, I mustn't." - -"Oh, goodness!" cried Genevieve. "What a way to do! Get us all excited -over a thrilling tale, and then chop it off short!" - -"Go on with it," said Keefe; but Appleby said, "No; I won't tell you the -condition of the pardon. But the two men haven't been friends since, and -won't be, unless the condition is removed. Of course, dad can't do it, -but the present governor can make the pardon complete, and would do so in -a minute, if dad asked him to. So, though he hasn't said so, the -assumption is, that father expects to trade a full pardon of Friend -Wheeler for his help in my campaign." - -"And a good plan," Keefe nodded his satisfaction. - -"But," Sam went on, "the trouble is that the very same points and -principles that made Wheeler oppose my father's election will make him -oppose mine. The party is the same, the platform is the same, and I can't -hope that the man Wheeler is not the same stubborn, adamant, unbreakable -old hickory knot he was the other time." - -"And so, you want me to soften him by persuading his daughter to line up -on our side?" - -"Just that, Keefe. And you can do it, I am sure." - -"I'll try, of course; but I doubt if even a favorite daughter could -influence the man you describe." - -"Let me help," broke in the irrepressible Genevieve. "I can do lots with -a girl. I can do more than Curt could. I'll chum up with her and----" - -"Now, Miss Lane, you keep out of this. I don't believe in mixing women -and politics." - -"But Miss Wheeler's a woman." - -"And I don't want her troubled with politics. Keefe here can persuade her -to coax her father just through her affections--I don't want her -enlightened as to any of the political details. And I can't think your -influence would work half as well as that of a man. Moreover, Keefe has -discernment, and if it isn't a good plan, after all, he'll know enough to -discard it--while you'd blunder ahead blindly, and queer the whole game!" - -"Oh, well," and bridling with offended pride, Genevieve sought refuge in -her little mirror. - -"Now, don't get huffy," and Sam smiled at her; "you'll probably find that -Miss Wheeler's complexion is finer than yours, anyway, and then you'll -hate her and won't want to speak to her at all." - -Miss Lane flashed an indignant glance and then proceeded to go on with -her work. - -"Hasn't Wheeler tried for a pardon all this time?" Keefe asked. - -"Indeed he has," Sam returned, "many times. But you see, though -successive governors were willing to grant it, father always managed to -prevent it. Dad can pull lots of wires, as you know, and since he doesn't -want Wheeler fully pardoned, why, he doesn't get fully pardoned." - -"And he lives under the stigma." - -"Lots of people don't know about the thing at all. He lives--well--he -lives in Connecticut--and--oh, of course, there is a certain stigma." - -"And your father will bring about his full pardon if he promises----" - -"Let up, Keefe; I've said I can't tell you that part--you'll get your -instructions in good time. And, look here, I don't mean for you to make -love to the girl. In fact, I'm told she has a suitor. But you're just to -give her a little song and dance about my suitability for the election, -and then adroitly persuade her to use her powers of persuasion with her -stubborn father. For he will be stubborn--I know it! And there's the -mother of the girl . . . tackle Mrs. Wheeler. Make her see that my father -was justified in the course he took--and besides, he was more or less -accountable to others--and use as an argument that years have dulled the -old feud and that bygones ought to be bygones and all that. - -"Try to make her see that a full pardon now will be as much, and in a way -more, to Wheeler's credit, than if it had been given him at first----" - -"I can't see that," and Keefe looked quizzical - -"Neither can I," Sam confessed, frankly, "but you can make a woman -swallow anything." - -"Depends on what sort of woman Mrs. Wheeler is," Keefe mused. - -"I know it. I haven't seen her for years, and as I remember, she's pretty -keen, but I'm banking on you to put over some of your clever work. Not -three men in Boston have your ingenuity, Keefe, when it comes to sizing -up a situation and knowing just how to handle it. Now, don't tell father -all I've said, for he doesn't especially hold with such small measures. -He's all for the one big slam game, and he may be right. But I'm right, -too, and you just go ahead." - -"All right," Keefe agreed. "I see what you mean, and I'll do all I can -that doesn't in any way interfere with your father's directions to me. -There's a possibility of turning the trick through the women folks, and -if I can do it, you may count on me." - -"Good! And as for you, Miss Lane, you keep in the background, and make as -little mischief as you can." - -"I'm not a mischief-maker," said the girl, pouting playfully, for she was -not at all afraid of Sam Appleby. - -"Your blue eyes and pink cheeks make mischief wherever you go," he -returned; "but don't try them on old Dan Wheeler. He's a morose old -chap----" - -"I should think he would be!" defended Genevieve; "living all these years -under a ban which may, after all, be undeserved! I've heard that he was -entirely innocent of the forgery!" - -"Have you, indeed?" Appleby's tone was unpleasantly sarcastic. "Other -people have also heard that--from the Wheeler family! Those better -informed believe the man guilty, and believe, too, that my father was too -lenient when he granted even a conditional pardon." - -"But just think--if he was innocent--how awful his life has been all -these years! You bet he'll accept the full pardon and give all his effort -and influence and any possible help in return." - -"Hear the child orate!" exclaimed Sam, gazing at the enthusiastic little -face, as Genevieve voiced her views. - -"I think he'll be ready to make the bargain, too," declared Keefe. "Your -father has a strong argument. I fancy Wheeler's jump at the chance." - -"Maybe--maybe so. But you don't know how opposed he is to our principles. -And he's a man of immovable convictions. In fact, he and dad are two -mighty strong forces. One or the other must win out--but I've no idea -which it will be." - -"How exciting!" Genevieve's eyes danced. "I'm so glad I'm to go. It's a -pretty place, you say?" - -"Wonderful. A great sweep of rolling country, a big, long, rambling sort -of house, and a splendid hospitality. You'll enjoy the experience, but -remember, I told you to be good." - -"I will remember," and Genevieve pretended to took cherubic. - - - - - CHAPTER II - NORTH DOOR AND SOUTH DOOR - - -For Samuel Appleby to pay a visit to Daniel Wheeler was of itself an -astounding occurrence. The two men had not seen each other since the day, -fifteen years ago, when Governor Appleby had pardoned the convicted -Wheeler, with a condition, which, though harsh, had been strictly adhered -to. - -They had never been friends at heart, for they were diametrically opposed -in their political views, and were not of similar tastes or pursuits. But -they had been thrown much together, and when the time came for Wheeler to -be tried for forgery, Appleby lent no assistance to the case. However, -through certain influences brought to bear, in connection with the fact -that Mrs. Wheeler was related to the Applebys, the governor pardoned the -condemned man, with a conditional pardon. - -Separated ever since, a few letters had passed between the two men, but -they resulted in no change of conditions. - -As the big car ran southward through the Berkshire Hills, Appleby's -thoughts were all on the coming meeting, and the scenery of autumn -foliage that provoked wild exclamations of delight from Genevieve and -assenting enthusiasm from Keefe left the other unmoved. - -An appreciative nod and grunt were all he vouchsafed to the girl's -gushing praises, and when at last they neared their destination he called -her attention to a tall old sycamore tree standing alone on a ridge not -far away. - -"That's the tree that gives the Wheeler place its name," he informed. -"Sycamore Ridge is one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut." - -"Oh, are we in Connecticut?" asked Miss Lane. "I didn't know we had -crossed the border. What a great old tree! Surely one of the historic -trees of New England, isn't it?" - -"Historic to the Wheelers," was the grim reply, and then Mr. Appleby -again relapsed into silence and spoke no further word until they reached -the Wheeler home. - -A finely curved sweep of driveway brought them to the house, and the car -stopped at the south entrance. - -The door did not swing open in welcome, and Mr. Appleby ordered his -chauffeur to ring the bell. - -This brought a servant in response, and the visiting trio entered the -house. - -It was long and low, with many rooms on either side of the wide hall that -went straight through from south to north. The first room to the right -was a large living-room, and into this the guests were shown and were met -by a grave-looking man, who neither smiled nor offered a hand as his calm -gaze rested on Samuel Appleby. - -Indeed, the two men stared at one another, in undisguised curiosity. Each -seemed to search the other's face for information as to his attitude and -intent. - -"Well, Dan," Appleby said, after the silent scrutiny, "you've changed -some, but you're the same good-looking chap you always were." - -Wheeler gave a start and pulled himself together. - -"Thank you. I suppose I should return the compliment." - -"But you can't conscientiously do it, eh?" Appleby laughed. "Never mind. -Personal vanity is not my besetting sin. This is my secretary, Mr. Keefe, -and my assistant, Miss Lane." - -"Ah, yes, yes. How are you? How do you do? My wife and daughter will look -after the young lady. Maida!" - -As if awaiting the call, a girl came quickly in from the hall followed by -an older woman. Introductions followed, and if there was an air of -constraint on the part of the host the ladies of the family showed none. -Sunny-faced Maida Wheeler, with her laughing brown eyes and gold brown -hair, greeted the visitors with charming cordiality, and her mother was -equally kind and courteous. - -Genevieve Lane's wise and appraising eyes missed no point of appearance -or behavior. - -"Perfect darlings, both of them!" she commented to herself. "Whatever -ails the old guy, it hasn't bitten them. Or else--wait a minute----" -Genevieve was very observant--"perhaps they're putting on a little. Is -their welcome a bit extra, to help things along?" - -Yet only a most meticulous critic could discern anything more than true -hospitality in the attitude of Mrs. Wheeler or Maida. The latter took -Genevieve to the room prepared for her and chatted away in girlish -fashion. - -"The place is so wonderful!" Genevieve exclaimed, carefully avoiding -personal talk. "Don't you just adore it?" - -"Oh, yes. I've loved Sycamore Ridge for nearly fifteen years." - -"Have you lived here so long?" Genevieve was alert for information. It -was fifteen years ago that the pardon had been granted. - -But as Maida merely assented and then changed the subject, Miss Lane was -far too canny to ask further questions. - -With a promptness not entirely due to chance, the stenographer came -downstairs dressed for dinner some several minutes before the appointed -hour. Assuming her right as a guest, she wandered about the rooms. - -The south door, by which they had entered, was evidently the main -entrance, but the opposite, or north door, gave on to an even more -beautiful view, and she stepped out on the wide veranda and gazed -admiringly about. The low ridge nearby formed the western horizon, and -the giant sycamore, its straight branches outlined against the fading -sunset, was impressive and a little weird. She strolled on, and turned -the corner the better to see the ridge. The veranda ran all round the -house, and as she went on along the western side, she suddenly became -aware of a silent figure leaning against a pillar at the southwest -corner. - -"It is so quiet it frightens me," she said to Daniel Wheeler, as she -neared him. - -"Do you feel that way, too?" he asked, looking at her a little absently. -"It is the lull before the storm." - -"Oh, that sunset doesn't mean rain," Genevieve exclaimed, smiling, -"unless your Connecticut blue laws interpret weather signs differently -from our Massachusetts prophets. We _are_ in Connecticut, aren't we?" - -"Yes," and Wheeler sighed unaccountably. "Yes, Miss Lane, we are. That -sycamore is the finest tree in the state." - -"I can well believe it. I never saw such a grandfather of a tree! It's -all full of little balls." - -"Yes, buttonballs, they are called. But note its wonderful symmetry, its -majestic appearance----" - -"And strength! It looks as if it would stand, there forever!" - -"Do you think so?" and the unmistakable note of disappointment in the -man's tone caused Genevieve to look up in astonishment. "Well, perhaps it -will," he added quickly. - -"Oh, no, of course it won't really! No tree stands forever. But it will -be here long after you and I are gone." - -"Are you an authority on trees?" Wheeler spoke without a smile. - -"Hardly that; but I was brought up in the country, and I know something -of them. Your daughter loves the country, too." - -"Oh, yes--we all do." - -The tone was courteous, but the whole air of the man was so melancholy, -his cheerfulness so palpably assumed, that Genevieve felt sorry for him, -as well as inordinately curious to know what was the matter. - -But her sympathy was the stronger impulse, and with a desire to entertain -him, she said, "Come for a few steps in the garden, Mr. Wheeler, won't -you? Come and show me that quaint little summer-house near the front -door. It is the front door, isn't it? It's hard to tell." - -"Yes, the north door _is_ the front door," Wheeler said slowly, as if -repeating a lesson. "The summer-house you mention is near the front door. -But we won't visit that now. Come this other way, and I'll show you a -Japanese tea-house, much more attractive." - -But Genevieve Lane was sometimes under the spell of the Imp of the -Perverse. - -"No, no," she begged, smilingly, "let the Japanese contraption wait; -please go to the little summer-house now. See, how it fairly twinkles in -the last gleams of the setting sun! What is the flower that rambles all -over it? Oh, do let's go there now! Come, please!" - -With no reason for her foolish insistence save a whim, Genevieve was -amazed to see the look of fury that came over her host's face. - -"Appleby put you up to that!" he cried, in a voice of intense anger. "He -told you to ask me to go to that place!" - -"Why, Mr. Wheeler," cried the girl, almost frightened, "Mr. Appleby did -nothing of the sort! Why should he! I'm not asking anything wrong, am I? -Why is it so dreadful to want to see an arbor instead of a tea-house? You -must be crazy!" - -When Miss Lane was excited, she was quite apt to lose her head, and speak -in thoughtless fashion. - -But Mr. Wheeler didn't seem to notice her informality of speech. He only -stared at her as if he couldn't quite make her out, and then he suddenly -seemed to lose interest in her or her wishes, and with a deep sigh, he -turned away, and fell into the same brooding posture as when she had -first approached him. - -"Come to dinner, people," called Maida's pretty voice, as, with -outstretched hands she came toward them. "Why, dads, what are you looking -miserable about? What have you done to him, Miss Lane?" - -"Maida, child, don't speak like that! Miss Lane has been most kindly -talking to me, of--of the beauties of Sycamore Ridge." - -"All right, then, and forgive me, Miss Lane. But you see, the sun rises -and sets for me in one Daniel Wheeler, Esquire, and any shadow on his -face makes me apprehensive of its cause." - -Only for an instant did Genevieve Lane's sense of justice rise in revolt, -then her common sense showed her the better way, and she smiled -pleasantly and returned: - -"I don't blame you, Miss Wheeler. If I had a father, I should feel just -the same way, I know. But don't do any gory-lock-shaking my way. I assure -you I didn't really scold him. I only kicked because he wouldn't humor my -whim for visiting the summer-house with the blossoms trailing over it! -Was that naughty of me?" - -But though Genevieve listened for the answer, none came. - -"Come on in to dinner, daddy, dear," Maida repeated. "Come, Miss Lane, -they're waiting for us." - -Dinner was a delightful occasion. - -Daniel Wheeler, at the head of his own table, was a charming host, and -his melancholy entirely disappeared as the talk ran along on subjects -grave or gay, but of no personal import. - -Appleby, too, was entertaining, and the two men, with Mrs. Wheeler, -carried on most of the conversation, the younger members of the party -being by what seemed common consent left out of it. - -Genevieve looked about the dining-room, with a pleased interest. She -dearly loved beautiful appointments and was really imagining herself -mistress of just such a house, and visioning herself at the head of such -a table. The long room stretched from north to south, parallel with the -hall, though not adjoining. The table was not in the centre, but toward -the southern end, and Mr. Wheeler, at the end near the windows, had Keefe -and Miss Lane on either side of him. - -Appleby, as guest of honor, sat at Mrs. Wheeler's right, and the whole -effect was that of a formal dinner party, rather than a group of which -two were merely office employés. - -"It is one of the few remaining warm evenings," said Mrs. Wheeler, as she -rose from the table, "we will have our coffee on the veranda. Soon it -will be too cool for that." - -"Which veranda?" asked Genevieve of Maida, as they went through the hall. -"The north one, I hope." - -"Your hopes must be dashed," laughed the other, "for it will be the south -one. Come along." - -The two girls, followed by Keefe, took possession of a group of chairs -near Mrs. Wheeler, while the two older men sat apart, and soon became -engrossed in their own discussions. - -Nor was it long before Samuel Appleby and his host withdrew to a room -which opened on to that same south veranda, and which was, in fact, Mr. -Wheeler's den. - -"Well, Sam," Keefe heard the other say, as he drew down the blind, "we -may as well have it out now. What are you here for?" - -Outwardly placid, but almost consumed with curiosity, Curt Keefe changed -his seat for one nearer the window of the den. He hoped to hear the -discussion going on inside, but was doomed to disappointment, for though -the murmuring of the voices was audible, the words were not distinct, and -Keefe gathered only enough information to be sure that there was a heated -argument in progress and that neither party to it was inclined to give in -a single point. - -Of course, he decided, the subject was the coming election campaign, but -the details of desired bargaining he could not gather. - -Moreover, often, just as he almost heard sentences of interest, the -chatter of the girls or some remark of Mrs. Wheeler's would drown the -voices of the men in the room. - -One time, indeed, he heard clearly: "When the Sycamore on the ridge goes -into Massachusetts----" but this was sheer nonsense, and he concluded he -must have misunderstood. - -Later, they all forgathered in the living-room and there was music and -general conversation. - -Genevieve Lane proved herself decidedly entertaining, and though Samuel -Appleby looked a little amusedly at his stenographer, he smiled kindly at -her as he noticed that she in no way overstepped the bounds of correct -demeanor. - -Genevieve was thinking of what Keefe had said to her: "If you do only -what is absolutely correct and say what is only absolutely correct, you -can do whatever you like." - -She had called it nonsense at the time, but she was beginning to see the -truth of it. She was careful that her every word and act should be -correct, and she was most decidedly doing as she liked. She made good -with Mrs. Wheeler and Maida with no trouble at all; but she felt, -vaguely, that Mr. Wheeler didn't like her. This she set about to remedy. - -Going to his side, as he chanced to sit for a moment alone, she smiled -ingratiatingly and said: - -"I wonder if you can imagine, sir, what it means to me to see the inside -of a house like this?" - -"Bless my soul, what do you mean?" asked Wheeler, puzzled at the girl's -manner. - -"It's like a glimpse of Fairyland," she went on. "You see, I'm terribly -ambitious--oh, fearfully so! And all my ambitions lead to just this sort -of a home. Do you suppose I'll ever achieve it, Mr. Wheeler?" - -Now the girl had truly wonderful magnetic charm, and even staid old Dan -Wheeler was not insensible to the note of longing in her voice, the -simple, honest admission of her hopes. - -"Of course you will, little one," he returned, kindly. "I've heard that -whatever one wants, one gets, provided the wish is strong enough." He -spoke directly to her, but his gaze wandered as if his thoughts were far -away. - -"Do you really believe that?" Genevieve's big blue eyes begged an -affirmation. - -"I didn't say I believed it--I said I have heard it." He smiled sadly. -"Not quite the same--so far as I'm concerned; but quite as assuring to -you. Of course, my belief wouldn't endorse the possibility." - -"It would for me," declared Genevieve. "I've lots of confidence in other -people's opinions----" - -"Anybody's?" - -"Anybody whom I respect and believe in." - -"Appleby, for instance?" - -"Oh, yes, indeed! I'd trust Mr. Appleby's opinions on any subject. Let's -go over there and tell him so." - -Samuel Appleby was sitting at the other end, the north end of the long -room. "No," said Wheeler, "I'm too comfortable here to move--ask him to -come here." - -Genevieve looked at him a little astonished. It was out of order, she -thought, for a host to speak thus. She pressed the point, saying there -was a picture at the other end of the room she wished to examine. - -"Run along, then," said Wheeler, coolly. "Here, Maida, show Miss Lane -that etching and tell her the interesting details about it." - -The girls went away, and soon after Keefe drifted round to Wheeler's -side. - -"You know young Sam Appleby?" he asked, casually. - -"No," Wheeler said, shortly but not sharply. "I daresay he's a most -estimable chap." - -"He's all of that. He's a true chip of the old block. Both good -gubernatorial timber, as I'm sure you agree." - -"What makes you so sure, Mr. Keefe?" - -Curt Keefe looked straight at him. "Well," he laughed, "I'm quite ready -to admit that the wish was father to the thought." - -"Why do you call that an admission?" - -"Oh," Keefe readily returned, "it is usually looked upon as a confession -that one has no reason for a thought other than a wish." - -"And why is it your wish?" - -"Because it is the wish of my employer," said Keefe, seriously. "I know -of no reason, Mr. Wheeler, why I shouldn't say that I hope and trust you -will use your influence to further the cause of young Appleby." - -"What makes you think I can do so?" - -"While I am not entirely in Mr. Appleby's confidence, he has told me that -the campaign would be greatly aided by your willingness to help, and so I -can't help hoping you will exercise it." - -"Appleby has told you so much, has he? No more?" - -"No more, I think, regarding yourself, sir. I know, naturally, the -details of the campaign so far as it is yet mapped out." - -"And you know why I do not want to lend my aid?" - -"I know you are not in accordance with the principles of the Appleby -politics----" - -"That I am not! Nor shall I ever be. Nor shall I ever pretend to be----" - -"Pretend? Of course not. But could you not be persuaded?" - -"By what means?" - -"I don't know, Mr. Wheeler," and Keefe looked at him frankly. "I truly -don't know by what means. But I do know that Mr. Appleby is here to -present to you an argument by which he hopes to persuade you to help -young Sam along--and I earnestly desire to add any word of mine that may -help influence your decision. That is why I want to tell you of the good -traits of Sam Appleby, junior. It may be I can give you a clearer light -on his character than his father could do----that is, I might present it -as the opinion of a friend----" - -"And not exaggerate his virtues as a father might do? I see. Well, Mr. -Keefe, I appreciate your attitude, but let me tell you this: whatever I -do or don't do regarding this coming campaign of young Appleby will be -entirely irrespective of the character or personality of that young man. -It will all depend on the senior Appleby's arrangements with me, and my -ability to change his views on some of the more important planks in his -platform. If he directed you to speak to me as you have done, you may -return that to him as my answer." - -"You, doubtless, said the same to him, sir?" - -"Of course I did. I make no secret of my position in this matter. Samuel -Appleby has a hold over me--I admit that--but it is not strong enough to -make me forget my ideas of right and wrong to the public. No influence of -a personal nature should weigh against any man's duty to the state, and I -will never agree to pretend to any dissimulation in order to bring about -a happier life for myself." - -"But need you subscribe to the objectionable points to use your influence -for young Sam?" - -"Tacitly, of course. And I do not choose even to appear to agree to -principles abhorrent to my sense of justice and honesty, thereby secretly -gaining something for myself." - -"Meaning your full pardon?" - -Wheeler turned a look of surprise on the speaker. - -"I thought you said you hadn't Appleby's full confidence," he said. - -"Nor have I. I do know--as do many men--that you were pardoned with a -condition, but the condition I do not know. It can't be very galling." -And Keefe looked about on the pleasant surroundings. - -"You think not? That's because you don't know the terms. And yet, galling -though they are, hateful though it makes my life, and the lives of my -wife and daughter, we would all rather bear it than to deviate one iota -from the path of strict right." - -"I must admire you for that, as must any honorable man. But are there not -degrees or shadings of right and wrong----" - -"Mr. Keefe, as an old man, I take the privilege of advising you for your -own good. All through your life I beg you remember this: Anyone who -admits degrees or shadings of right or wrong--is already wrong. Don't be -offended; you didn't claim those things, you merely asked the question. -But, remember what I said about it." - - - - - CHAPTER III - ONE LAST ARGUMENT - - -Adjoining the bedroom of Samuel Appleby at Sycamore Ridge was a small -sitting-room, also at his disposal. Here, later that same evening he sat -in confab with his two assistants. - -"We leave to-morrow afternoon," he said to Keefe and Miss Lane. "But -before that, we've much to do. So far, we've accomplished nothing. I am a -little discouraged but not disheartened. I still have a trump card to -play, but I don't want to use it unless absolutely necessary." - -"If you were inclined to take us further into your confidence, Mr. -Appleby," Keefe began, and the older man interrupted: - -"That's just what I propose to do. The time has come for it. Perhaps if -you both know the situation you may work more intelligently." - -"Sure we could!" exclaimed Genevieve. She was leaning forward in her -chair, clasping her knees, her pretty evening frock disclosing her -babyishly soft neck and arms; but without a trace of self-consciousness, -she thought only of the subject they were discussing. - -"There's something queer," she went on. "I can't see through it. Why does -Mr. Wheeler act so polite most of the time, and then do some outrageous -thing, like----" - -"Like what?" - -"Like refusing to cross the room--or--why, he declined point-blank to go -with me to the north arbor, yet was perfectly willing to take me to the -Japanese tea-house!" - -"That's just the point of the whole thing," said Appleby, seriously; -"here's the explanation in a nutshell. Years ago, Daniel Wheeler was -pardoned for a crime he had committed----" - -"He did commit it, then?" interrupted Keefe. - -"He was tried and convicted. He was sentenced. And I, being governor at -the time, pardoned him on the one condition, that he never again set foot -inside the boundaries of the State of Massachusetts." - -"Whee!" exclaimed Genevieve; "never go to Boston!" - -"Nor anywhere else in the state. But this is the complication: Mrs. -Wheeler, who is, by the way, a distant connection of my own family, -inherited a large fortune on condition that she live in Massachusetts. So -you see, the situation was peculiar. To keep her inheritance, Mrs. -Wheeler must live in Massachusetts. Yet Mr. Wheeler could not enter the -state without forfeiting his pardon." - -"What a mess!" cried Genevieve, but Keefe said: "You planned that -purposely, Mr. Appleby?" - -"Of course," was the straightforward reply. - -"Then I don't see how you can expect Mr. Wheeler's help in the campaign." - -"By offering him a complete pardon, of course." - -"But go on with the story," demanded Genevieve. "What did they do about -the Massachusetts business?" - -"As you see," returned Appleby, "this house is built on the state line -between Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is carefully planned and built, -and all the rooms or parts of rooms that Mr. Wheeler uses or enters are -on the Connecticut side, yet the house is more than half in -Massachusetts, which secures the estate to Mrs. Wheeler." - -"Well, I never!" Genevieve exclaimed. "So that's why he can't go to the -north arbor--it's in Massachusetts!" - -"Of course it is. Also, he never goes into the northern end of the -dining-room or the living-room." - -"Or hall." - -"Or hall. In fact, he merely is careful to keep on his own side of a -definitely drawn line, and therefore complies with the restrictions. His -den and his own bedroom and bath are all on the south side, while Mrs. -Wheeler has a sitting-room, boudoir, and so forth, on the north side. She -and Maida can go all over the house, but Mr. Wheeler is restricted. -However, they've lived that way so long, it has become second nature to -them, and nobody bothers much about it." - -"Do people know?" asked Keefe. "The neighbors, I mean." - -"Oh, yes; but, as I say, it makes little confusion. The trouble comes, as -Miss Lane suggested, when Wheeler wants to go to Boston or anywhere in -Massachusetts." - -"Yet that is a small thing, compared with his freedom," observed Keefe; -"I think he got off easy." - -"But with Wheeler it isn't so much the deprivation as the stigma. He -longs for a full pardon, and would do most anything to have it, but he -refuses to stand for Sam's election, even with that for a bribe." - -"You can't pardon him now that you aren't governor, can you, Mr. -Appleby?" asked Genevieve. - -"I can arrange to have it done. In fact, the present governor is ready -and even anxious to pardon him, but I hold the key to that situation, -myself. You two needn't know all the details, but now you know the -principal points, and I expect you to utilize them." - -"I'm willing enough," and Genevieve rocked back and forth thoughtfully, -"and I may think of a way--but, for the moment, I don't." - -"Get chummy with Maida," suggested Appleby. - -"Let me do that," Keefe interrupted. "Without undue conceit, I believe I -can influence the young lady, and I think Miss Lane, now that she knows -the truth, can jolly up Mr. Wheeler to good effect." - -"But, good gracious! What do you want to do?" and Genevieve giggled. "Say -I entice the old gentleman over the line--then his pardon is canceled and -he's a criminal--then you agree to ignore the lapse if he meets your -wishes--is that the idea?" - -Appleby smiled. "A little crude, Miss Lane. And beside, you couldn't get -him over the line. He's too accustomed to his limitations to be caught -napping, and not even your charms could decoy him over intentionally." - -"Think so? Probably you're right. Well, suppose I try to work through -Maida. If I could persuade Mr. Wheeler that she suffers from the stigma -of her father's incomplete pardon----" - -"Yes, that's it. This thing can't be accomplished by brutal threats, it -must be done by subtle suggestion and convincing hints." - -"That's my idea," agreed Keefe. "If I can talk straight goods to Miss -Wheeler and make her see how much better it would be for her father in -his latter years to be freed from all touch of the past disgrace, she -might coax him to listen to you." - -"That's right. Now, you know what you're here for; just do what you -can--but don't make a mess of things. I'd rather you did nothing than to -do some fool thing!" - -"Trust us!" Genevieve encouraged him, as she rose. "Me and Curt may not -put over a big deal, but we won't do anything silly." - -The two men smiled as the girl, with a pleasant good-night, went away to -her own room. - -"She's true blue," said Keefe. - -"Yes, she is," Appleby nodded. "All her frivolity is on the surface, like -her powder and paint. At heart, that child has only my interests. I quite -appreciate it." - -"I hope you think the same of me, Mr. Appleby." - -"I do, Keefe. More, I trust you with my most confidential matters. I'll -own I want this business here to come out in my favor. I can't push -Wheeler too hard--so I ask your help. But, as I hinted, I've one rod yet -in pickle. If necessary, I'll use it, but I'd rather not." - -"Of course I hope you won't have to, but, I'll admit I don't see much -chance of succeeding with the present outlook." - -"To-morrow morning will tell. If we can't work the thing through by noon, -say--I'll spring my last trap. Good-night, Keefe." - -"Good-night, Mr. Appleby." - -Without apparent coercion the morning hours brought about a cozy session -on the south veranda with Miss Lane and Daniel Wheeler in attendance, -while at the same time, Keefe and Maida wandered over the beautiful park -of the estate. - -Keefe had gently guided the conversation into confidential channels, and -when he ventured to sympathize with the girl in regard to her father's -deprivation he was surprised at her ready acceptance of it. - -"Oh, you know, don't you, Mr. Keefe!" she exclaimed. "But you don't know -all it means to me. You see"--she blushed but went steadily on--"you see, -I'm engaged to--to a man I adore. And----" - -"Don't tell me if you'd rather not," he murmured. - -"No, it's a relief to tell--and, somehow--you seem so wise and -strong----" - -"Go on then--please." - -The kind voice helped her and Maida resumed: "Well, Jeff--Mr. Allen, -lives in Boston, and so----" - -"So it would be very awkward if your father couldn't go there." - -"Not only that--but I've made a vow never to step foot into Massachusetts -until my father can do so, too. Nothing would induce me to break that -vow!" - -"Not even your lover?" said Keefe, astonished. - -"No; my father is more to me than any lover." - -"Then you don't truly love Mr. Allen." - -"Oh, yes, I do--I do! But father is my idol. I don't believe any girl -ever adored her father as I do. All my life I've had only the one -object--to make him forget--as far as possible, his trouble. Now, if I -were to marry and leave him--why, I simply couldn't do it!" - -"Can't Mr. Allen live in Connecticut?" - -"No; his business interests are all in Boston, and he can't be -transplanted. Oh, if father could only do what Mr. Appleby wants him to, -then we could all be happy." - -"Can't you persuade him?" - -"I've tried my best. Mother has tried, too. But, you see, it's a matter -of principle, and when principle is involved, we are all in the same -boat. Mother and I would scorn any wrongdoing quite as much as father -does." - -"And you'll give up your life happiness for a principle?" - -"Of course. Wouldn't you? Wouldn't every decent person? I couldn't live -at all, if I were knowingly doing wrong." - -"But your----" Keefe stopped abruptly. - -"I know what you were going to say," Maida spoke sadly; "you were going -to say my father did wrong. _I_ don't believe he did." - -"Don't you know?" - -"I know in my own heart. I know he is incapable of the crime he was -charged with. I'm sure he is shielding some one else, or else some one -did it of whom he has no knowledge. But my father commit a crime? Never!" - -"Do you care to tell me the details?" - -"I don't know why I shouldn't. It was long ago, you know, and dad was -accused of forgery. It was proved on him--or the jury thought it was--and -he was convicted----" - -"And sentenced?" - -"Yes; to a long prison term. But Governor Appleby pardoned him with that -mean old proviso, that he never should step into Massachusetts!" - -"Was your mother then the heir to the Massachusetts property?" - -"No; but Mr. Appleby knew she would be. So, when she did inherit, and had -to live in Massachusetts to hold the estate, Mr. Appleby thought he had -dad where he wanted him." - -"Were they foes?" - -"Politically, yes. Because dad did all he could to keep Mr. Appleby from -being governor." - -"But didn't succeed?" - -"No; but almost. So, then, Mr. Appleby did this pardon trick to get even -with father, and I think it turned out more serious than he anticipated. -For mother took up the feud, and she got lawyers and all that and -arranged to have the house built on the line between the states!" - -"Was the estate she inherited on both sides of the line?" - -"Oh, no; but it was near the southern border of Massachusetts, and she -bought enough adjoining land to make the arrangement possible." - -"Then the house isn't on the ground she inherited?" - -"Not quite, but the lawyers decided it so that she really complies with -the terms of the will, so it's all right." - -"Was your mother the only heir?" - -"So far as we can find out. I believe there was another branch of the -family, but we haven't been able to trace it, so as the years go by, we -feel more and more confident there's no other heir. Of course, should one -turn up, his claim would be recognized." - -Further talk quickly convinced Keefe that there was no hope of persuading -Maida Wheeler to influence or advise her father in any direction other -than his idea of right. No amount of urging or arguing would make Wheeler -see his duty other than he now saw it, or make Maida endeavor to change -his views. With a sigh over his failure, Keefe deftly turned the talk in -other channels, and then they strolled back to the house. - -As was to be expected, Genevieve had made no progress with her part of -the plan. Her talk with Mr. Wheeler had availed nothing. He was courteous -and kind; he was amused at her gay, merry little ways; he politely -answered her questions, both serious and flippant, but absolutely nothing -came of it all. - -Samuel Appleby had a short but straightforward conversation with Mrs. -Wheeler. - -"Now, Sara," he said, "remember I'm your old friend as well as your -relative." - -"I don't call you a relative," she returned, calmly. - -"A family connection, then; I don't care what you call it. And I'm going -to speak right out, for I know better than to try sophistries. If you can -get Dan to play my game regarding my son's campaign, I'll see that Dan -gets full pardon, and at once. Then Maida can marry young Allen and you -can all go to Boston to live." - -"Sam Appleby, I'd rather never see Boston again, never have Dan see it, -than to have him agree to endorse principles that he does not believe! -And Dan feels the same way about it." - -"But don't you consider your daughter? Will you condemn Maida to a -broken-hearted life----?" - -"Maida must decide for herself. I think Jeffrey Allen will yet persuade -her to leave her father. She is devoted to Dan, but she is deeply in love -with Jeff and it's only natural she should go with him. Any other girl -would do so without a second thought. Maida is unusual, but I doubt if -she can hold out much longer against her lover's pleading." - -"I think she will. Maida has your own unbreakable will." - -"So be it, then. The child must choose for herself. But it doesn't alter -the stand Dan and I have taken." - -"Nothing can alter that?" - -"Nothing, Samuel Appleby." - -"That remains to be seen. Have I your permission to talk to Maida, -alone?" - -"Certainly. Why not? If you can persuade her to marry Jeff, I'll be only -too glad. If you find her determined to stand by her father, then the -case remains as it is at present." - -And so, as Maida returned from her walk with Keefe, she was asked to go -for another stroll with Samuel Appleby. - -She assented, though with no show of pleasure at the prospect. - -But as they started off, she said: "I'm glad to have a talk with you, Mr. -Appleby. I want to appeal to your better nature." - -"Good! That's just what I want--to appeal to yours. Suppose you word your -appeal first." - -"Mine is simple to understand. It is only that having had your way and -having spoiled my father's life for fifteen years, I ask you, in the name -of humanity and justice, to arrange matters so that his latter years of -life shall be free from the curse you put upon him." - -"I didn't put it upon him--he brought it on himself." - -"He never committed that crime--and you know it!" - -"What do you mean by that?" Appleby gave her a startled glance. - -Had Maida seen this glance, she might have been enlightened. But her eyes -were cast down, and she went on: "I don't know it surely, but I am -positive in my own heart father never did it. However, that's past -history. All I ask now is his full pardon--which, I know, you can bring -about if you want to." - -"And I will, willingly and gladly, if your father will grant my request." - -"To put your son in as governor with the same political views that -prevented my father from voting for you! You know he can't do that!" - -"And yet you expect me to favor him!" - -"But don't you see the difference? Your pardon will mean everything to -father----" - -"And to you!" - -"Yes, but that's a secondary consideration. I'd ask this for father just -the same, if it meant disaster for me!" - -"I believe you would!" and Appleby gazed admiringly at the sweet, -forceful face, and the earnest eyes. - -"Of course I should! As I say, it means life's happiness to him." - -"And his consent means just as much to me." - -"No, it doesn't. That's just it. Even though father doesn't definitely -help you in your son's election, he will do nothing to hinder. And that's -much the same." - -"It's far from being the same. His positive and definite help is a very -different matter from his negative lack of interference. It's the help I -want. And I do want it! Do you suppose I'd come here and urge it--beg for -it--if I didn't think it absolutely necessary?" - -"No; I suppose not. But I know he never will grant it, so you may as well -give up hope." - -"You know that, do you, Maida?" Appleby's voice was almost wistful. - -"I most certainly do," and the girl nodded her head positively. - -"Then listen to me. I have one argument yet unused. I'm going to use it -now. And with you." - -Maida looked up in alarm. Appleby's face was stern, his tone betokened a -final, even desperate decision. - -"Oh, not with me," she cried; "I--I'm only a girl--I don't know about -these things--let's go where father is." - -"No; you are the one. In your hands must rest your father's fate--your -father's future. Sit here, beneath the old sycamore--you know about the -tree?" - -"Yes, of course." - -"Never mind that now; I've only a few moments, but that's time enough. -You know, Maida, how your mother holds this estate?" - -"Yes--she must live in Massachusetts. Well, we do. The lawyers said----" - -"That isn't the point; this is it. There is another heir." - -"We've always thought it possible." Maida spoke coolly, though a dull -fear clutched her heart. - -"It's more than a possibility, it's a fact. I know it--and I know the -heir." - -"Who is it?" - -"Never mind for the moment. Suffice it to say that he doesn't know it -himself--that no one knows it but me. Now, you and I know. No one else -does. Do you understand?" - -His keen gaze at her made her understand. - -"I----" she faltered. - -"You do understand," he asserted. "You sense my proposition before I make -it. And you have it right--you're a smart girl, Maida. Yes, I suggest -that you and I keep our secret, and that in return for my silence you -persuade your father to meet my wishes. Then, he shall be fully pardoned, -and all will be well." - -"You criminal! You dishonest and dishonorable man!" she cried, her eyes -blazing, her cheeks reddening with her righteous indignation. - -"There, there, my girl, have a care. You haven't thought it all out yet. -Doubtless you're going to say that neither your father nor mother want to -remain here, if my statement is true." - -"Of course I say that! They won't want to stay a minute! Who is the heir? -Tell me!" - -"And have you thought what it will mean to them to leave this place? Have -you realized that your father has no business interests nor can he find -any at his age? Do you remember that your mother has no funds outside the -estate she inherited? Do you want to plunge them into penury, into -pauperism, in their declining years?" - -"Yes--if honesty requires it----" but the sweet voice trembled at the -thought. - -"Honesty is a good thing--a fine policy--but you are a devoted daughter, -and I remind you that to tell this thing I have told you, means -disaster--ruin for you and your parents. Young Allen can't support -them--they are unaccustomed to deprivation--and," he lowered his voice, -"this heir I speak of has no knowledge of the truth. He misses nothing, -since he hopes for nothing." - -Maida looked at him helplessly. - -"I must think," she said, brokenly. "Oh, you are cruel, to put this -responsibility on me." - -"You know why I do it. I am not disinterested." - - - - - CHAPTER IV - THE BIG SYCAMORE TREE - - -At the south door the Appleby car stood waiting. - -Genevieve was saying good-bye to Maida, with the affection of an old -friend. - -"We're coming back, you know," she reminded, "in two or three days, and -please say you'll be glad to see me!" - -"Of course," Maida assented, but her lip trembled and her eyes showed -signs of ready tears. - -"Cheer up," Genevieve babbled on. "I'm your friend--whatever comes with -time!" - -"So am I," put in Curtis Keefe. "Good-bye for a few days, Miss Wheeler." - -How Maida did it, she scarcely knew herself, but she forced a smile, and -even when Samuel Appleby gave her a warning glance at parting she bravely -responded to his farewell words, and even gaily waved her hand as the car -rolled down the drive. - -Once out of earshot, Appleby broke out: - -"I played my trump card! No, you needn't ask me what I was, for I don't -propose to tell you. But it will take the trick, I'm sure. Why, it's got -to!" - -"It must be something pretty forcible, then," said Keefe, "for it looked -to me about as likely as snow in summertime, that any of those rigid -Puritans would ever give in an inch to your persuasions." - -"Or mine," added Genevieve. "Never before have I failed so utterly to -make any headway when I set out to be really persuasive." - -"You did your best, Miss Lane," and Appleby looked at her with the air of -one appraising the efficiency of a salesman. "I confess I didn't think -Wheeler would be quite such a hardshell--after all these years." - -"He's just like concrete," Keefe observed. "They all are. I didn't know -there were such conscientious people left in this wicked old world!" - -"They're not really in the world," Appleby declared. "They've merely -vegetated in that house of theirs, never going anywhere----" - -"Oh, come now, Mr. Appleby," and Genevieve shook her head, "Boston isn't -the only burg on the planet! They often go to New York, and that's going -some!" - -"Not really often--I asked Wheeler. He hasn't been for five or six years, -and though Maida goes occasionally, to visit friends, she soon runs back -home to her father." - -"It doesn't matter," Keefe said, "they're by no means mossbacks or -hayseeds. They're right there with the goods, when it comes to modern -literature or up-to-date news----" - -"Oh, yes, they're a highbrow bunch," Appleby spoke impatiently; "but a -recluse like that is no sort of a man! The truth is, I'm at the end of my -patience! I've got to put this thing over with less palaver and -circumlocution. I thought I'd give him a chance--just put the thing up to -him squarely once--and, as he doesn't see fit to meet me half-way, he's -got to be the loser, that's all." - -"He seems to be the loser, as it is." This from Keefe. - -"But nothing to what's coming to him! Why, the idea of my sparing him at -all is ridiculous! If he doesn't come down, he's got to be wiped out! -That's what it amounts to!" - -"Wiped out--how?" - -"Figuratively and literally! Mentally, morally and physically! That's -how! I've stood all I can--I've waited long enough--too long--and now I'm -going to play the game my own way! As I said, I played a trump card--I -raised one pretty definite ruction just before we left. Now, that may do -the business--and, it may not! If not, then desperate measures are -necessary--and will be used!" - -"Good gracious, Mr. Appleby!" Genevieve piped up from her fur collar -which nearly muffled her little face. "You sound positively murderous!" - -"Murder! Pooh, I'd kill Dan Wheeler in a minute, if that would help Sam! -But I don't want Wheeler dead--I want him alive--I want his help--his -influence--yet, when he sits there looking like a stone wall, and about -as easy to overthrow, I declare I _could_ kill him! But I don't intend -to. It's far more likely he'd kill me!" - -"Why?" exclaimed Keefe. "Why should he? And--but you're joking." - -"Not at all. Wheeler isn't of the murderer type, or I'd be taking my life -in my hands to go into his house! He hates me with all the strength of a -hard, bigoted, but strictly just nature. He thinks I was unjust in the -matter of his pardon, he thinks I was contemptible, and false to our -old-time friendship; and he would be honestly and truly glad if I were -dead. But--thank heaven--he's no murderer!" - -"Of course not!" cried Genevieve. "How you do talk! As if murder were an -everyday performance! Why, people in our class don't kill each other!" - -The placid assumption of equality of class with her employer was so -consistently Miss Lane's usual attitude, that it caused no mental comment -from either of her hearers. Her services were so valuable that any such -little idiosyncrasy was tolerated. - -"Of course we don't--often," agreed Appleby, "but I'd wager a good bit -that if Dan Wheeler could bump me off without his conscience knowing -it--off I'd go!" - -"I don't know about that," said Genevieve, musingly--"but I do believe -that girl would do it!" - -"What?" cried Keefe. "Maida!" - -"Yes; she's a lamb for looks, but she's got a lion's heart--if anybody -ever had one! Talk about a tigress protecting her cubs; it would be a -milk-and-water performance beside Maida Wheeler shielding her father--or -fighting for him--yes, or killing somebody for him!" - -"Rubbish!" laughed Appleby. "Maida might be willing enough, in that lion -heart of hers--but little girls don't go around killing people." - -"I know it, and I don't expect her to. But I only say she's capable of -it." - -"Goethe says--(Keefe spoke in his superior way)--'We are all capable of -crime, even the best of us.'" - -"I remember that phrase," mused Appleby. "Is it Goethe's? Well, I don't -say it's literally true, for lots of people are too much of a jellyfish -makeup to have such a capability. But I do believe there are lots of -strong, forcible people, who are absolutely capable of crime--if the -opportunity offers." - -"That's it," and Genevieve nodded her head wisely. "Opportunity is what -counts. I've read detective stories, and they prove it. Be careful, Mr. -Appleby, how you trust yourself alone with Mr. Wheeler." - -"That will do," he reprimanded. "I can take care of myself, Miss Lane." - -Genevieve always knew when she had gone too far, and, instead of sulking, -she tactfully changed the subject and entertained the others with her -amusing chatter, at which she was a success. - -At that very moment, Maida Wheeler, alone in her room, was sobbing -wildly, yet using every precaution that she shouldn't be heard. - -Thrown across her bed, her face buried in the pillows, she fairly shook -with the intensity of her grief. - -But, as often happens, after she had brought her crying spell to a -finish--and exhausted Nature insists on a finish--she rose and bathed her -flushed face and sat down to think it out calmly. - -Yet the more she thought the less calm she grew. - -For the first time in her life she was face to face with a great question -which she could not refer to her parents. Always she had confided in -them, and matters that seemed great to her, even though trifling in -themselves, were invariably settled and straightened out by her wise and -loving father or mother. - -But now, Samuel Appleby had told her a secret--a dreadful secret--that -she must not only weigh and decide about, but must--at least, until she -decided--keep from her parents. - -"For," Maida thought, "if I tell them, they'll at once insist on knowing -who the rightful heir is, they'll give over the place to him--and what -will become of us?" - -Her conscience was as active as ever it was, her sense of right and wrong -was in no way warped or blunted, but instinct told her that she must keep -this matter entirely to herself until she had come to her own conclusion. -Moreover, she realized, the conclusion must be her own--the decision must -be arrived at by herself, and unaided. - -Finally, accepting all this, she resolved to put the whole thing out of -her mind for the moment. Her parents were so intimately acquainted with -her every mood or shade of demeanor, they would see at once that -something was troubling her mind, unless she used the utmost care to -prevent it. Care, too, not to overdo her precaution. It would be quite as -evident that she was concealing something, if she were unusually gay or -carefree of manner. - -So the poor child went downstairs, determined to forget utterly the news -she had heard, until such time as she could be again by herself. - -And she succeeded. Though haunted by a vague sense of being deceitful, -she behaved so entirely as usual, that neither of her parents suspected -her of pretense. - -Moreover, the subject of Samuel Appleby's visit was such a fruitful -source of conversation that there was less chance of minor -considerations. - -"Never will I consent," her father was reiterating, as Maida entered the -room. "Why, Sara, I'd rather have the conditional pardon rescinded, -rather pay full penalty of my conviction, than stand for the things young -Sam's campaign must stand for!" - -A clenched fist came down on the table by way of emphasis. - -"Now, dad," said Maida, gaily, "don't thump around like that! You look as -if you'd like to thump Mr. Appleby!" - -"And I should! I wish I could bang into his head just how I feel about -it----" - -"Oh, he knows!" and Mrs. Wheeler smiled. "He knows perfectly how you -feel." - -"But, truly, mother, don't you think dad could--well, not do anything -wrong--but just give in to Mr. Appleby--for--for my sake?" - -"Maida--dear--that is our only stumbling-block. Your father and I would -not budge one step, for ourselves--but for you, and for Jeffrey--oh, my -dear little girl, that's what makes it so hard." - -"For us, then--father, can't you--for our sake----" - -Maida broke down. It wasn't for her sake she was pleading--nor for the -sake of her lover. It was for the sake of her parents--that they might -remain in comfort--and yet, comfort at the expense of honesty? Oh, the -problem was too great--she hadn't worked it out yet. - -"I can't think," her father's grave voice broke in on her tumultuous -thoughts. "I can't believe, Maida, that you would want my freedom at the -cost of my seared conscience." - -"No, oh, no, father, I don't--you know I don't. But what is this dreadful -thing you'd have to countenance if you linked up on the Appleby side? Are -they pirates--or rascals?" - -"Not from their own point of view," and Dan Wheeler smiled. "They think -we are! You can't understand politics, child, but you must know that a -man who is heart and soul in sympathy with the principles of his party -can't conscientiously cross over and work for the other side." - -"Yes, I know that, and I know that tells the whole story. But, father, -think what there is at stake. Your freedom--and--ours!" - -"I know that, Maida dear, and you can never know how my very soul is torn -as I try to persuade myself that for those reasons it would be right for -me to consent. Yet----" - -He passed his hand wearily across his brow, and then folding his arms on -the table he let his head sink down upon them. - -Maida flew to his side. "Father, dearest," she crooned over him, as she -caressed his bowed head, "don't think of it for a minute! You know I'd -give up anything--I'd give up Jeff--if it means one speck of good for -you." - -"I know it, dear child, but--run away, now, Maida, leave me to myself." - -Understanding, both Maida and her mother quietly left the room. - -"I'm sorry, girlie dear, that you have to be involved in these scenes," -Mrs. Wheeler said fondly, as the two went to the sitting-room. - -"Don't talk that way, mother. I'm part of the family, and I'm old enough -to have a share and a voice in all these matters. But just think what it -would mean, if father had his pardon! Look at this room, and think, he -has never been in it! Never has seen the pictures--the view from the -window, the general coziness of it all." - -"I know, dear, but that's an old story. Your father is accustomed to -living only in his own rooms----" - -"And not to be able to go to the other end of the dining-room or -living-room, if he chooses! It's outrageous!" - -"Yes, Maida, I quite agree--but no more outrageous than it was last -week--or last year." - -"Yes, it is! It grows more outrageous every minute! Mother, what did that -old will say? That you must live in Massachusetts?" - -"Yes--you know that, dear." - -"Of course I do. And if you lived elsewhere, what then?" - -"I forfeit the inheritance." - -"And what would become of it?" - -"In default of any other heirs, it would go to the State of -Massachusetts." - -"And there are no other heirs?" - -"What ails you, Maida? You know all this. No, there are no other heirs." - -"You're sure?" - -"As sure as we can be. Your father had every possible search made. There -were advertisements kept in the papers for years, and able lawyers did -all they could to find heirs if there were any. And, finding none, we -were advised that there were none, and we could rest in undisturbed -possession." - -"Suppose one should appear, what then?" - -"Then, little girl, we'd give him the keys of the house, and walk out." - -"Where would we walk to?" - -"I've no idea. In fact, I can't imagine where we could walk to. But that, -thank heaven, is not one of our troubles. Your father would indeed be -desperately fixed if it were! You know, Maida, from a fine capable -business man, he became a wreck, because of that unjust trial." - -"Father _never_ committed the forgery?" - -"Of course not, dear." - -"Who did?" - -"We don't know. It was cleverly done, and the crime was purposely -fastened on your father, because he was about to be made the rival -candidate of Mr. Appleby, for governor." - -"I know. And Mr. Appleby was at the bottom of it!" - -"Your father doesn't admit that----" - -"He must have been." - -"Hush, Maida. These matters are not for you to judge. You know your -father has done all he honestly could to be fully pardoned, or to -discover the real criminal, and as he hasn't succeeded, you must rest -content with the knowledge that there was no stone left unturned." - -"But, mother, suppose Mr. Appleby has something more up his sleeve. -Suppose he comes down on dad with some unexpected, some unforeseen blow -that----" - -"Maida, be quiet. Don't make me sorry that we have let you into our -confidence as far as we have. These are matters above your head. Should -such a thing as you hint occur, your father can deal with it." - -"But I want to help----" - -"And you can best do that by not trying to help! Your part is to divert -your father, to love him and cheer him and entertain him. You know this, -and you know for you to undertake to advise or suggest is not only -ridiculous but disastrous." - -"All right, mother, I'll be good. I don't mean to be silly." - -"You are, when you assume ability you don't possess." Mrs. Wheeler's -loving smile robbed the words of any harsh effect. "Run along now, and -see if dad won't go for a walk with you; and don't refer to anything -unpleasant." - -Maida went, and found Wheeler quite ready for a stroll - -"Which way?" he asked as they crossed the south veranda. - -"Round the park, and bring up under the tree, and have tea there," -dictated Maida, her heart already lighter as she obeyed her mother's -dictum to avoid unpleasant subjects. - -But as they walked on, and trivial talk seemed to pall, they naturally -reverted to the discussion of their recent guests. - -"Mr. Appleby is an old curmudgeon," Maida declared; "Mr. Keefe is nice -and well-behaved; but the little Lane girl is a scream! I never saw any -one so funny. Now she was quite a grand lady, and then she was a common -little piece! But underneath it all she showed a lot of good sense and -I'm sure in her work she has real ability." - -"Appleby wouldn't keep her if she didn't have," her father rejoined; "but -why do you call him a curmudgeon? He's very well-mannered." - -"Oh, yes, he is. And to tell the truth, I'm not sure just what a -curmudgeon is. But--he's it, anyway." - -"I gather you don't especially admire my old friend." - -"Friend! If he's a friend--give me enemies!" - -"Fie, fie, Maida, what do you mean? Remember, he gave me my pardon." - -"Yes, a high old pardon! Say, dad, tell me again exactly how he worded -that letter about the tree." - -"I've told you a dozen times! He didn't mean anything anyhow. He only -said, that when the big sycamore tree went into Massachusetts I could -go." - -"What a crazy thing to say, wasn't it?" - -"It was because we had been talking about the play of _Macbeth_. You -remember, 'Till Birnam Wood shall come to Dunsinane." - -"Oh, yes, and then it did come--by a trick." - -"Yes, the men came, carrying branches. We'd been talking about it, -discussing some point, and then--it seemed clever, I suppose--to Appleby, -and he wrote that about the sycamore." - -"Meaning--never?" - -"Meaning never." - -"But Birnam Wood did go." - -"Only by a trick, and that would not work in this case. Why, are you -thinking of carrying a branch of sycamore into Massachusetts?" - -Maida returned his smile as she answered: "I'd manage to carry the whole -tree in, if it would do any good! But, I s'pose, old Puritan Father, -you're too conscientious to take advantage of a trick?" - -"Can't say, till I know the details of the game. But I doubt Appleby's -being unable to see through your trick, and then--where are you?" - -"That wouldn't matter. Trick or no trick, if the big sycamore went into -Massachusetts, you could go. But I don't see any good plan for getting it -in. And, too, Sycamore Ridge wouldn't be Sycamore Ridge without it. Don't -you love the old tree, dad?" - -"Of course, as I love every stick and stone about the place. It has been -a real haven to me in my perturbed life." - -"Suppose you had to leave it, daddy?" - -"I think I'd die, dear. Unless, that is, we could go back home." - -"Isn't this home?" - -"It's the dearest spot on earth--outside my native state." - -"There, there, dad, don't let's talk about it. We're here for keeps----" - -"Heaven send we are, dearest! I couldn't face the loss of this place. -What made you think of such a thing?" - -"Oh, I'm thinking of all sorts of things to-day. But, father, while we're -talking of moving--couldn't you--oh, couldn't you, bring yourself, -somehow, to do what Mr. Appleby wants you to do? I don't know much about -it--but father, darling, if you _only could_!" - -"Maida, my little girl, don't think I haven't tried. Don't think I don't -realize what it means to you and Jeff. I know--oh, I _do_ know how it -would simplify matters if I should go over to the Appleby side--and push -Sam's campaign--as I could do it. I know that it would mean my full -pardon, my return to my old home, my reunion with old scenes and -associations. And more than that, it would mean the happiness of my only -child--my daughter--and her chosen husband. And yet, Maida, as God is my -judge, I am honest in my assertion that I _can't_ so betray my honor and -spend my remaining years a living lie. I can't do it, Maida--I _can't_." - -And the calm, sorrowful countenance he turned to the girl was more -positive and final than any further protestation could have been. - - - - - CHAPTER V - THE BUGLE SOUNDED TAPS - - -Although the portions of the house and grounds that were used by Wheeler -included the most attractive spots, yet there were many forbidden places -that were a real temptation to him. - -An especial one was the flower-covered arbor that had so charmed -Genevieve and another was the broad and beautiful north veranda. To be -sure, the south piazza was equally attractive, but it was galling to be -compelled to avoid any part of his own domain. However, the passing years -had made the conditions a matter of habit and it was only occasionally -that Wheeler's annoyance was poignant. - -In fact, he and his wife bore the cross better than did Maida. She had -never become reconciled to the unjust and arbitrary dictum of the -conditional pardon. She lived in a constant fear lest her father should -some day inadvertently and unintentionally step on the forbidden ground, -and it should be reported. Indeed, knowing her father's quixotic honesty, -she was by no means sure he wouldn't report it himself. - -It had never occurred--probably never would occur, and yet, she often -imagined some sudden emergency, such as a fire, or burglars, that might -cause his impulsive invasion of the other side of the house. - -In her anxiety she had spoken of this to Samuel Appleby when he was -there. But he gave her no satisfaction. He merely replied: "A condition -is a condition." - -Curtis Keefe had tried to help her cause, by saying: "Surely a case of -danger would prove an exception to the rule," but Appleby had only shaken -his head in denial. - -Though care had been taken to have the larger part of the house on the -Massachusetts side of the line, yet the rooms most used by the family -were in Connecticut. Here was Mr. Wheeler's den, and this had come to be -the most used room in the whole house. Mrs. Wheeler's sitting-room, which -her husband never had entered, was also attractive, but both mother and -daughter invaded the den, whenever leisure hours were to be enjoyed. - -The den contained a large south bay window, which was Maida's favorite -spot. It had a broad, comfortable window-seat, and here she spent much of -her time, curled up among the cushions, reading. There were long -curtains, which, half-drawn, hid her from view, and often she was there -for hours, without her father's knowing it. - -His own work was engrossing. Cut off from his established law business in -Massachusetts, he had at first felt unable to start it anew in different -surroundings. Then, owing to his wife's large fortune, it was decided -that he should give up all business for a time. And as the time went on, -and there was no real necessity for an added income, Wheeler had indulged -in his hobby of book collecting, and had amassed a library of unique -charm as well as goodly intrinsic value. - -Moreover, it kept him interested and occupied, and prevented his becoming -morose or melancholy over his restricted life. - -So, many long days he worked away at his books, and Maida, hidden in the -window-seat, watched him lovingly in the intervals of her reading. - -Sitting there, the morning after Samuel Appleby's departure, she read not -at all, although a book lay open on her lap. She was trying to decide a -big matter, trying to solve a vexed question. - -Maida's was a straightforward nature. She never deceived herself. If she -did anything against her better judgment, even against her conscience, it -was with open eyes and understanding mind. She used no sophistry, no -pretence, and if she acted mistakenly she was always satisfied to abide -by the consequences. - -And now, she set about her problem, systematically and methodically, -determined to decide upon her course, and then strictly follow it. - -She glanced at her father, absorbed in his book catalogues and indexes, -and a great wave of love and devotion filled her heart. Surely no -sacrifice was too great that would bring peace or pleasure to that -martyred spirit. - -That he was a martyr, Maida was as sure as she was that she was alive. -She knew him too well to believe for an instant that he had committed a -criminal act; it was an impossibility for one of his character. But that -she could do nothing about. The question had been raised and settled when -she was too young to know anything about it, and now, her simple duty was -to do anything she might to ease his burden and to help him to forget. - -"And," she said to herself, "first of all, he must stay in this home. He -positively _must_--and that's all there is about that. Now, if he -knows--if he has the least hint that there is another heir, he'll get out -at once--or at least, he'll move heaven and earth to find the heir, and -then we'll have to move. And where to? That's an unanswerable question. -Anyway, I've only one sure conviction. I've got to keep from him all -knowledge or suspicion of that other heir! - -"Maybe it isn't true--maybe Mr. Appleby made it up--but I don't think so. -At any rate, I have to proceed as if it were true, and do my best. And, -first of all, I've got to hush up my own conscience. I've too much of my -father's nature to want to live here if it rightfully belongs to somebody -else. I feel like a thief already. But I'm going to bear that--I'm going -to live under that horrid conviction that I'm living a lie--for father's -sake." - -Maida was in earnest. By nature and by training her conscience was -acutely sensitive to the finest shades of right and wrong. She actually -longed to announce the possibility of another heir and let justice decide -the case. But her filial devotion was, in this thing, greater even than -her conscience. Her mother, too, she knew, would be crushed by the -revelation of the secret, but would insist on thorough investigation, -and, if need be, on renunciation of the dear home. - -Her mental struggle went on. At times it seemed as if she couldn't live -beneath the weight of such a secret. Then, she knew she must do it. What -was her own peace of mind compared with her father's? What was her own -freedom of conscience compared with his tranquillity? - -She thought of telling Jeffrey Allen. But, she argued, he would feel as -the others would--indeed, as she herself did--that the matter must be -dragged out into the open and settled one way or the other. - -No; she must bear the brunt of the thing alone. She must never tell any -one. - -Then, the next point was, would Mr. Appleby tell? He hadn't said so, but -she felt sure he would. Well, she must do all she could to prevent that. -He was to return in a day or two. By that time she must work out some -plan, must think up some way, to persuade him not to tell. What the -argument would be, she had no idea, but she was determined to try her -uttermost. - -There was one way--but Maida blushed even at the thought. - -Sam Appleby--young Sam--wanted to marry her--had wanted to for a year or -more. Many times she had refused him, and many times he had returned for -another attempt at persuasion. To consent to this would enable her to -control the senior Appleby's revelations. - -It would indeed be a last resort--she wouldn't even think of it yet; -surely there was some other way! - -The poor, tortured child was roused from her desperate plannings by a -cheery voice, calling: - -"Maida--Maida! Here's me!" - -"Jeffrey!" she cried, springing from the window-seat, and out to greet -him. - -"Dear!" he said, as he took her in his arms. "Dear, dearer, dearest! -_What_ is troubling you?" - -"Trouble? Nothing! How can I be troubled when you're here?" - -"But you are! You can't fool me, you know! Never mind, you can tell me -later. I've got three whole days--how's that?" - -"Splendid! How did it happen?" - -"Old Bennett went off for a week's rest--doctor's orders--and he said, if -I did up my chores, nice and proper, I could take a little vacation -myself. Oh, you peach! You're twice as beautifuller as ever!" - -A whirlwind embrace followed this speech and left Maida, breathless and -laughing, while her father smiled benignly upon the pair. - -It was some hours later that, as they sat under the big sycamore, Jeffrey -Allen begged Maida to tell him her troubles. - -"For I know you're pretty well broken up over something," he declared. - -"How do you know?" she smiled at him. - -"Why, my girl, I know every shadow that crosses your dear heart." - -"Do I wear my heart on my sleeve, then?" - -"You don't have to, for me to see it. I recognize the signs from your -face, your manner, your voice--your whole being is trembling with some -fear or some deeply-rooted grief. So tell me all about it." - -And Maida told. Not the last horrible threat that Samuel Appleby had told -her alone, but the state of things as Appleby had presented it to Daniel -Wheeler himself. - -"And so you see, Jeff, it's a deadlock. Father won't vote for young -Sam--I don't mean only vote, but throw all his influence--and that means -a lot--on Sam's side. And if he doesn't, Mr. Appleby won't get him -pardoned--you know we hoped he would this year----" - -"Yes, dear; it would mean so much to us." - -"Yes, and to dad and mother, too. Well, there's no hope of that, unless -father throws himself heart and soul into the Appleby campaign." - -"And he won't do that?" - -"Of course not. He couldn't, Jeff. He'd have to subscribe to what he -doesn't believe in--practically subscribe to a lie. And you know -father----" - -"Yes, and you, too--and myself! None of us would want him to do that, -Maida!" - -"Doesn't necessity _ever_ justify a fraud, Jeff?" The question was put so -wistfully that the young man smiled. - -"Nixy! and you know that even better than I do, dear. Why, Maida, what I -love you most for--yes, even more than your dear, sweet, beauty of face, -is the marvellous beauty of your nature, your character. Your flawless -soul attracted me first of all--even as I saw it shining through your -clear, honest eyes." - -"Oh, Jeffrey," and Maida's clear eyes filled with tears, "I'm not honest, -I'm not true blue!" - -"Then nobody on this green earth is! Don't say such things, dear. I know -what you mean, that you _think_ you want your father to sacrifice his -principles, in part, at least, to gain his full pardon thereby. See how I -read your thoughts! But, you don't really think that; you only think you -think it. If the thing came to a focus, you'd be the first one to forbid -the slightest deviation from the line of strictest truth and honor!" - -"Oh, Jeff, do you think I would?" - -"Of course I think so--I know it! You are a strange make-up, Maida. On an -impulse, I can imagine you doing something wrong--even something pretty -awful--but with even a little time for thought you _couldn't_ do a -wrong." - -"What!" Maida was truly surprised; "I could jump into any sort of -wickedness?" - -"I didn't quite put it that way," Jeff laughed, "but--well, you know it's -my theory, that given opportunity, anybody can yield to temptation." - -"Nonsense! It's a poor sort of honor that gives out at a critical -moment!" - -"Not at all. Most people can resist anything--except temptation! Given a -strong enough temptation and a perfect opportunity, and your staunchest, -most conscientious spirit is going to succumb." - -"I don't believe that." - -"You don't have to--and maybe it isn't always true. But it often is. -Howsomever, it has no bearing on the present case. Your father is not -going to lose his head--and though you might do so"--he smiled at her--"I -can't see you getting a chance! You're not in on the deal, in any way, -are you?" - -"No; except that Mr. Appleby asked me to use all my influence with -father." - -"Which you've done?" - -"Yes; but it made not the slightest impression." - -"Of course not. I say, Maid, young Sam isn't coming down here, is he?" - -"Not that I know of," but Maida couldn't help her rising color, for she -knew what Allen was thinking. - -"Just let him try it, that's all! Just let him show his rubicund -countenance in these parts--if he wants trouble!" - -"Does anybody ever _want_ trouble?" Maida smiled a little. - -"Why, of course they do! Sometimes they want it so much that they borrow -it!" - -"I'm not doing that! I've had it offered to me--in full measure, heaped -up, pressed down, and running over." - -"Poor little girl. Don't take it so hard, dearest. I'll have a talk with -your father, and we'll see how matters really stand. I doubt it's as bad -as you fear--and anyway, if no good results come our way, things are no -worse than they have been for years. Your father has lived fairly -contented and happy. Let things drift, and in another year or two, after -the election is a thing of the past, we can pick up the pardon question -again. By that time you and I will be--where will we be, Maida?" - -"I don't know, Jeff----" - -"Well, we'll be together, anyway. You'll be my wife, and if we can't live -in Boston--we can live out of Boston! And that's all there is about -that!" - -"You'll have to come here to live. There's enough for us all." - -"Settle down here and sponge on your mother! I see it! But, never you -mind, lady fair, something will happen to smooth out our path. Perhaps -this old tree will take it into its head to go over into Massachusetts, -and so blaze a trail for your father--and you." - -"Oh, very likely. But I've renewed my vow--Jeff; unless father can go -into the state, _I_ never will!" - -"All right, sweetheart. Renew your vow whenever its time limit expires. -I'm going to fix things so no vows will be needed--except our marriage -vows. Will you take them, dear?" - -"When the time comes, yes." But Maida did not smile, and Jeff, watching -her closely, concluded there was yet some point on which she had not -enlightened him. However, he asked no further question, but bided his -time. - -"Guess I'll chop down the old tree while I'm here, and ship it into -Massachusetts as firewood," he suggested. - -"Fine idea," Maida acquiesced, "but you'd only have your trouble for your -pains. You see, the stipulation was, 'without the intervention of human -hands.'" - -"All right, we'll chop it down by machinery, then." - -"I wish the tree promise meant anything, but it doesn't. It was only made -as a proof positive how impossible was any chance of pardon." - -"But now a chance of pardon has come." - -"Yes, but a chance that cannot be taken. You'll be here, Jeff, when they -come back. Then you can talk with Mr. Appleby, and maybe, as man to man, -you can convince him----" - -"Convince nothing! Don't you suppose I've tried every argument I know of, -with that old dunderhead? I've spent hours with him discussing your -father's case. I've talked myself deaf, dumb and blind, with no scrap of -success. But, I don't mind telling you, Maida, that I might have moved -the old duffer to leniency if it hadn't been for--you." - -"Me?" - -"Yes; you know well enough young Sam's attitude toward you. And old -Appleby as good as said if I'd give up my claim on your favor, and give -sonny Sam a chance, there'd be hope for your father." - -"H'm. Indeed! You don't say so! And you replied?" - -"I didn't reply much of anything. For if I'd said what I wanted to say, -he would have been quite justified in thinking that I was no fit mate for -a Christian girl! Let's don't talk about it." - -That night Maida went to her room, leaving Allen to have a long serious -talk with her father. - -She hoped much from the confab, for Jeff Allen was a man of ideas, and of -good, sound judgment. He could see straight, and could advise sensibly -and well. And Maida hoped, too, that something would happen or some way -be devised that the secret told her by Appleby might be of no moment. -Perhaps there was no heir, save in the old man's imagination. Or perhaps -it was only someone who would inherit a portion of the property, leaving -enough for their own support and comfort. - -At any rate, she went to bed comforted and cheered by the knowledge that -Jeff was there, and that if there was anything to be done he would do it. - -She had vague misgivings because she had not told him what Appleby had -threatened. But, she argued, if she decided to suppress that bit of news, -she must not breathe it to anybody--not even Jeff. - -So, encouraged at the outlook, and exhausted by her day of worriment, she -slept soundly till well into the night. - -Then she was awakened by a strange sound. It gave her, at first, a -strange impression of being on an ocean steamer. She couldn't think why, -for her half-awake senses responded only to the vague sense of -familiarity with such a sound. - -But wide awake in a moment, she heard more of it, and realized that it -was a bugle to which she listened--the clear, though not loud, notes of a -bugle. Amazed, she jumped from her bed, and looked out of a window in the -direction of the sound. - -She saw nothing, and heard the last faint notes die away, as she -listened. - -There was no further sound, and she returned to bed, and after a time -fell asleep again. - -She pondered over the occurrence while dressing next morning, wondering -what it meant. - -Downstairs she found only Jeffrey in the dining-room. - -"Hear anything funny in the night, Maida?" he asked her. - -"Yes; a bugle," she returned. "Did you hear it?" - -"Of course I did. Who plays the thing around here?" - -"No one, that I know of. Wasn't it rather strange?" - -"Rath-er! I should say so. Made me think of the old English castles, -where spooks walk the parapets and play on bugles or bagpipes or some -such doings." - -"Oh, those silly stories! But this was a real bugle, played by a real -man." - -"How do you know?" - -"By the sound." - -"Spook bugles sound just the same." - -"How do _you_ know?" - -"How could they be heard if they didn't? Here's your father. -Good-morning, Mr. Wheeler. Who's your musical neighbor?" - -But Daniel Wheeler did not smile. - -"Go up to your mother, Maida, dear," he said; "she--she isn't well. Cheer -her up all you can." - -"What's the trouble?" Allen asked, solicitously, as Maida ran from the -room. - -"A strange thing, my boy. Did you hear a bugle call last night?" - -"Yes, sir; it sounded 'taps.' Is there a camp near by?" - -"No; nothing of the sort. Now--well, to put it frankly, there is an old -tradition in Mrs. Wheeler's family that a phantom bugler, in that very -way, announces an approaching death." - -"Good Lord! You don't mean she believes that!" - -"She does, and what can I say to disprove her belief? We all heard it. -Who could have done such a trick?" - -"I don't know who, but somebody did. That bugle was played by a pair of -good, strong human lungs--not by a spirit breath!" - -"It sounded so, but that doesn't affect Mrs. Wheeler's belief. If I could -produce the bugler, and get him to admit it, she might believe him, but -otherwise, she's sure it was the traditional bugler, and that earthly -days are numbered for some one of our little family." - -"You don't believe this foolishness, sir?" - -"I can't; my nature rejects the very idea of the supernatural. Yet, who -could or would do it? There's no neighbor who would, and I know of no one -round here who knows of the tradition." - -"Oh, pshaw, it's the merest casual occurrence. A Boy Scout, like as -not--or a gay young chap returning from a merry party. There are lots of -explanations, quite apart from spooks!" - -"I hope you can persuade Mrs. Wheeler of that. She is nervously ill, and -will hear of no rational explanation for the bugle call." - -"Beg her to come down to breakfast, do; then we'll all jolly her up until -she loses her fears." - -But though Allen's attempt was a brave one and ably seconded by Mrs. -Wheeler's husband and daughter, they made not the slightest progress -toward relieving her fears or disabusing her mind of her conviction. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - THE OTHER HEIR - - -A general air of vague foreboding hung over the Wheeler household. Mrs. -Wheeler tried to rally from the shock of the inexplicable bugle call, but -though she was bright and cheerful, it was fully evident that her manner -was forced and her gayety assumed. - -Maida, solicitous for her mother, was more than ever resolved not to -disclose the news of another possible heir to the estate, though the more -she thought about it, the more she felt sure Samuel Appleby had spoken -the truth. - -She decided that he had learned of the other heir, and that he was none -too honest to be willing to keep the fact a secret, if, in turn, he could -serve his own ends. She did not need to be told that if she would look on -young Sam with favor, her father would perforce lend his aid to the -campaign. And, in that case, she knew that the other heir would never be -mentioned again. - -And yet, the price--the acceptance of young Sam, was more than she could -pay. To give up Jeff Allen, her own true love, and marry a man of such a -different type and calibre as Sam Appleby was--it was too much! And Jeff -would have something to say about that! Yet, she must decide for herself. -If she made the supreme sacrifice, it must be done as if of her own -volition. If her parents or her lover guessed that she was acting under -compulsion, they would put an end to the project. - -But could she, even if willing to sacrifice herself, could she ask Sam -Appleby to take her? Yet she knew this would be the easiest thing in the -world. A mere hint to Mr. Appleby that she approved of his son would -bring the younger man down to the house at once and matters would then -take care of themselves. - -But could she do it? She looked at Jeff, as he sat talking to her father, -his strong, fine face alight with the earnestness of their discussion. He -was a man of a thousand--her own Jeffrey. No, she could not break his -heart--she had no right to do that. It would be a crime to blot out the -joy and happiness from the eager young face. - -And then she looked at the other dear face. Her father, worn and aging, -but still in rugged health. Could she let the inevitable happen, and see -him turned out of the home that he loved--the home that had so long been -his sanctuary, his refuge from the cold injustice of his fellow-men? - -And her mother, almost ill from her fright and foreboding. To add the -disaster of poverty and homelessness--no, she couldn't do that! - -And so poor Maida wondered and worried; her thoughts going round in a -circle, and coming back to the two men she loved, and knew she must break -one heart or the other. - -At one moment her duty to her parents seemed preëminent. Then, again, she -realized a duty to herself and to the man who loved her. - -"I don't know _what_ to do," she thought, piteously; "I'll wait till Mr. -Appleby comes back here, and then I'll tell him just how I'm placed. -Perhaps I can appeal to his better nature." - -But Maida Wheeler well knew that however she might appeal to Samuel -Appleby, it would be in vain. She knew from the very fact that he came to -her home, and made the offers and threats that he did make, that his mind -was made up, and no power on earth could move him from his decision. He -had a strong case, he probably thought; the offer of full pardon to Dan -Wheeler, and the offer to Maida to keep quiet about another heir, would, -he doubtless thought, be sufficient to win his cause. - -"What an awful man he is," she thought. "I wish he were dead! I know I -oughtn't to wish that, but I do. I'd kill him myself if it would help -father. I oughtn't to say that--and I don't suppose I really would do it, -but it would simplify matters a lot! And somebody said, 'We are all -capable of crime--even the best of us.' Well, of course I wouldn't kill -the old man, but he'd better not give me a real good chance!" - -"What are you thinking about, little girl?" asked Allen, turning to her. - -Maida looked at him and then at her father, and said, deliberately: - -"I was just thinking how I'd like to kill Samuel Appleby." - -"Senior, junior, or both?" laughed Allen, who thought little of her -words, save as a jest. - -"Senior, I meant, but we may as well make it a wholesale slaughter." - -"Don't, Maida," her father looked grieved. "Don't speak flippantly of -such subjects." - -"Well, father, why not be honest? Wouldn't you like to kill him?" - -"No, child--not that." - -"But you'd be glad if he were dead! There, you needn't answer. But if you -were absolutely honest, you'd have to admit it." - -"I'll admit it," said her mother, wearily. "Samuel Appleby has spoiled -all our lives--is still spoiling them. He does it for his own selfish -interests. He has ruined the happiness of my husband, myself, my -daughter, and my prospective son-in-law. Is it any wonder that we should -honestly wish he were dead? It may not sound Christian--but it is an -honest expression of human nature." - -"It is, Mrs. Wheeler," and Allen's face looked more pained than shocked. -"But, all the same, we oughtn't to talk like that." - -"No, indeed," agreed Wheeler. "Please, Maida, darling, don't say such -things. And, Sara, if you must say them, say them to me when we are -alone. It's no sort of talk for these young people's ears." - -"Why, I said it before mother did!" Maida broke out. "And I mean it! I'm -at the end of my rope. If that man is to hound us and torture us all our -lives, I can't help wishing him dead." - -"There, there, daughter, please don't." - -"I won't, dad. I'll never say it again. But I put myself on record, and -if the rest of you were honest, you'd do the same thing!" - -"That we'd like to kill him?" asked Allen, smiling at the idea. - -"I didn't say that--I said we wish him dead. If a nice, convenient stroke -of lightning came his way, or----" - -"Maida, hush!" her father spoke sternly; "I won't allow such talk! It -isn't like you, my child, and it isn't----" - -"Isn't good form, I s'pose!" she interrupted. "Well, I'll let up, dads, -and I am a little ashamed of myself. Mother, maybe the phantom bugler was -announcing the death of old Appleby!" - -"Hush, Maida! What has got into you?" - -"I'm incorrigible, I guess----" - -"You are!" and Allen smiled fondly at her. "Come out for a walk in the -sunshine with me, and get these awful thoughts out of your brain." - -"I know I'm a criminal," said Maida, as they walked down a garden path; -"but I can't help it. I've more to bear than you know of, Jeff, and you -must make allowance." - -"I do, sweetheart. And I know how you're troubled, and all that, but -don't say such dreadful things. I know you don't mean them." - -"No, I don't--at least, I don't think I do. But I won't say them any -more. I think I lost my head----" - -"Forget it. You're upset and nervous and your mother's worry reflects -itself on you. Is there really a bugler tradition?" - -"Not over here. There was one connected with mother's family long ago, in -England, I believe. Of course, it was just one of those old spook yarns -that most old houses have over there. But mother always remembered it. -She has told everybody who ever visited here about it, and I think she -always expected to hear the thing. Queer, though, wasn't it?" - -"Not very. It's explainable by natural means, of course. Probably we'll -never know who it was, but it was no phantom, be sure of that." - -"Oh, well, it doesn't matter, except that it has upset mother so -dreadfully. But she'll get over it--if nothing happens." - -"Nothing will happen--if by that you mean a death in the family. More -likely a marriage will take place!" - -"Not ours, Jeff. I think that bugler sounded the death-knell of our -hopes." - -"Maida! What is the matter with you? Why are you talking like that? I -know you've something on your mind that you haven't told me yet. -Something pretty serious, for it makes you say the strangest things! Tell -me, darling, won't you?" - -"I can't, Jeff. I mean, there isn't anything. Wait till those people come -back again. You'll be here, won't you? They're coming to-morrow." - -"You bet I will! I'll see what I can do with old curmudgeon. You know I'm -argumentative." - -"That won't do any good with Appleby. What he wants is help from dad. If -he doesn't get that, he'll punish us all." - -"And he can't get that, for your dad won't give it. So it looks as if we -must all take our punishment. Well, we're prepared." - -"You wouldn't speak so lightly if you knew everything!" - -"That's why I ask you to tell me everything. Do, Maida, I'm sure I can -help you." - -"Wait till they come," was all Maida would say in response to his -repeated requests. - -And at last they came. - -Smiling and hearty, Samuel Appleby reëntered the Wheeler home, apparently -as self-assured and hopeful as when he left it. - -Keefe was courteous and polite as always and Genevieve Lane was prettier -than ever by reason of some new Boston-bought clothes. - -Allen was introduced to the newcomers and sized up by one glance of -Samuel Appleby's keen eyes. Privately he decided that this young man was -a very formidable rival of his son. But he greeted Allen with great -cordiality, which Jeff thought it best to return, although he felt an -instinctive dislike for the man's personality. - -"Come along with me, Maida," and with daring familiarity, Genevieve put -her hand through Maida's arm and drew her toward the stairs. "I have the -same room, I s'pose," she babbled on; "I've lots of new things I want to -show you. And," she added as they entered the room, and she closed the -door, "I want a talkfest with you before the others begin." - -"What about?" asked Maida, feeling the subject would be one of -importance. - -"Well, it's just this. And don't be too shocked if I speak right out in -meetin'. I've determined to marry into this bunch that I'm working for." - -"Have you?" laughed Maida. "Are they equally determined?" - -"I'm not joking--I'm in dead earnest. A poor girl has got to do the best -she can for herself in this cold world. Well, I'm going to corral one of -the three: old man Appleby, young man Appleby, or Curt Keefe." - -"Which one, for choice?" Maida still spoke lightly. - -"You don't think I'm in earnest, but I am. Well, I'd rather have young -Sam. Next, I'd choose his father; and, lastly, I'm pretty sure I could -nail Curtie Keefe." - -Maida couldn't help her disapproval showing in her face, but she said: -"It isn't just the way I'd go about selecting a husband, but if it's your -way, all right. Can I help you?" - -"Do you mean that?" - -"Why, yes, if I can do anything practical." - -"Oh, you can! It's only to keep off the grass, regarding young Sam." - -"You mean not to try to charm him myself?" - -"Just about that. And I'll tell you why I say this. It seems old Appleby -has about made up his mind that you're the right and proper mate for -young Appleby. Oh, you needn't draw yourself up in that haughty -fashion--he's good enough for you, Miss!" - -"I didn't say he wasn't," and Maida laughed in spite of herself at -Genevieve's manner. "But, truly, I don't want him. You see I'm engaged to -Mr. Allen." - -"I know it, but that cuts no ice with Pa Appleby. He plans to oust Mr. -Allen and put his son in his place." - -"Oh, he does, does he?" Maida's heart sank, for she had anticipated -something like this. "Am I to be consulted?" - -"Now, look here, Maida Wheeler. You needn't take that attitude, for it -won't get you anywhere. You don't know Mr. Appleby as I do. What he says -goes--_goes_, understand?" - -Maida went white. "But such a thing as you speak of won't go!" she -exclaimed. - -"I'm not sure it won't, if he so ordains it," Miss Lane said, gravely. -"But I just wanted your assurance that you don't hanker after Sammy-boy, -so I can go ahead and annex him myself." - -"In defiance of Mr. Appleby's intents?" - -"I may be able to circumvent him. I'm some little schemer myself. And he -may die." - -"What?" - -"Yep. He has an unsatisfactory heart, and it may go back on him at any -minute." - -"What a thing to bank on!" - -"It may happen all the same. But I've other irons in the fire. Run along, -now; I've work to do. You're a dear girl, Maida, and the time may come -when I can help you." - -The round, rosy-cheeked face looked very serious, and Maida said, -gratefully: "I may be very glad of such help, Genevieve." - -Then she went away. - -Samuel Appleby was lying in wait for her. - -"Here you are, my girl," he said, as she came downstairs. "Come for a -ramble with me, won't you?" - -And, knowing that the encounter was inevitable, Maida went. - -Appleby wasted no time in preliminaries. - -"I've got to go home to-morrow morning," he said. "I've got to have this -matter of your father's help in the campaign settled before I go." - -"I thought it was settled," returned Maida, calmly. "You know he will -never give you the help you ask. And oh, please, Mr. Appleby, won't you -give up the question? You have ruined my father's life--all our lives; -won't you cease bothering him, and, whether you let him get his full -pardon or not, won't you stop trying to coerce his will?" - -"No; I will not. You are very pleading and persuasive, my girl, but I -have my own ax to grind. Now, here's a proposition. If you--I'll speak -plainly--if you will consent to marry my son, I'll get your father's full -pardon, and I'll not ask for his campaign support." - -Maida gasped. All her troubles removed at once--but at such a price! She -thought of Allen, and a great wave of love surged over her. - -"Oh, I can't--I can't," she moaned. "What _are_ you, Mr. Appleby? I love -my chosen mate, my _fiancé_, Jeffrey Allen. Would you ask me to give him -up and marry your son, whom I esteem highly, but do not love?" - -"Certainly; I ask just that. You are free to say yes or no!" - -"Then, I say no. There _must_ be some other way! Give me some other -chance, even though it be a harder one!" - -"All right, I will." Mr. Appleby's face was hard now, his lips set in a -straight line; he was about to play his last card. "All right, I will. -Here it is. The other heir, of whom I spoke to you the other day, is -Curtis Keefe." - -"Mr. Keefe!" - -"Yes--but wait--he doesn't know it. I hit upon a clue in his chance -reference to his mother's family, and unknown to him I investigated -genealogies and all that, and it is positive, he is the heir to all this -estate, and not your mother." - -"You're sure?" - -"Yes, absolutely certain. But, remember, he doesn't know it. He has no -idea of such a thing. Now, if you'll marry Sam, Keefe shall _never_ know. -I'll burn all the papers that I have in evidence. You and I will forget -the secret, and your father and mother can rest in undisturbed possession -here for the rest of their lives." - -"And you wouldn't insist on father's campaign work?" - -"If you marry my son, I rather think your father will lend his aid--at -least in some few matters, without urging. But he shall not be urged -beyond his wishes, rest assured of that. In a word, Maida, all that you -want or desire shall be yours except your choice of a husband. And I'll -wager that inside of a year, you'll be wondering what you ever saw in -young Allen, and rejoicing that you are the wife of the governor -instead!" - -"I can't do it--oh, _I can't!_ And, then, too, there's Mr. Keefe--and the -heirship!" - -"Mr. Keefe and the airship!" exclaimed Curtis Keefe himself, as he came -round the corner and met them face to face. "Am I to go up in an airship? -And when?" - -Appleby flashed a quick glance at Maida, which she rightly interpreted to -mean to let Keefe rest unenlightened as to his error. - -"You're not the Mr. Keefe we meant," said Appleby, smiling at his -secretary. "There are others." - -And then Appleby walked away, feeling his best plan was to let Maida -think things over. - -"What Keefe is going up in an airship?" Curt insisted, his curiosity -aroused. - -"I don't know," said Maida, listlessly. "Mr. Appleby was telling me some -airship yarn. I didn't half listen. I--I can't bear that man!" - -"I can't blame you for that, Miss Wheeler. But we're going away -to-morrow, and he'll be out of your way." - -"No; he has me in a trap. He has arranged it so--oh, what am I saying!" - -"Don't go on, if you feel you might regret it. Of course, as Mr. -Appleby's confidential secretary, I know most of his affairs. May I say -that I'm very sorry for you, and may I offer my help, if you can use me -in any way?" - -"How kind you are, Mr. Keefe. But if you know the details of the matter, -you know that I am in a fearful dilemma. Oh, if only that man were out of -existence!" - -"Oh, Miss Wheeler," and Keefe looked undisguisedly shocked. - -"I don't mean anything wrong," Maida's eyes were piteous, "but I don't -know what to do! I've no one to confide in--no way to turn for help--for -advice----" - -"Why, Miss Wheeler, you have parents, friends----" - -"No one that I can speak to! Forgive me, Mr. Keefe, but I am nearly out -of my mind. Forgive me, if I ask you to leave me--will you?" - -"Of course, you poor child! I ought to have sensed that I was intruding!" - -With a courteous bow, he walked away, leaving Maida alone on the seat -beneath the old sycamore. - -She thought long and deeply. She seemed to grow older and more matured of -judgment as she dealt with the big questions in her mind. - -After a long time she came to her decision. Torn and wracked with -emotions, she bravely faced the many-sided situation, and made up her -mind. Then she got up and walked into the house. - -That afternoon, about five o'clock, Appleby and Wheeler sat in the -latter's den, talking over the same old subject. Maida, hidden in the -window-seat, was listening. They did not know she was there, but they -would not have cared. They talked of nothing she did not already know. - -Appleby grew angry and Wheeler grew angry. The talk was coming to a -climax, both men were holding on to their tempers, but it was clear one -or the other must give way soon. - -Jeffrey Allen, about to go in search of Maida, saw a wisp of smoke -curling from the garage, which from his seat on the north veranda was in -plain view. - -He ran toward the smoke, shouting "Fire!" as he ran, and in a few minutes -the garage was ablaze. The servants gathered about, Mrs. Wheeler looked -from her bedroom window, and Keefe joined Allen in attempts to subdue the -flames. - -And with the efficient help of two chauffeurs and other willing workers -the fire was soon reduced to a smouldering heap of ashes. - -Allen ran, then, to the den, to tell them there that the danger was past. - -He entered to see Samuel Appleby dead in his chair, with a bullet through -his heart. Daniel Wheeler stood beside him, gazing distractedly at the -dead man. Maida, white and trembling, was half hidden as she stood just -inside the curtains of the window. - -Not realizing that there was no hope of life, Allen shouted for help, and -tore open Appleby's coat to feel his heart. - -"He's quite dead," he said, in an awe-stricken tone. "But, we must get a -doctor at once!" - -"I'll telephone," spoke up Genevieve's quiet voice, and with her usual -efficiency, she found the number and called the doctor. - -"Now the police?" she went on, as if such matters belonged to her -province. - -"Certainly," said Curtis Keefe, who stood by his late employer, taking -charge, by common consent. - -"Who killed him?" said Genevieve, in a hushed tone, as she left the -telephone. - -All looked from one to another, but nobody replied. - -Mrs. Wheeler came to the doorway. - -"I knew it!" she cried; "the phantom bugler!" - -"But the phantom bugler didn't kill him," said Genevieve, "and we must -find out who did!" - - - - - CHAPTER VII - INQUIRIES - - -Late the same evening the Wheeler family and their guests were gathered -in the living-room. Much had been done in the past few hours. The family -doctor had been there, the medical examiner had been called and had given -his report, and the police had come and were still present. - -Samuel Appleby, junior--though no longer to be called by that -designation--was expected at any moment. - -Two detectives were there, but one, Hallen by name, said almost nothing, -seeming content to listen, while his colleague conducted the questioning -of the household. - -Burdon, the talkative one, was a quick-thinking, clear-headed chap, -decided of manner and short of speech. - -"Now, look here," he was saying, "this was an inside job, of course. -Might have been one of the servants, or might have been any of you folks. -How many of you are ready to help me in my investigations by telling all -you know?" - -"I thought we had to do that, whether we're ready to or not," spoke up -Genevieve, who was not at all abashed by the presence of the authorities. -"Of course, we'll all tell all we know--we want to find the murderer just -as much as you do." - -Keefe looked at her with a slight frown of reproof, but said nothing. The -others paid no attention to the girl's rather forward speech. - -In fact, everybody seemed dazed and dumb. The thing was so sudden and so -awful--the possibilities so many and so terrible--that each was aghast at -the situation. - -The three Wheelers said nothing. Now and then they looked at one another, -but quickly looked away, and preserved their unbroken silence. - -Jeffrey Allen became the spokesman for them. It seemed inevitable--for -some one must answer the first leading questions; and though Curtis Keefe -and Miss Lane were in Appleby's employ, the detective seemed more -concerned with the Wheeler family. - -"Bad blood, wasn't there, between Mr. Appleby and Mr. Wheeler?" Burdon -inquired. - -"They had not been friends for years," Allen replied, straightforwardly, -for he felt sure there was nothing to be gained by misrepresentation. - -"Huh! What was the trouble, Mr. Wheeler?" - -Daniel Wheeler gave a start. Then, pulling himself together, he answered -slowly: "The trouble was that Mr. Appleby and myself belonged to -different political parties, and when I opposed his election as governor, -he resented it, and a mutual enmity followed which lasted ever since." - -"Did you kill Mr. Appleby?" - -Wheeler looked at his questioner steadily, and replied: "I have nothing -to say." - -"That's all right, you don't have to incriminate yourself." - -"He didn't kill him!" cried Maida, unable to keep still. "I was there, in -the room--I could see that he didn't kill him!" - -"Who did then?" and the detective turned to her. - -"I--I don't know. I didn't see who did it." - -"Are you sure, Miss? Better tell the truth." - -"I tell you I didn't see--I didn't see anything! I had heard an alarm of -fire, and I was wondering where it was." - -"You didn't get up and go to find out?" - -"No--no, I stayed where I was." - -"Where were you?" - -"In the window-seat--in the den." - -"Meaning the room where the shooting occurred?" - -"Yes. My father's study." - -"And from where you sat, you could see the whole affair?" - -"I might have--if I had looked--but I didn't. I was reading." - -"Thought you were wondering about the fire?" - -"Yes," Maida was quite composed now. "I raised my eyes from my book when -I heard the fire excitement." - -"What sort of excitement?" - -"I heard people shouting, and I heard men running. I was just about to go -out toward the north veranda, where the sounds came from, when I---- I -can't go on!" and Maida broke down and wept. - -"You must tell your story--maybe it'd be easier now than later. Can't you -go on, Miss Wheeler?" - -"There's little to tell. I saw Mr. Appleby fall over sideways----" - -"Didn't you hear the shot?" - -"No--yes--I don't know." Maida looked at her father, as if to gain help -from his expression, but his face showed only agonized concern for her. - -"Dear child," he said, "tell the truth. Tell just what you saw--or -heard." - -"I didn't hear anything--I mean the noise from the people running to the -fire so distracted my attention, I heard no shot or any sound in the -room. I just saw Mr. Appleby fall over----" - -"You're not giving us a straight story, Miss Wheeler," said the -detective, bluntly. "Seems to me you'd better begin all over." - -"Seems to me you'd better cease questioning Miss Wheeler," said Curtis -Keefe, looking sympathetically at Maida; "she's just about all in, and I -think she's entitled to some consideration." - -"H'm. Pretty hard to find the right one to question. Mrs. Wheeler, -now--I'd rather not trouble her too much." - -"Talk to me," said Allen. "I can tell you the facts, and you can draw -your deductions afterward." - -"Me, too," said Keefe. "Ask us the hard questions, and then when you need -to, inquire of the Wheelers. Remember, they're under great nervous -strain." - -"Well, then," Burdon seemed willing to take the advice, "you start in, -Mr. Keefe. You're Mr. Appleby's secretary, I believe?" - -"Yes; we were on our way back to his home in Stockfield--we expected to -go there to-morrow." - -"You got any theory of the shooting?" - -"I've nothing to found a theory on. I was out at the garage helping to -put out a small fire that had started there." - -"How'd it start?" - -"I don't know. In the excitement that followed, I never thought to -inquire." - -"Tell your story of the excitement." - -"I was at the garage with Mr. Allen, and two chauffeurs--the Wheelers' -man and Mr. Appleby's man. Together, and with the help of a gardener or -two, we put the fire out. Then Mr. Allen said: 'Let's go to the house and -tell them there's no danger. They may be worried.' Mr. Allen started off -and I followed. He preceded me into the den----" - -"Then you tell what you saw there, Mr. Allen." - -"I saw, first of all," began Jeffrey, "the figure of Mr. Appleby sitting -in a chair, near the middle of the room. His head hung forward limply, -and his whole attitude was unnatural. The thought flashed through my mind -that he had had a stroke of some sort, and I went to him--and I saw he -was dead." - -"You knew that at once?" - -"I judged so, from the look on his face and the helpless attitude. Then I -felt for his heart and found it was still." - -"You a doctor?" - -"No; but I've had enough experience to know when a man is dead." - -"All right. What was Mr. Wheeler doing?" - -"Nothing. He stood on the other side of the room, gazing at his old -friend." - -"And Miss Wheeler?" - -"She, too, was looking at the scene. She stood in the bay window." - -"I see. Now, Mr. Keefe, I believe you followed close on Mr. Allen's -heels. Did you see the place--much as he has described it?" - -"Yes;" Keefe looked thoughtful. "Yes, I think I can corroborate every -word of his description." - -"All right. Now, Miss Lane, where were you?" - -"I was at the fire. I followed the two men in, and I saw the same -situation they have told you of." - -Genevieve's quiet, composed air was a relief after the somewhat excited -utterances of the others. - -"What did you do?" - -"I am accustomed to wait on Mr. Appleby, and it seemed quite within my -province that I should telephone for help for him. I called the -doctor--and then I called the police station." - -"You don't think you took a great deal on yourself?" - -Genevieve stared at him. "I do not think so. I only think that I did my -duty as I saw it, and in similar circumstances I should do the same -again." - -At this point the other detective was heard from. - -"I would like to ask," Hallen said, "what Mrs. Wheeler meant by crying -out that it was the work of a 'phantom burglar'?" - -"Not burglar--bugler," said Mrs. Wheeler, suddenly alert. - -"Bugler!" Hallen stared. "Please explain, ma'am." - -"There is a tradition in my family," Mrs. Wheeler said, in a slow, sad -voice, "that when a member of the family is about to die, a phantom -bugler makes an appearance and sounds 'taps' on his bugle. This -phenomenon occurred last night." - -"Oh, no! Spooks! But Mr. Appleby is not a member of your family." - -"No; but he was under our roof. And so I know the warning was meant for -him." - -"Well, well, we can't waste time on such rubbish," interposed Burdon, -"the bugle call had nothing to do with the case." - -"How do you explain it, then?" asked Mrs. Wheeler. "We all heard it, and -there's no bugler about here." - -"Cut it out," ordered Burdon. "Take up the bugler business some other -time, if you like--but we must get down to brass tacks now." - -His proceedings were interrupted, however, by the arrival of young Samuel -Appleby. - -The big man came in and a sudden hush fell upon the group. - -Daniel Wheeler rose--and put out a tentative hand, then half withdrew it -as if he feared it would not be accepted. - -Hallen watched this closely. He strongly suspected Wheeler was the -murderer, but he had no intention of getting himself in bad by jumping at -the conclusion. - -However, Appleby grasped the hand of his host as if he had no reason for -not doing so. - -"I'm sorry, sir, you should have had this tragedy beneath your roof," he -said. - -Hallen listened curiously. It was strange he should adopt an apologetic -tone, as if Wheeler had been imposed upon. - -"Our sorrow is all for you, Sam," Dan Wheeler returned, and then as -Appleby passed on to greet Maida and her mother, Wheeler sank back in his -chair and was again lost in thought. - -The whole scene was one of constraint. Appleby merely nodded to -Genevieve, and spoke a few words to Keefe, and then asked to see his -father. - -On his return to the living-room, he had a slightly different air. He was -a little more dictatorial, more ready to advise what to do. - -"The circumstances are distressing," he said, "and I know, Mr. Wheeler, -you will agree with me that we should take my father back to his home as -soon as possible. - -"That will be done to-morrow morning--as soon as the necessary -formalities can be attended to. Now, anything I can do for you people, -must be done to-night." - -"You can do a lot," said Burdon. "You can help us pick out the -murderer--for, I take it, you want justice done?" - -"Yes--yes, of course." Appleby looked surprised. "Of course I want this -deed avenged. But I can't help in the matter. I understand you suspect -some one of the--the household. Now, I shall never be willing to accuse -any one of this deed. If it can be proved the work of an outsider--a -burglar or highwayman--or intruder of any sort, I am ready to -prosecute--but if suspicion rests on--on anyone I know--I shall keep out -of it." - -"You can't do that, Mr. Appleby," said Hallen; "you've got to tell all -you know." - -"But I don't know anything! I wasn't here!" - -"You know about motives," Hallen said, doggedly. "Tell us now, who bore -your father any ill-will, and also had opportunity to do the shooting?" - -"I shan't pretend I don't know what you're driving at," and Appleby spoke -sternly, "but I've no idea that Mr. Daniel Wheeler did this deed. I know -he and my father were not on friendly terms, but you need more evidence -than that to accuse a man of murder." - -"We'll look after the evidence," Hallen assured him. "All you need tell -about is the enmity between the two men." - -"An enmity of fifteen years' standing," Appleby said, slowly, "is not apt -to break out in sudden flame of crime. I am not a judge nor am I a -detective, but until Mr. Wheeler himself confesses to the deed, I shall -never believe he shot my father." - -Wheeler looked at the speaker in a sort of dumb wonder. - -Maida gazed at him with eyes full of thankfulness, and the others were -deeply impressed by the just, even noble, attitude of the son of the -victim of the tragedy. - -But Hallen mused over this thing. He wondered why Appleby took such an -unusual stand, and decided there was something back of it about which he -knew nothing as yet. And he determined to find out. - -"We can get in touch with you at any time, Mr. Appleby?" he asked. - -"Oh, yes, of course. After a few days--after my father's funeral, I will -be at your disposal. But as I've said, I know nothing that would be of -any use as evidence. Do you need to keep Mr. Keefe and Miss Lane for any -reason?" - -"Why, I don't think so," the detective said. "Not longer than to-morrow, -anyhow. I'll take their depositions, but they have little testimony to -give. However, you're none of you very far away." - -"No; you can always get us at Stockfield. Mr. Keefe will probably be -willing to stay on and settle up my father's affairs, and I know we shall -be glad of Miss Lane's services for a time." Appleby glanced at the two -as he spoke, and they nodded. - -"Well, we're going to stay right here," and Burdon spoke decidedly. -"Whatever the truth of the matter may be, it's clear to be seen that -suspicion must naturally point toward the Wheeler family, or some -intruder. Though how an intruder could get in the room, unseen by either -Mr. Wheeler or his daughter, is pretty inexplicable. But those things -we're here to find out. And we'll do it, Mr. Appleby. I'm taking it for -granted you want the criminal found?" - -"Oh--I say, Mr.--er--Burdon, have a little common decency! Don't come at -me with questions of that sort, when I'm just about knocked out with this -whole fearful occurrence! Have a heart, man, give me time to realize my -loss, before you talk to me of avenging it!" - -"That's right," said Curt Keefe. "I think Mr. Appleby deserves more -consideration. Suppose we excuse him for the night." - -Somewhat reluctantly the detective was brought to consent, and then -Daniel Wheeler asked that he and his wife and daughter also be excused -from further grilling that night. - -"We're not going to run away," he said, pathetically. "We'll meet you in -the morning, Mr. Burdon, but please realize our stunned condition at -present." - -"My mother must be excused," Maida put in. "I am sure she can stand no -more," and with a solicitous care, she assisted Mrs. Wheeler to rise from -her chair. - -"Yes, I am ill," the elder woman said, and so white and weak did she look -that no one could doubt her word. - -The three Wheelers went to their room, and Genevieve Lane went off with -them, leaving Allen and Keefe, with Sam Appleby, to face the two -detectives' fire of questions. - -"You vamoose, too, Sam," Keefe advised. "There's no use in your staying -here and listening to harrowing details. Mr. Allen and I will have a talk -with the detectives, and you can talk to-morrow morning, if you wish." - -"All right," and Appleby rose. "But, look here, Keefe. I loved and -respected my father, and I revere his memory--and, yes, I want justice -done--of course, but, all the same, if Wheeler shot dad, I don't want -that poor old chap prosecuted. You know, I never fully sympathized with -father's treatment of him, and I'd like to make amends to Wheeler by -giving him the benefit of the doubt--if it can be done." - -"It can't be done!" declared Burdon, unwilling to agree to this heresy. -"The law can't be set aside by personal sympathy, Mr. Appleby!" - -"Well, I only said, if it can be," and the man wearily turned and left -the room. - -"Now, then," said Keefe, "let's talk this thing out. I know your -position, Allen, and I'm sorry for you. And I want to say, right now, if -I can help in any way, I will. I like the Wheelers, and I must say I -subscribe to the ideas of Sam Appleby. But all that's up to the -detectives. I've got to go away to-morrow, so I'm going to ask you, Mr. -Burdon, to get through with me to-night. I've lots to do at the other end -of the route, and I must get busy. But I do want to help here, too. So, -at any rate, fire your questions at me--that is, if you know what you -want to ask." - -"I'll ask one, right off, Mr. Keefe," and Hallen spoke mildly but -straightforwardly. "Can you give me any fact or suggest to me any theory -that points toward any one but Mr. Daniel Wheeler as the murderer of -Samuel Appleby?" - -Curtis Keefe was dismayed. What could he reply to this very definite -question? A negative answer implicated Wheeler at once--while a "yes," -would necessitate the disclosure of another suspect. And Keefe was not -blind to the fact that Hallen's eyes had strayed more than once toward -Maida Wheeler with a curious glance. - -Quickly making up his mind, Keefe returned: "No fact, but a theory based -on my disbelief in Mr. Wheeler's guilt, and implying the intrusion of -some murderous-minded person." - -"Meaning some marauder?" Hallen looked disdainful. - -"Some intruder," Keefe said. "I don't know who, or for what reason, but I -don't think it fair to accuse Mr. Wheeler without investigating every -possible alternative." - -"There are several alternatives," Burdon declared; "I may as well say -right out, that I've no more definite suspicion of Mr. Wheeler than I -have of Mrs. Wheeler or Miss Wheeler." - -"What!" and Jeffrey Allen looked almost murderous himself. - -"Don't get excited, sir. It's my business to suspect. Suspicion is not -accusation. You must admit all three of the Wheeler family had a motive. -That is, they would, one and all, have been glad to be released from the -thrall in which Mr. Appleby held them. And no one else present had a -motive! I might suspect you, Mr. Allen, but that you were at the fire at -the time, according to the direct testimony of Mr. Keefe." - -"Oh, yes, we were at the fire, all right," Allen agreed, "and I'd knock -you down for saying to me what you did, only you are justified. I would -far rather be suspected of the murder of Mr. Appleby than to have any of -the Wheelers suspected. But owing to Keefe's being an eye-witness of me -at the time, I can't falsify about it. However, you may set it right down -that none of the three Wheelers did do it, and I'll prove it!" - -"Go to it, Allen," Keefe cried. "I'll help." - -"You're two loyal friends of the Wheeler family," said Hallen in his -quiet way, "but you can't put anything over. There's no way out. I know -all about the governor's pardon and all that. I know the feud between the -two men was beyond all hope of patching up. And I know that to-night had -brought about a climax that had to result in tragedy. If Wheeler hadn't -killed Appleby--Appleby would have killed Wheeler." - -"Self-defence?" asked Allen. - -"No, sir, not that. But one or the other had to be out of the running. I -know the whole story, and I know what men will do in a political crisis -that they wouldn't dream of at any other time. Wheeler's the guilty -party--unless--well, unless that daughter of his----" - -"Hush!" cried Allen. "I won't stand for it!" - -"I only meant that the girl's great love and loyalty to her father might -have made her lose her head----" - -"No; she didn't do it," said Allen, more quietly. "Oh, I say, man, let's -try to find this intruder that Mr. Keefe has----" - -"Has invented!" put in Burdon. "No, gentlemen, they ain't no such -animile! Now, you tell me over again, while I take it down, just what you -two saw when you came to the door of that den, as they call it." - -And so Allen and Keefe reluctantly, but truthfully, again detailed the -scene that met their eyes as they returned from the fire they had put -out. - -"The case is only too plain," declared Burdon, as he snapped a rubber -band over his notebook. "Sorry, gentlemen, but your story leaves no -loophole for any other suspect than one of the three Wheelers. -Good-night." - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - CONFESSION - - -Before Sam Appleby left the next morning, he confided to Keefe that he -had little if any faith in the detective prowess of the two men -investigating the case. - -"When I come back," he said, "I may bring a real detective, and--I may -not. I want to think this thing over first--and, though I may be a queer -Dick, I'm not sure I want the slayer of my father found." - -"I see," and Keefe nodded his head understandingly. - -But Jeffrey Allen demurred. "You say that, Mr. Appleby, because you think -one of the Wheeler family is the guilty party. But I know better. I know -them so well----" - -"Not as well as I do," interrupted Appleby, "and neither do you know all -the points of the feud that has festered for so many years. If you'll -take my advice, Mr. Allen, you'll delay action until my return, at -least." - -"The detectives won't do that," objected Jeffrey. - -"The detectives will run round in circles and get nowhere," scoffed -Appleby. "I shall be back as soon as possible, and I don't mind telling -you now that there will be no election campaign for me." - -"What!" exclaimed Curtis Keefe. "You're out of the running?" - -"Positively! I may take it up again some other year, but this campaign -will not include my name." - -"My gracious!" exclaimed Genevieve, who knew a great deal about current -politics. "Who'll take your place?" - -"A dark horse, likely," returned Appleby, speaking in an absorbed, -preoccupied manner, as if caring little who fell heir to his candidacy. - -"I don't agree with you, Mr. Appleby," spoke up Jeff Allen, "as to the -inefficiency of the two men on this case. Seems to me they're doing all -they can, and I can't help thinking they may get at the truth." - -"All right, if they get at the truth, but it's my opinion that the truth -of this matter is not going to be so easily discovered, and those two -bunglers may do a great deal of harm. Good-bye, Maida, keep up a good -heart, my girl." - -The group on the veranda said good-bye to Sam Appleby, and he turned back -as he stepped into the car to say: - -"I'll be back as soon as the funeral is over, and until then, be careful -what you say--all of you." - -He looked seriously at Maida, but his glance turned toward the den where -Mr. Wheeler sat in solitude. - -"I heard him," stormed Burdon, as the car drove away, and the detective -came around the corner of the veranda. "I heard what he said about me and -Hallen. Well, we'll show him! Of course, the reason he talks like -that----" - -"Don't tell us the reason just now," interrupted Keefe. "We men will have -a little session of our own, without the ladies present. There's no call -for their participation in our talk." - -"That's right," said Allen. "Maida, you and Miss Lane run away, and we'll -go to the den for a chat." - -"No, not there," objected Burdon. "Come over and sit under the big -sycamore." - -And so, beneath the historic tree, the three men sat down for a serious -talk. Hallen soon joined them, but he said little. - -"I'm leaving myself, soon after noon," said Keefe. "I'll be back in a day -or two, but there are matters of importance connected with Mr. Appleby's -estate that must be looked after." - -"I should think there must be!" exclaimed Burdon. "I don't see how you -can leave to come back very soon." - -Keefe reddened slightly, for the real reason for his intended return was -centred in Maida Wheeler's charm, to which he had incontinently -succumbed. He knew Allen was her suitor, but his nature was such that he -believed in his own powers of persuasion to induce the girl to transfer -her affections to his more desirable self. - -But he only looked thoughtfully at Burdon and said: "There are matters -here, also, that require attention in Mr. Appleby's interests." - -"Well," Burdon went on, "as to the murder, there's no doubt that it was -the work of one of the three Wheelers. Nobody else had any reason to wish -old Appleby out of the world." - -"You forget me," said Allen, in a tense voice. "My interests are one with -the Wheelers. If they had such a motive as you ascribe to them--I had the -same." - -"Don't waste time in such talk," said Curt Keefe. "I saw you, Allen, at -the fire during the whole time that covered the opportunity for the -murder." - -"Of course," agreed Burdon, "I've looked into all that. And so, as I say, -it must have been one member of the Wheeler family, for there's no one -else to suspect." - -"Including Mrs. Wheeler," quietly put in Hallen. - -"How absurd!" flared out Allen. "It's bad enough to suspect the other -two, but to think of Mrs. Wheeler is ridiculous!" - -"Not at all," said Burdon, "she had the same motive--she had -opportunity----" - -"How do you know?" asked Keefe. - -"She ran down from her room at that very moment," stated Burdon. "I have -the testimony of one of the upstairs maids, and, also, I believe Miss -Wheeler saw her mother in the den." - -"Look here," said Hallen, in his slow, drawling tones, "let's reconstruct -the situation. You two men were at the fire--that much is certain--so you -can't be suspected. But all three of the Wheelers had absolute -opportunity, and they had motive. Now, as I look at it--one of those -three was the criminal, and the other two saw the deed. Wherefore, the -two onlookers will do all they can to shield the murderer." - -Keefe stared at him. "You really believe that!" he said. - -"Sure I do! Nobody else had either motive or opportunity. I don't for one -minute believe in an outsider. Who could happen along at that particular -moment, get away with the shooting, and then get away himself?" - -"Why, it could have been done," mused Keefe, and Allen broke in eagerly: - -"Of course it could! There's nothing to prove it impossible." - -"You two say that, because you want it to be that way," said Burdon, -smiling at the two young men. "That's all right--you're both friends of -the family, and can't bear to suspect any one of them. But facts remain. -Now, let's see which of the three it most likely was." - -"The old man," declared Hallen, promptly. - -"Nonsense!" cried Allen. "Mr. Wheeler is incapable of a deed like that! -Why, I've known him for years----" - -"Don't talk about incapable of anything!" said Burdon. "Most murderers -are people whom their friends consider 'incapable of such a deed.' A man -who is generally adjudged 'capable' of it is not found in polite -society." - -"Where's the weapon," asked Keefe, abruptly, "if Mr. Wheeler did it?" - -"Where's the weapon, whoever did it?" countered Burdon. "The weapon -hasn't been found, though I've hunted hard. But that helps to prove it -one of the family, for they would know where to hide a revolver -securely." - -"If it was Mr. Wheeler, he'd have to hide it in the den," said Allen. "He -never goes over to the other side of the house, you know." - -"It isn't in the den," Hallen spoke positively; "I hunted that myself." - -"You seem sure of your statement," said Keefe. "Couldn't you have -overlooked it?" - -"Positively not." - -"No, he couldn't," concurred Burdon. "Hallen's a wonderful hunter. If -that revolver had been hidden in the den, he'd have found it. That's why -I think it was Mrs. Wheeler, and she took it back to her own rooms." - -"Oh, not Mrs. Wheeler!" groaned Jeff Allen. "That dear, sweet woman -couldn't----" - -"Incapable of murder, I s'pose!" ironically said Burdon. "Let me tell -you, sir, many a time a dear, sweet woman has done extraordinary things -for the sake of her husband or children." - -"But what motive would Mrs. Wheeler have?" - -"The same as the others. Appleby was a thorn in their flesh, an enemy of -many years' standing. And I've heard hints of another reason for the -family's hating him, besides that conditional pardon business. But no -matter about that now. What I want is evidence against somebody--against -one of three suspects. Until I get some definite evidence I can't tell -which of the three is most likely the one." - -"Seems to me the fact that Mrs. Wheeler ran downstairs and back again is -enough to indicate some pretty close questioning of her," suggested -Hallen. - -"Oh, please," begged Allen, "she's _so_ upset and distracted----" - -"Of course she is. But that's the reason we must ask her about it now. -When she gets calmed down, and gets a fine yarn concocted, there'll be -small use asking her anything!" - -"I'd tackle the old man first," said Hallen; "I think, on general -principles, he's the one to make inquiries of before you go to the -ladies. Let's go to him now." - -"No;" proposed Burdon, "let's send for him to come here. This is away -from the house, and we can talk more freely." - -"I'll go for him," offered Allen, seeing they were determined to carry -out their plan. - -"Not much!" said Burdon. "You're just aching to put a flea in his ear! -You go for him, Hallen." - -The detective went to the house, and returned with Daniel Wheeler at his -side. - -The suspected man stood straight and held himself fearlessly. Not an old -man, he was grayed with care and trouble, but this morning he seemed -strong and alert as any of them. - -"Put your questions," he said, briefly, as he seated himself on one of -the many seats beneath the old sycamore. - -"First of all, who do you think killed Samuel Appleby?" - -This question was shot at him by Burdon, and all waited in silence for -the answer. - -"I killed him myself," was the straightforward reply. - -"That settles it," said Hallen, "it was one of the women." - -"What do you mean by that?" cried Wheeler, turning quickly toward the -speaker. - -"I mean, that either your wife or daughter did the deed, and you are -taking the crime on yourself to save her." - -"No;" reasserted Dan Wheeler, "you're wrong. I killed Appleby for good -and sufficient reason. I'm not sorry, and I accept my fate." - -"Wait a minute," said Hallen, as Keefe was about to protest; "where was -your daughter, Miss Maida, when you killed your man?" - -"I--I don't know. I think she had gone to the fire--which had just broken -out." - -"You're not sure----" - -"I am not." - -"She had been with you, in the den?" - -"I don't know." - -"Well, I know. She had. She had been sitting in her favorite window-seat, -in the large bay, and was there while you and Mr. Appleby were talking -together. Also, she did not leave the room to go to the fire, for no one -saw her anywhere near the burning garage." - -"As to that, I can't say," went on Wheeler, slowly, "but she was not in -the den, to my knowledge, at the time of the shooting." - -"Very well, let that pass. Now, then, Mr. Wheeler, if you shot Mr. -Appleby, what did you afterward do with your revolver?" - -"I--I don't know." The man's face was convincing. His frank eyes -testified to the truth of his words. "I assure you, I don't know. I was -so--so bewildered--that I must have dropped it--somewhere. I never -thought of it again." - -"But if you had merely dropped it, it must have been found. And it hasn't -been." - -"Somebody else found it and secreted it," suggested Hallen. "Probably Mr. -Wheeler's wife or daughter." - -"Perhaps so," assented Wheeler, calmly. "They might have thought to help -me by secreting it. Have you asked them?" - -"Yes, and they deny all knowledge of it." - -"So do I. But surely it will be found." - -"It must be found. And, therefore, it is imperative that the rooms of the -ladies as well as your own rooms, sir, be thoroughly searched." - -"All right--go ahead and search!" Wheeler spoke sharply. "I've confessed -the crime, now waste no time in useless chattering. Get the evidence, get -the proofs, and let the law take its course." - -"You will not leave the premises," put in Hallen, and his tone was that -of command rather than inquiry. - -"I most certainly shall not," declared Wheeler. "But I do ask you, -gentlemen, to trouble and annoy my wife and daughter as little as -possible. Their grief is sufficient reason for their being let alone." - -"H'm," grunted Burdon. "Well, sir, I can promise not to trouble the -ladies more than is necessary--but I can't help feeling necessity will -demand a great deal." - -Mrs. Wheeler was next interviewed, and the confab took place in her own -sitting-room. - -None of her family was allowed to be present, and the four men filed into -the room with various expressions of face. The two detectives were -stolid-looking, but eagerly determined to do their work, while Allen and -Keefe were alertly interested in finding out some way to be of help to -Mrs. Wheeler. - -She received the men quietly, even graciously, sensing what they had come -for. - -"To start with, Mrs. Wheeler," said Burdon, frankly but not unkindly, -"who do you think killed Mr. Appleby?" - -"Oh--I don't know--I don't know," she wailed, losing her calm and -becoming greatly agitated. - -"Where were you when the shot was fired?" asked Hallen. - -"I don't know--I didn't hear it----" - -"Then you were up in your own room?" - -"I suppose so--I don't know." - -"You were up there when the fire broke out?" - -"Yes--I think I was----" - -"But you must know, Mrs. Wheeler--that is, you must know where you were -when you first heard of the fire----" - -"Yes, yes; I was up in my bedroom." - -"And who told you of the fire?" - -"My maid--Rachel." - -"And then what did you do?" - -"I--I--I don't remember." - -"You ran downstairs, didn't you?" - -"I don't remember----" - -"Yes, you did!" Burdon took up the reins. "You ran downstairs, and just -as you got down to the den you saw--you saw your husband shoot Mr. -Appleby!" - -His harsh manner, as he intended, frightened the nervous woman, and -reduced her to the verge of collapse. - -But after a gasping moment, she recovered herself, and cried out: "I did -not! I shot Mr. Appleby myself. That's why I'm so agitated." - -"I knew it!" exclaimed Burdon. "Mr. Wheeler's confession was merely to -save his wife. Now, Mrs. Wheeler, I believe your story, and I want all -the particulars. First, why did you kill him?" - -"Be--because he was my husband's enemy--and I had stood it as long as I -could." - -"H'm. And what did you do with the weapon you used?" - -"I threw it out of the window." - -"And it dropped on the lawn?" - -"Not dropped; I threw it far out--as far as I could." - -"Oh, I see. Out of which window?" - -"Why--why, the one in the den--the bay window." - -"But your daughter--Miss Maida--was sitting in the bay window." - -"No, she was not," Mrs. Wheeler spoke emphatically now. "She was not in -the room at all. She had gone to the fire." - -"Oh, is that so? And then--what happened next?" - -"Why--nothing. I--I ran upstairs again." - -"Appalled at what you had done?" - -"Not appalled--so much as--as----" - -"Unnerved?" - -"Yes; unnerved. I fell on my bed, and Rachel looked after me." - -"Ah, yes; we will interview Rachel, and so save you further harrowing -details. Come on, men, let's strike while these irons are hot." - -The four filed from the room, and Burdon spoke in a low tone, but -excitedly: - -"Come quickly! There goes Miss Maida across the lawn. We will take her -next. The maid, Rachel, can wait." - -Inwardly rebelling, but urged on by the others, Jeff Allen went along, -and as Burdon stopped Maida, on her quick walk across the lawn, Jeff put -his arm through that of the girl, and said: "Do as they tell you, dear. -It's best to have this matter settled at once." - -Again the party grouped themselves under the old sycamore, and this time -Maida was the target for their queries. - -"Tell me all you know of the case," she said, peremptorily; "then I'll -tell you what I know." - -"We know that the murder was committed by one of you three Wheelers," -said Burdon, brutally. "Now, both your parents have confessed to being -the criminal----" - -"What?" Maida cried, her face white and her eyes big and frightened. - -"Yes, ma'am, just that! Now, what have you to say? Are you going to -confess also?" - -"Of course I am! For I am the real criminal! Can't you see that my father -and mother are both trying to shield me? I did it, because of that awful -man's hold on my father! Take my confession, and do with me what you -will!" - -"Here's a state of things!" cried Burdon, truly surprised at this new -development. - -"The girl is telling the truth," exclaimed Curtis Keefe, not because he -really thought so but his quick mind told him that it would be easier to -get a young girl acquitted than an older person, and he saw the -plausibility of the detectives' theory that it must have been one of the -three Wheelers. - -"All right," Burdon went on, "then, Miss Wheeler, enlighten us as to -details. Where's the weapon?" - -"I don't have to tell you anything except that I did it. Do I, Jeffrey? -Do I, Mr. Keefe?" She looked at these two for help. - -"No, Miss Wheeler," Keefe assured her, "you needn't say a word without -legal advice." - -"But, Maida," Jeffrey groaned, "you didn't do it--you know! You couldn't -have!" - -"Yes, I did, Jeff." Maida's eyes were glittering, and her voice was -steady. "Of course I did. I'd do anything to save father from any more -persecution by that man! And there was to be more! Oh, don't let me talk! -I mustn't!" - -"No, you mustn't," agreed Keefe. "Now, Burdon, you've got three -confessions! What are you going to do with them?" - -"Going to find out which is the true one," answered Burdon, with a dogged -expression. "I knew all the time it was one of the three, and I'm not -surprised that the other two are willing to perjure themselves to save -the criminal." - -"Also, there may have been collusion," suggested Hallen. - -"Of course," the other agreed. "But we'll find out. The whole thing rests -among the three. They must not be allowed to escape----" - -"I've no intention of running away!" said Maida, proudly. - -"No one will run away," opined Hallen, sagaciously. "The criminal will -stand by the other two, and the other two will stand by him." - -"Or her, as the case may be," supplemented Burdon. - -"Her," Maida assured him. "In the first place, my mother was upstairs in -her own room, and my father was not in the den at the time. I was there -alone." - -"Oh, yes, your father was in the den," cried Jeffrey, imploringly. - -"No," said Maida, not catching his meaning. - -But Hallen caught it. - -"Where was Mr. Wheeler?" he asked. - -"I--I don't know," Maida said. - -"Well, if he wasn't in the den, and if he wasn't upstairs, maybe he was -in the big living-room, looking out at the fire." - -"Yes--yes, I think he was!" Maida agreed. - -"Then," Hallen went on, "then, Mr. Wheeler broke his parole--and is due -for punishment." - -"Oh, no," Maida moaned, seeing where her statements had led. "I--I guess -he was in the den--after all." - -"And I guess you're making up as you go along," opined Mr. Hallen. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - COUNTER-CONFESSIONS - - -Before Keefe went away, young Allen had a serious talk with him. - -"I want to ask your advice," Allen said; "shall I confess to that crime?" - -"Man alive, what are you talking about?" Keefe cried, astounded at the -suggestion. - -"Talking sense," Jeffrey stoutly asserted. "I don't believe any one of -those three did it--they're saying they did to shield one another--and -so----" - -"And so, you want to get into the game!" Keefe smiled at him. "You're -very young, my boy, to think such crude methods would get over, even with -such muffs as those two booby sleuths! No, Allen, don't add another -perjury that can be of no possible use. You didn't do the killing, did -you?" - -"Of course not! But neither did the Wheelers!" - -"No one of them?" - -"Certainly not." - -"Who did, then?" - -"I don't know; but you yourself insisted on some marauder." - -"Only to get suspicion away from the family. But there's no hope of -finding any evidence of an outside job. You see, I've made some inquiries -myself, and the servants' tales make it pretty sure that no intruder -could have been here. So, the Wheelers are the only suspects left." - -"And am I not as good for a suspect as they are--if I make due -confession?" - -"No, Allen, you're not. You're in love with Miss Maida----" - -"I'm engaged to her!" - -"All right; don't you see, then, the absurdity of expecting any one to -believe that you, a decent, law-abiding young citizen, would commit a -murder which would positively render impossible a marriage with the girl -you love?" - -"I didn't think of that!" - -"Of course you didn't. But that would make it unlikely that those -detectives would believe your tale for a moment. No, it's ridiculous for -any more people to confess to this murder. Three avowed criminals are -quite enough for the crime!" - -"But none of them really did it." - -"How you harp on that string! Now, look here, Allen, I'm as loath to -believe it as you are, but we must face facts. Those three people had -motive and opportunity. Moreover, they're a most united family, and if -any one thought either of the other two guilty, that one is quite capable -of falsely avowing the crime." - -"Yes--I see that"--Allen spoke impatiently. "What I want to know is, what -we're going to do about it?" - -"There I can't advise you. I have to get away now, but, as I said, I'll -return. I've more than a little taste for investigation myself, and when -I come back, I've no doubt I can hel----" - -"But--Keefe--I don't want you to help--to investigate--if it's going to -prove anything on any of the Wheelers." - -"But you believe them innocent!" - -"Yes; but crime has been fastened on the innocent." - -"Look here, Allen, you do believe them innocent--but you fear your belief -is a mistaken one!" - -"God help me, I do fear that, Keefe! Oh, what can we do?" - -"It's a bad lookout! All I can say now, is, to preserve a non-committal -demeanor, and keep things stationary as much as you can. Maybe when I -come back, we can--well, at least muddle things so----" - -"Complicate the evidence! So that it won't indicate----" - -"Be careful now! You know what compounding a felony means, don't you? Oh, -Allen, you're so young and impulsive, and the Wheelers are so emotional -and indiscreet, I wonder what will happen before I get back!" - -"Somebody ought to be in charge here." - -"Yes, some good lawyer, or some level-headed person who would hold back -those fool detectives, and look out for the interests of the Wheelers." - -"I wish you could stay." - -"I wish so, too, but I'll do all I can to return quickly. And Mr. Wheeler -ought to be able to look after his own affairs!" - -"I know he ought to--but he isn't. Also, I ought to, but I'm not!" - -"Yes you are, Jeffrey," cried Maida, who had happened along in time to -hear the young man's depreciation of himself. - -"Hello, Maida," he turned to her. "What did you mean by making up that -string of falsehoods?" - -"Don't talk about it, Jeff," and the girl's face went white. "If you do, -I shall go mad!" - -"I don't wonder, Miss Wheeler," said Keefe, sympathetically. "Now, as -I've just told Allen, I'm coming back as soon as I can make it, and until -I do, won't you try to hold off those men? Don't let them pound you and -your parents into admissions better left unmade. I'm not asking you any -questions, I've no right to, but I beg of you to keep your own counsel. -If you are shielding someone, say as little as possible. If you are -guilty yourself, say nothing." - -"'Guilty herself!' You've no right to say such a thing!" Allen cried out. - -"Of course I have," Keefe returned, "when I heard Miss Wheeler avow the -crime! But I must go now. Here's the car. Good-bye, both of you, -and--Miss Wheeler, if I may advise, don't confide too much--in anybody." - -The last words were spoken in an aside, and if Allen heard them he gave -no sign. He bade Keefe good-bye with a preoccupied air, and as others -joined them then, he waited till the car started, and then took Maida's -arm and led her away, toward the garden. - -Miss Lane, of course, went with Keefe, and as the girls parted Maida had -suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. - -"I liked Genevieve a lot," she said to Allen, as they walked away. - -"I didn't," he returned. - -"Oh, Jeff, you are so quick to take prejudices against people. I don't -mean I'm specially fond of Genevieve, but she was kind to me, and now I -do seem so alone." - -"Alone, Maida? When you have your parents and me? What do you mean?" - -"I can't tell you, exactly, but I seem to want someone--someone with wide -experience and educated judgment--to whom I can go for advice." - -"Won't I do, dear?" - -"You're kind enough and loving enough--but, Jeff, you don't know things! -I mean, you haven't had experience in--in criminal cases----" - -"Come on, Maida, let's have it out. What about this criminal case of -ours? For it's mine as much as it's yours." - -"Oh, no, it isn't, Jeff. You've nothing to do with it. I must bear my -burden alone--and--I must ask you to release me from our engagement----" - -"Which I will never do! How absurd! Now, Maida mine, if you won't speak -out, I must. I know perfectly well you never killed Mr. Appleby. I know, -too, that you saw either your father or mother kill him and you're trying -to shield the criminal. Very right, too, except that you mustn't keep the -truth from me. How can I help you, dear, unless I know what you're -doing--or trying to do? So, tell me the truth--now." - -"I can't tell you more than I have, Jeff," Maida spoke with a long-drawn -sigh. "You must believe me. And as a--a murderer, I never, of course, -shall marry." - -"Maida, you're a transparent little prevaricator! Don't think I don't -realize the awful situation, for I do, but I can't--I won't let you -sacrifice yourself for either of your parents. I don't ask you which one -it was--in fact, I'd rather you wouldn't tell me--but I do ask you to -believe that I know it wasn't you. Now, drop that foolishness." - -"Jeffrey," and Maida spoke very solemnly, "don't you believe that I could -kill a man? If he was so cruel, so dangerous to my father--my dear -father, that I couldn't stand it another minute, don't you believe I'd be -capable of killing him?" - -"We've spoken of that before, Maida, and I think I said I believed you -would be capable, in a moment of sudden, intense anger and -excitement----" - -"Well, then, why do you doubt my word? I told the detectives--I tell you, -that the moment came--I saw my father, under stress of terrible anger--in -immediate, desperate danger from Samuel Appleby. I--I shot--to kill----" -the girl broke down and Jeffrey took the slender, quivering form in his -arms. - -"All right, sweetheart," he whispered, "don't say another word--I -understand. I don't blame you--how could you think I would! I just want -to help you. How can I best do that?" - -But Maida could not tell him. Her tears, once started, came in torrents. -Her whole frame shook with the intensity of her sobs, and, unable to -control herself at all, she ran from him into the house and up to her own -room. - -"What did you find out?" Burdon asked, coming out from behind a nearby -clump of shrubbery. - -"You sneak, you cad!" Allen cried, but the detective stopped him. - -"Now, look here, Mr. Allen," he said, "we're here to do our duty, said -duty being to discover the perpetrator of a pretty awful crime. You may -be so minded as to let the murderer go scot-free, even help him or her to -make a getaway, but I can't indulge in any such philanthropic scheme. Mr. -Appleby's been foully murdered, and it's up to the law to find out the -killer and see justice done. My job is not a pleasant one, but I've got -to see it through, and that's all there is about that! Now, this case is -what we call open-and-shut. The murderer is sure and positively one of -three people--said three people being known to us. So, I've just got to -use all my powers to discover which of the three I'm really after, and -when I find that out, then make my arrest. But I've no desire to nab the -wrong one." - -"Which one do you think it is?" demanded Allen, angrily. - -"I've got no right nor reason to _think_ it's either one. I've got to -find out for sure, not just think it. So, I ask you what you learned just -now from Miss Wheeler, and why did she run to the house, weeping like a -willow tree?" - -"I found out nothing that would throw any light on your quest, and she -wept because her nerves are strained to the breaking point with worry and -exhaustion." - -"And I don't wonder!" the detective spoke sympathetically. "But all the -same, I'm obliged to keep on investigating, and I must ask you what she -said to you just now." - -Allen thought over the conversation he had had with Maida. Then he said: -"I am telling the truth when I say there was no word said between us that -would be of any real use to you. Miss Wheeler is my _fiancée_, and I -tried to comfort her, and also to assure her anew of my faithfulness and -devotion in her trouble." - -"And what did she say?" - -"Without remembering her words exactly, I think I can state that she said -nothing more than to reiterate that she had killed Mr. Appleby. But I -want to state also, that I believe she said it, as she said it to you, to -shield some one else." - -"Her parents--or, one of them?" - -"That is the reasonable supposition. But I do not accuse either of the -elder Wheelers. I still suspect an intruder from outside." - -"Of course you do. . . . Anybody in your position would. But there was -none such. It was one of the three Wheelers, and I'll proceed to find out -which one." - -"Just how do you propose to find out?" - -"Well, the one that did it is very likely to give it away. It's mighty -difficult to be on your guard every minute, and with one guilty, and two -shielding, and all three knowing, which is which, as I've no doubt they -do, why, it's a cinch that one of the three breaks down through sheer -overcarefulness pretty soon." - -"That's true enough," Allen agreed, ruefully. "Is that your only plan?" - -"Yes, except to look up the weapon. It's a great help, always, to find -the revolver." - -"Hoping to find the criminal's initials on it?" - -"Well, no, they don't mark firearms in real life, as they do in -story-books. But to find the weapon gives a lot of evidence as to where -it was fired from, and what was done with it afterward, and to whom it -belongs. Not that the owner is always the murderer. More often the -reverse is true. But the weapon we want and want pretty badly. By the -way, I'm told that young Appleby is out of the running for governor now -that his father isn't here to help him through." - -"More, I take it, because of his grief for his father's untimely end." - -"Be that as it may, he'll withdraw his name from the candidates." - -"Who told you?" - -"I heard Mr. Keefe telling Miss Lane." - -"You hear a lot, Burdon." - -"I do, Mr. Allen. It's my business to do so. Now, here's another thing. -About that garage fire." - -"Well, what about it?" - -"It was a mighty mysterious fire, that's all. Nobody knows how it -started, or where." - -"They must know where!" - -"Not exactly. It seemed to start in the vicinity of Mr. Appleby's own -car. But there was nothing inflammable around that part of the garage." - -"Well, what does that prove or indicate? Anything prejudicial to the -Wheelers?" - -"Not so far as I can see. Only it's queer, that's all." - -"Perhaps Mr. Appleby kept tobacco and matches in his car." - -"Perhaps so. Anyway, that's where the fire originated, and also about -where it stopped. They soon put it out." - -"Glad they did. I can't see that the fire has any bearing whatever on the -murder." - -"Neither can I, Mr. Allen. But Hallen, now, he thinks it has." - -"Just how?" - -"I can't say. Hallen doesn't know himself. But he says there's a -connection." - -"There may be. But unless it's a connection that will free the Wheelers -from suspicion, it doesn't interest me." - -Allen left the detective, who made no effort to detain him, and went to -the den for a talk with Mr. Wheeler. - -But that gentleman, locked in the room, declared through the closed door -that he would see nobody. - -"Sorry, Jeff," he said, in a kindly tone, "but you must excuse me at -present. Give me the day to myself. I'll see you late this afternoon." - -As it was already noon, Allen made no further attempt at an interview and -went in search of Mrs. Wheeler. It seemed to him he must talk to some of -the family, and he hadn't the heart to disturb Maida, who might be -resting. - -Mrs. Wheeler's maid said that her mistress would see him in a few -minutes. And it was only a few minutes later that the lady came -downstairs and greeted Allen, who awaited her in the living-room. - -"What are we going to do?" she exclaimed to him. "Do help us, Jeff. Did I -do right?" - -"In lying to save some one you love? Yes, I suppose so." - -But Sara Wheeler had very acute hearing. Even as they spoke, she heard a -slight movement on the porch outside, and realized at once that a -detective was listening to her every word. - -Allen couldn't be sure whether this changed her mental attitude or -whether she continued as she had meant to when she began. - -But she said: "Oh, I don't mean that! I mean, did I do right to confess -my crime at once? You know they would discover it sooner or later, and I -thought it would save time and trouble for me to own up immediately." - -"Dear Mrs. Wheeler, don't quibble with me. I know you didn't do it----" - -"Oh, yes, I did, Jeff. Who else could it have been? And, too, you know -about the bugler, don't you?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, that's what made me do it. You see, I thought if a death occurred, -that would be the death the bugler was heralding, and if it wasn't Mr. -Appleby it might have been Dan himself." - -She leaned forward as she spoke, her voice dropped to a mere whisper, and -her large eyes took on a glassy stare, while her white face was drawn and -set with an agonized expression as of a dreadful memory. - -"And you killed Appleby for that reason?" cried Allen. - -"Oh, no--I killed him because--because"--her mind seemed to wander--"oh, -yes," she resumed, "because he was a menace to Dan. To my husband." - -For the first time Allen began to doubt her sanity. Her eyes were wild, -her fingers nervously interlaced and her speech was jerky and stammering. - -"A menace, how?" he asked, softly. - -"In different ways," Mrs. Wheeler returned, in so low a voice that the -listener outside could scarcely hear. "Through me, because of something -he knew; through Maida--because of--of something he wanted; and, of -course, through Dan himself, because of that old conditional pardon." - -"What do you mean about Maida?" Allen caught at the thing that most -impressed him. "Did old Appleby want to marry Maida?" - -"Yes, he did. Of course, neither her father nor I would hear of such a -thing, but Mr. Appleby was an insistent man--insistent and -inexorable--and he wanted Maida----" - -"Mother dear, I want you to come away now," and Maida came into the room. -"Come, you have talked too long. It does no good, to you or to any one -else. Did you call her down, Jeffrey?" - -"Yes," and Allen deeply regretted his act. "But I want to talk to -somebody, Maida. Will you take your mother away--and return?" - -"Yes, I will," and the girl left the room, guiding the slow footsteps of -her mother. - -When she came back, Allen took her out under the old sycamore. - -"Now, Maida," he said, gently, "the truth. No matter what it is, you must -tell me. We are here alone, that eavesdropping detective can't overhear -us, and you must tell me whom you are shielding and the full details for -the crime." - -"I can't tell you all the details, Jeff," the girl returned, "they -include a secret that is not mine to divulge." - -"You can divulge anything in a crisis like this, Maida." - -"No, I cannot. Before he--before he died, Mr. Appleby told me something -that I will never tell, unless my conscience makes me do so." - -"Isn't it a matter of conscience already?" - -"I don't know, Jeff; truly, I can't tell. But much as I am bound by my -principles of right, and you know, dear, I _am_ conscientious, I would -willingly throw them all to the winds if they interfered with my parents' -happiness, well-being or safety." - -"Let me get this straight, Maida. You would stifle your conscience, would -act directly against its dictates for the sake of your parents?" - -"Yes, Jeffrey; right or wrong, that's what I should do." - -"Who am I that I should judge you, dear? I know well your lifelong -submission to your conscience, even when your inclinations were strong -the other way. Now, if you have thrown over principle, honor, conscience -and right, for what you consider a stronger motive, I can only accept -your decision. But I wish you would confide in me more fully. Do you mean -in regard to Mr. Appleby?" - -"Of course I mean in regard to Mr. Appleby. And I'm going to ask you, -Jeff, to believe what I tell you." - -"Of course I'll do that, Maida." - -"No; you won't want to. But I ask you to believe it implicitly and to act -accordingly. Do you promise me this?" - -The girl's face was turned to his, her great, sorrowful eyes were full of -dumb agony and showed unshed tears, but her voice was clear and strong as -of one whose purpose was unshakable. - -"Yes, dear," and Jeffrey took her hands in his and looked deep into her -eyes, whose blank despair haunted him long after, "yes, Maida, I -promise." - -"Well, then, I killed Mr. Appleby, and you must do whatever you think -best for us all. What shall we do first, Jeffrey?" - -And with the clutch of an icy dread at his heart, Allen replied, -brokenly, "I don't know, Maida, darling, but I will find out what is -best, and we will do it----" - - - - - CHAPTER X - THE PHANTOM BUGLER - - -The day after the funeral of Samuel Appleby, Keefe returned to Sycamore -Ridge. - -"I came, Mr. Wheeler," he said, "to offer you my services. I express no -opinion as to who killed Mr. Appleby, but I do know that his son is going -to use every means to discover his father's murderer, and I can't help -thinking you'd be wise to let me take up your case." - -"As a criminal lawyer?" asked Dan Wheeler, quietly. - -"No, sir; as a friend and adviser. If you find you need a criminal -lawyer, I'll suggest one--and a good one. But I mean, I'd like to help -you in a general way, by consultation and advice. You, if you will pardon -me, have lived so long out of the modern world that you are unfitted to -cope with this whole situation. I speak frankly--because I am deeply -interested----" - -"Just why are you so deeply interested, Mr. Keefe?" Wheeler's tone was -kindly but his glance was sharp at his would-be benefactor. - -"I may as well own up," Keefe said, "I am hard hit by your daughter. Oh, -yes, I know she is engaged to young Allen, and I've no hope she would -ever throw him over for me, but I'm anxious to serve her in any way I -can--and I feel pretty sure that I can be of help to you and your -family." - -"Well spoken, young man. And your promises are right. I am out of touch -with the world, and I should be glad indeed of the advice of an -experienced man of business. But, first of all, will you tell me who -_you_ think killed Appleby?" - -"I will, sir. I've no idea it was any of you three people, who have all -confessed to the deed, in order to shield one another." - -"Whom then do you suspect?" - -"An outside intruder. I have held to this theory from the start, and I am -sure it is the true one. Moreover, I think the murderer is the man who -blew the bugle----" - -"The phantom bugler!" - -"No phantom, but a live man. Phantoms do not blow on bugles except in old -English legends. A bugle sounded in New England and heard by several -people, was blown by human lungs. Find your bugler and you've found your -murderer." - -"I wonder if you can be right!" - -Wheeler fell into a brown study and Keefe watched him closely. His bugler -theory was offered in an effort to find out what Wheeler thought of it, -and Wheeler's response ought to show whether his own knowledge of the -murder precluded the bugler or not. - -Apparently it did, for he sighed and said: "Of course the person who -sounded that bugle was a live person, but I cannot think it had any -connection with Mr. Appleby's death. Even granting somebody might have -been wicked enough to try to frighten my wife, yet there is no reason to -think any one wishing to kill Samuel Appleby would know of the old legend -in Mrs. Wheeler's family." - -"True enough. But it is possible, and, in my opinion, that is the only -direction to look." - -"But what direction? How can you find out who blew that bugle?" - -"I don't know yet, but I shall try to find out. As a matter of fact very -little inquiry has been made. Those two detectives, while intelligent -enough, don't have a very wide horizon. They've concluded that the -assassin was--well, was named Wheeler--and they're only concerned to -discover the first name. Forgive my plain speaking, but to save yourself -and the other two, we must be outspoken." - -"Yes, yes--pray don't hesitate to say anything you think. I am in a -terrible position, Mr. Keefe--more terrible than you can know, and while -I am willing to make any sacrifice for my dear ones--it may be in -vain----" - -The two men had been alone in the den, but now were joined by Burdon and -young Allen. - -"Glad to see you back, Mr. Keefe," Burdon said; "usually we detectives -don't hanker after outside help, but you've a good, keen mind, and I -notice you generally put your finger on the right spot." - -"All right, Burdon, we'll work together. Now, Mr. Wheeler, I'm going to -ask you to leave us--for there are some details to discuss----" - -Dan Wheeler was only too glad to be excused, and with a sigh of relief he -went away to his upstairs quarters. - -"Now, it's this way," Keefe began; "I've been sounding Mr. Wheeler, but I -didn't get any real satisfaction. But here's a point. Either he did or -didn't kill Mr. Appleby, but in either case, he's in bad." - -"What do you mean?" asked Allen. - -"Why, I've inquired about among the servants and, adding our own -testimony, I've figured it out that Mr. Wheeler was either the murderer -or he was over the line on the other side of the house, and in that case -has broken his parole and is subject to the law." - -"How do you prove that?" inquired Burdon, interestedly. - -"By the story of Miss Wheeler, who says her father was not in the den at -all at the time Mr. Appleby was shot. Now, as we know, Mrs. Wheeler ran -downstairs at that time, and she, too, says her husband was not in the -den. Also she says he was not in the living-room, nor in the hall. This -leaves only her own sitting-room, from which Mr. Wheeler could see the -fire and into which he was most likely to go for that purpose." - -"He wouldn't go in that room for any purpose," declared Allen. - -"Not ordinarily, but in the excitement of a fire, men can scarcely -refrain from running to look at it, and if he was not in the places he -had a right to be, he must have been over on the forbidden ground. So, it -comes back to this: either Mr. Wheeler was the murderer, and his wife and -daughter have perjured themselves to save him, or he was in a place -which, by virtue of the conditions, cancels his pardon. This, I take it, -explains Mr. Wheeler's present perturbed state of mind--for he is -bewildered and worried in many ways." - -"Well," said Allen, "where does all this lead us?" - -"It leads us," Keefe returned, "to the necessity of a lot of hard work. -I'm willing to go on record as desiring to find a criminal outside of the -Wheeler family. Or to put it bluntly, I want to acquit all three of -them--even if----" - -"Even if one of them is guilty?" said Burdon. - -"Well, yes--just that. But, of course I don't mean to hang an innocent -man! What I want is to get a verdict for persons unknown." - -"I'm with you," said Allen. "It's all wrong, I know, but--well, I can't -believe any of the Wheelers really did it." - -"You do believe it, though!" Keefe turned on him, sharply. "And what's -more, you believe the criminal is the one of the three whom you least -want it to be!" - -Keefe's meaning was unmistakable, and Allen's flushed and crestfallen -face betrayed his unwilling assent. Unable to retort--even unable to -speak, he quickly left the room. - -Keefe closed the door and turned to Burdon. - -"That was a test," he said; "I'm not sure whether Allen suspects Miss -Wheeler--or not----" - -"He sure acts as if he does," Burdon said, his face drawn with -perplexity. "But, I say, Mr. Keefe, haven't you ever thought it might -have been Jeffrey Allen himself?" - -"Who did the shooting?" - -"Yes; he had all the motives the others had----" - -"But not opportunity. Why, he was at the garage fire--where I was----" - -"Yes, but he might have got away long enough for----" - -"Nonsense, man, nothing of the sort! We were together, fighting the -flames. The two chauffeurs were with us--the Wheelers' man, and Mr. -Appleby's. We used those chemical extinguishers----" - -"I know all that--but then--he might have slipped away, and in the -excitement you didn't notice----" - -"Not a chance! No, take my word for it, the three Wheelers are the -exclusive suspects--unless we can work in that bugler individual." - -"It's too many for me," Burdon sighed. "And Hallen, he's at his wit's -end. But you're clever at such things, sir, and Mr. Appleby, he's going -to get a big detective from the city." - -"You don't seem to mind being discarded!" - -"No, sir. If anybody's to fasten a crime on one of those Wheelers, I -don't want to be the one to do it." - -"Look here, Burdon, how about Wheeler's doing it in self-defence? I know -a lot about those two men, and Appleby was just as much interested in -getting Wheeler out of his way as _vice versa_. If Appleby attacked and -Wheeler defended, we can get him off easy." - -"Maybe so, but it's all speculation, Mr. Keefe. What we ought to get is -evidence--testimony--and that's hard, for the only people to ask about it -are----" - -"Are the criminals themselves." - -"The suspected criminals--yes, sir." - -"There are others. Have you quizzed all the servants?" - -"I don't take much stock in servants' stories." - -"You're wrong there, my man. That principle is a good one in ordinary -matters, but when it comes to a murder case, a servant's testimony is as -good as his master's." - -Burdon made no direct response to Keefe's suggestion, but he mulled it -over in his slow-going mind, and as a result, he had a talk with Rachel, -who was ladies' maid to both Maida and her mother. - -The girl bridled a little when Burdon began to question her. - -"Nobody seemed to think it worth while to ask me anything," she said, "so -I held my tongue. But if so be you want information, you ask and I'll -answer." - -"I doubt if she really knows anything," Burdon thought to himself, -judging from her air of self-importance, but he said: - -"Tell me anything you know of the circumstances at the time of the -murder." - -"Circumstances?" repeated Rachel, wrinkling her brow. - -"Yes; for instance, where was Mrs. Wheeler when you heard the shot?" - -"I didn't say I heard the shot." - -"Didn't you?" - -"Yes." - -"Go on, then; don't be foolish, or you'll be sorry for it!" - -"Well, then, Mrs. Wheeler was downstairs--she had just left her room----" - -"Here, let me get this story straight. How long had she been in her room? -Were you there with her?" - -"Yes; we had been there half an hour or so. Then, we heard noise and -excitement and a cry of fire. Mrs. Wheeler rushed out of her room and ran -downstairs--and I followed, naturally." - -"Yes; and what did you see?" - -"Nothing special--I saw a blaze of light, through the front door----" - -"The north door?" - -"Of course--the one toward the garage--and I saw the garage was on fire, -so I thought of nothing else--then." - -"Then? What did you think of later?" - -"I remembered that I saw Mr. Wheeler in the living-room--in the north end -of it--where he never goes----" - -"You know about his restrictions?" - -"Oh, yes, sir. The servants all know--we have to. Well, it was natural, -poor man, that he should go to look at the fire!" - -"You're sure of this, Rachel?" - -"Sure, yes; but don't let's tell, for it might get the master in -trouble." - -"On the contrary it may get him out of trouble. To break his parole is -not as serious a crime as murder. And if he was in the north end of the -living-room he couldn't have been in the den shooting Mr. Appleby." - -"That's true enough. And neither could Mrs. Wheeler have done it." - -"Why not?" - -"Well--that is--she was right ahead of me----" - -"Did you keep her in sight?" - -"No; I was so excited myself, I ran past her and out to the garage." - -"Who was there?" - -"Mr. Allen and Mr. Keefe and the two chauffeurs and the head gardener and -well, most all the servants. The men were fighting the fire, and the -women were standing back, looking on." - -"Yelling, I suppose." - -"No; they were mostly quiet. Cook was screaming, but nobody paid any -attention to her." - -"The fire was soon over?" - -"Yes, it was a little one. I suppose that chauffeur of Mr. Appleby's -dropped a match or something--for our servants are too well trained to do -anything of the sort. We're all afraid of fire." - -"Well, the fire amounted to little, as you say. Curious it should occur -at the time of the murder." - -"Curious, indeed, sir. Do you make anything out of that?" - -"Can't see anything in it. Unless the murderer started the fire to -distract attention from himself. In that case, it couldn't have been any -of the Wheelers." - -"That it couldn't. They were all in the house." - -"Miss Maida--did you see her at the time?" - -"I caught a glimpse of her as I ran through the hall." - -"Where was she?" - -"In the den; standing near the bay window." - -"Well, we've pretty well planted the three. Mrs. Wheeler on the stairs, -Mr. Wheeler, you say, in the living-room, where he had no right to be, -and Miss Maida----" - -"Oh, Miss Maida didn't do it! She couldn't! That lovely young lady!" - -"There, Rachel, that will do. You've given your testimony, now it's not -for you to pass judgment. Go about your business, and keep a quiet -tongue. No babbling--you understand?" - -"Yes, sir," and the maid went away, her attitude still one of importance, -and her face wearing a vague smile. - -Meantime Curtis Keefe was having a serious talk with Maida. - -His attitude was kindly and deferential, but he spoke with a determined -air as he said: - -"Miss Wheeler, you know, I am sure, how much I want to help you, and how -glad I will be if I can do so. But, first of all I must ask you a -question. What did Mr. Appleby mean when he said to you something about -Keefe and the airship?" - -Maida looked at him with a troubled glance. For a minute she did not -speak, then she said, calmly: "I am not at liberty to tell you what we -were talking about then, Mr. Keefe, but don't you remember Mr. Appleby -said that you were not the Keefe referred to?" - -"I know he said that, but--I don't believe it." - -"I am not responsible for your disbelief," she drew herself up with a -dignified air. "And I must ask you not to refer to that matter again." - -"Don't take that attitude," he begged. "At least tell me what Keefe he -did mean. There can be no breach of confidence in that." - -"Why do you want to know?" - -"Because I know Mr. Appleby had a big airship project under -consideration. Because I know he contemplated letting me in on the deal, -and it was a most profitable deal. Had he lived, I should have asked him -about it, but since he is dead, I admit I want to know anything you can -tell me of the matter." - -Involuntarily Maida smiled a little, and the lovely face, usually so sad, -seemed more beautiful than ever to the man who looked at her. - -"Why do you smile?" he cried, "but whatever the reason, keep on doing so! -Oh, Maida, how wonderful you are!" - -A glance of astonishment made him quickly apologize for his speech. - -"But," he said, "I couldn't help it. Forgive me, Miss Wheeler, and, since -you can smile over it, I'm more than ever anxious to know about the -airship deal." - -"And I can tell you nothing," she declared, "because I know nothing of -any such matter. If Mr. Appleby was interested in an airship project, I -know nothing of it. The matter he mentioned to me was, I am positively -certain, not the deal you speak of." - -"I believe that. Your face is too honest for you to speak an untruth so -convincingly. And now assure me that I am not the Keefe he referred to, -and I will never open the subject again." - -But this Maida could not say truthfully, and though she tried, her -assertion was belied by drooping eyes and quivering lips. - -"You were not," she uttered, but she did not look at him, and this time -Curtis Keefe did not believe her. - -"I was," he said calmly, but he made no further effort to get the whole -truth from her. "I'm sorry you can't confide fully in me, but I shall -doubtless learn all I want to know from Mr. Appleby's papers." - -"You--you have them in charge?" Maida asked, quite evidently agitated at -the thought. - -"Yes, of course, I'm his confidential secretary. That's why, Miss -Wheeler, it's better for you to be frank with me--in all things. Has it -never occurred to you that I'm the man who can best help you in this -whole moil of troubles?" - -"Why, no," she said, slowly, "I don't believe it ever has." - -"Then realize it now. Truly, dear Miss Wheeler, I am not only the one who -can best help you, but I am the only one who can help you at all--please -try to see that." - -"Why should I want help?" - -"For half a dozen very good reasons. First, I suppose you know that you -are in no enviable position regarding the death of Mr. Appleby. Oh, I -know you didn't kill him----" - -"But I did!" - -"If you did, you couldn't take it so calmly----" - -"How dare you say I take it calmly? What do you know about it? Just -because I don't go about in hysterics--that's not my nature--is no sign -that I'm not suffering tortures----" - -"You poor, sweet child--I know you are! Oh, little girl, dear little -girl--can't you--won't you let me look out for you----" - -The words were right enough, but the tone in which they were uttered, the -look that accompanied them, frightened Maida. She knew at once how this -man regarded her. - -Intuition told her it was better not to resent his speech or meaning, so -she only said, quietly: - -"Look out for me--how?" - -"Every way. Give yourself to me--be my own, own little Maida----" - -"Mr. Keefe, stop! You forget you are talking to an engaged girl----" - -"I did forget--please forgive me." In a moment he was humble and -penitent. "I lost my head. No, Miss Wheeler, I ask no reward, I want to -help you in any and every way--remembering you are to be the bride of Mr. -Allen." - -"Only after I'm acquitted of this crime. They never convict a woman, do -they, Mr. Keefe?" - -"So that's what you're banking on! And safely, too. No, Miss Wheeler, no -judge or jury would ever convict you of murder. But, all the same, it's a -mighty unpleasant process that brings about your acquittal, and I advise -you not to go through with it." - -"But I've got to. I've confessed my crime; now they have to try me--don't -they?" - -"You innocent baby. Unless--look here, you're not--er--stringing me, are -you?" - -"What does that mean?" - -"I mean, you didn't really do the job, did you?" - -"I did." The calm glance of despair might have carried conviction to a -less skeptical hearer, but Keefe only looked puzzled. - -"I can't quite make you out," he declared; "either you're a very brave -heroine--or----" - -"Or?" queried Maida. - -"Or you're nutty!" - -Maida laughed outright. "That's it," she said, and her laughter became a -little hysterical. "I _am_ nutty, and I own up to it. Do you think we can -enter a plea of insanity?" - -Keefe looked at her, a new thought dawning in his mind. - -"That might not be at all a bad plan," he said, slowly; "are you in -earnest?" - -"I don't know. Honestly, I think of so many plans, and discard them one -after the other. But I don't want to be convicted!" - -"And you shan't! There are more persons in this world than the three -Wheelers! And one of them may easily be the murderer we're seeking." - -"Which one?" asked Maida. - -"The Phantom Bugler," returned Keefe. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - FLEMING STONE - - -Next day brought the advent of two men and a boy to Sycamore Ridge. - -Samuel Appleby, determined to discover the murderer of his father and -convinced that it was none of the Wheeler family, had brought Fleming -Stone, the detective, to investigate the case. Stone had a young -assistant who always accompanied him, and this lad, Terence McGuire by -name, was a lively, irrepressible chap, with red hair and freckles. - -But his quick thinking and native wit rendered him invaluable to Stone, -who had already hinted that McGuire might some day become his successor. - -The Wheeler family, Jeffrey Allen, Curtis Keefe, and Burdon, the local -detective, were all gathered in Mr. Wheeler's den to recount the whole -story to Fleming Stone. - -With grave attention, Stone listened, and young McGuire eagerly drank in -each word, as if committing a lesson to memory. Which, indeed, he was, -for Stone depended on his helper to remember all facts, theories and -suggestions put forward by the speakers. - -Long experience had made Fleming Stone a connoisseur in "cases," and, by -a classification of his own, he divided them into "express" and "local." -By this distinction he meant that in the former cases, he arrived quickly -at the solution, without stop or hindrance. The latter kind involved -necessary stops, even side issues, and a generally impeded course, by -reason of conflicting motives and tangled clues. - -As he listened to the story unfolded by the members of the party, he -sighed, for he knew this was no lightning express affair. He foresaw much -investigation ahead of him, and he already suspected false evidence and -perhaps bribed witnesses. - -Yet these conclusions of his were based quite as much on intuition as on -evidence, and Stone did not wholly trust intuition. - -Samuel Appleby was the principal spokesman, as he was the one chiefly -concerned in the discovery of the criminal and the avenging of his -father's death. Moreover, he was positive the deed had not been done by -any one of the Wheeler family, and he greatly desired to prove himself -right in this. - -"But you were not here at the time, Mr. Appleby," Stone said, "and I must -get the story from those who were. Mr. Keefe, you came with Mr. Appleby, -senior, and, also, as his confidential secretary you are in a position to -know of his mental attitudes. Had he, to your knowledge, any fear, any -premonition of evil befalling him?" - -"Not at all," answered Keefe, promptly. "If he had, I do not know of it, -but I think I can affirm that he had not. For, when Mr. Appleby was -anxious, he always showed it. In many ways it was noticeable, if he had a -perplexity on his mind. In such a case he was irritable, quick-tempered, -and often absent-minded. The day we came down here, Mr. Appleby was -genial, affable and in a kindly mood. This, to my mind, quite precludes -the idea that he looked for anything untoward." - -"How did he impress you, Mr. Wheeler?" Stone went on. "You had not seen -him for some time, I believe." - -"Not for fifteen years," Dan Wheeler spoke calmly, and with an air of -determined reserve. "Our meeting was such as might be expected between -two long-time enemies, but Appleby was polite and so was I." - -"He came to ask a favor of you?" - -"Rather to drive a bargain. He offered me a full pardon in return for my -assistance in his son's political campaign. You, I am sure, know all this -from Mr. Appleby, the son." - -"Yes, I do; I'm asking you if Mr. Appleby, the father, showed in his -conversation with you, any apprehension or gave any intimation of a fear -of disaster?" - -"Mr. Stone," returned Wheeler, "I have confessed that I killed Mr. -Appleby; I hold, therefore, that I need say nothing that will influence -my own case." - -"Well, you see, Mr. Wheeler, this case is unusual--perhaps unique, in -that three people have confessed to the crime. So far, I am preserving an -open mind. Though it is possible you and your wife and daughter acted in -collusion, only one of you could have fired the fatal shot; yet you all -three claim to have done so. There is no conclusion to be drawn from this -but that one is guilty and the other two are shielding that one." - -"Draw any conclusion you wish," said Wheeler, still imperturbably. "But -I've no objection to replying to the question you asked me. Sam Appleby -said no word to me that hinted at a fear for his personal safety. If he -had any such fear, he kept it to himself." - -"He knew of your enmity toward him?" - -"Of course. He did me an unforgivable injustice and I never pretended -that I did not resent it." - -"And you refused to meet his wishes regarding his son's campaign?" - -"I most certainly did, for the same reasons I opposed his own election -many years ago." - -"Yes; all those details I have from Mr. Appleby, junior. Now, Mr. Appleby -does not believe that his father was killed by any member of your family, -Mr. Wheeler." - -"Can he, then, produce the man whom he does suspect?" - -"No; he suspects no one definitely, but he thinks that by investigation, -I can find out the real criminal." - -"You may as well save your time and trouble, Mr. Stone. I am the man you -seek, I freely confess my crime, and I accept my fate, whatever it be. -Can I do more?" - -"Yes; if you are telling the truth, go on, and relate details. What -weapon did you use?" - -"My own revolver." - -"Where is it?" - -"I threw it out of the window." - -"Which window?" - -"The--the bay window, in my den." - -"In this room?" - -"Yes." - -"That window there?" Stone pointed to the big bay. - -"Yes." - -"You were sitting there at the time of the shot, were you not, Miss -Wheeler?" Stone turned to Maida, who, white-faced and trembling, listened -to her father's statements. - -"I was sitting there before the shot," the girl returned, speaking in -quiet, steady tones, though a red spot burned in either cheek. "And then, -when Mr. Appleby threatened my father, I shot him myself. My father is -untruthful for my sake. In his love for me he is trying to take my crime -on himself. Oh, believe me, Mr. Stone! Others can testify that I said, -long ago, that I could willingly kill Mr. Appleby. He has made my dear -father's life a living grave! He has changed a brilliant, capable man of -affairs to a sad and broken-hearted recluse. A man who had everything to -live for, everything to interest and occupy his mind, was condemned to a -solitary imprisonment, save for the company of his family! My father's -career would have been notable, celebrated; but that Samuel Appleby put -an end to fifteen years ago, for no reason but petty spite and mean -revenge! I had never seen the man, save as a small child, and when I -learned he was at last coming here, my primitive passions were stirred, -my sense of justice awoke and my whole soul was absorbed in a wild -impulse to rid the world of such a demon in human form! I told my parents -I was capable of killing him; they reproved me, so I said no more. But I -brooded over the project, and made ready, and then--when Mr. Appleby -threatened my father, talked to him brutally, scathingly, fairly turning -the iron in his soul--I could stand it no longer, and I shot him down as -I would have killed a venomous serpent! I do not regret the act--though I -do fear the consequences." - -Maida almost collapsed, but pulled herself together, to add: - -"That is the truth. You must disregard and disbelieve my father's noble -efforts to save me by trying to pretend the crime was his own." - -Stone looked at her pityingly. McGuire stared fixedly; the boy's eyes -round with amazement at this outburst of self-condemnation. - -Then Stone said, almost casually: "You, too, Mrs. Wheeler, confess to -this crime, I believe." - -"I am the real criminal," Sara Wheeler asserted, speaking very quietly -but with a steady gaze into the eyes of the listening detective. "You can -readily understand that my husband and daughter are trying to shield me, -when I tell you that only I had opportunity. I had possessed myself of -Mr. Wheeler's pistol and as I ran downstairs--well knowing the -conversation that was going on, I shot through the doors as I passed and -running on, threw the weapon far out into the shrubbery. It can doubtless -be found. I must beg of you, Mr. Stone, that you thoroughly investigate -these three stories, and I assure you you will find mine the true one, -and the assertions of my husband and daughter merely loving but futile -attempts to save me from the consequences of my act." - -Fleming Stone smiled, a queer, tender little smile. - -"It is certainly a new experience for me," he said, "when a whole family -insist on being considered criminals. But I will reserve decision until I -can look into matters a little more fully. Now, who can give me any -information on the matter, outside of the identity of the criminal?" - -Jeffrey Allen volunteered the story of the fire, and Keefe told of the -strange bugle call that had been heard. - -"You heard it, Mr. Keefe?" asked Stone, after listening to the account. - -"No; I was with Mr. Appleby on a trip to Boston. I tell it as I heard the -tale from the household here." - -Whereupon the Wheeler family corroborated Keefe's story, and Fleming -Stone listened attentively to the various repetitions. - -"You find that bugler, and you've got your murderer," Curtis Keefe said, -bluntly. "You agree, don't you, Mr. Stone, that it was no phantom who -blew audible notes on a bugle?" - -"I most certainly agree to that. I've heard many legends, in foreign -countries, of ghostly drummers, buglers and bagpipers, but they are -merely legends--I've never found anyone who really heard the sounds. And, -moreover, those things aren't even legends in America. Any bugling done -in this country is done by human lungs. Now, this bugler interests me. I -think, with you, Mr. Keefe, that to know his identity would help -us--whether he proves to be the criminal or not." - -"He's the criminal," Keefe declared, again. "Forgive me, Mr. Stone, if my -certainty seems to you presumptuous or forward, but I'm so thoroughly -convinced of the innocence of the Wheeler family, that perhaps I am -overenthusiastic in my theory." - -"A theory doesn't depend on enthusiasm," returned Stone, "but on evidence -and proof. Now, how can we set about finding this mysterious -bugler--whether phantom or human?" - -"I thought that's what you're here to do," Sam Appleby said, looking -helplessly at Fleming Stone. - -"We are," piped up Terence McGuire, as Stone made no reply. "That's our -business, and, consequentially, it shall be done." - -The boy assumed an air of importance that was saved from being -objectionable by his good-humored face and frank, serious eyes. "I'll -just start in and get busy now," he went on, and rising, he bobbed a -funny little bow that included all present, and left the room. - -It was mid-afternoon, and as they looked out on the wide lawn they saw -McGuire strolling slowly, hands in pockets and seemingly more absorbed in -the birds and flowers than in his vaunted "business." - -"Perhaps McGuire needs a little explanation," Stone smiled. "He is my -right-hand man, and a great help in detail work. But he has a not -altogether unearned reputation for untruthfulness. Indeed, his nickname -is Fibsy, because of a congenital habit of telling fibs. I advise you of -this, because I prefer you should not place implicit confidence in his -statements." - -"But, Mr. Stone," cried Maida, greatly interested, "how can he be of any -help to you if you can't depend on what he says?" - -"Oh, he doesn't lie to me," Stone assured her; "nor does he tell whoppers -at any time. Only, it's his habit to shade the truth when it seems to him -advisable. I do not defend this habit; in fact, I have persuaded him to -stop it, to a degree. But you know how hard it is to reform entirely." - -"It won't affect his usefulness, since he doesn't lie to his employer," -Appleby said, "and, too, it's none of our business. I've engaged Mr. -Stone to solve the mystery of my father's death, and I'm prepared to give -him full powers. He may conduct his investigations on any plan he -chooses. My only stipulation is that he shall find a criminal outside the -Wheeler family." - -"A difficult and somewhat unusual stipulation," remarked Stone. - -"Why difficult?" Dan Wheeler said, quickly. - -"Because, with three people confessing a crime, and no one else even -remotely suspected, save a mysterious and perhaps mythical bugle-player, -it does not seem an easy job to hunt up and then hunt down a slayer." - -"But you'll do it," begged Appleby, almost pleadingly, "for it must be -done." - -"We'll see," Stone replied. "And now tell me more about the fire in the -garage. It occurred at the time of the shooting, you say? What started -it?" - -But nobody knew what started it. - -"How could we know?" asked Jeff Allen. "It was only a small fire and the -most it burned was the robe in Mr. Appleby's own car and a motor coat -that was also in the car." - -"Whose coat?" asked Stone. - -"Mine," said Keefe, ruefully. "A bit of bad luck, too, for it was a new -one. I had to get another in place of it." - -"And you think the fire was the result of a dropped cigarette or match by -Mr. Appleby's chauffeur?" - -"I don't know," returned Keefe. "He denies it, of course, but it must -have been that or an incendiary act of some one." - -"Maybe the bugler person," suggested Stone. - -"Maybe," assented Keefe, though he did not look convinced. - -"I think Mr. Keefe thinks it was the work of my own men," said Dan -Wheeler. "And it may have been. There's one in my employ who has an -ignorant, brutal spirit of revenge, and if he thought Samuel Appleby was -inimical to me, he would be quite capable of setting fire to the Appleby -car. That may be the fact of the case." - -"It may be," agreed Stone. "Doubtless we can find out----" - -"How?" asked Allen. "That would be magician's work, I think." - -"A detective has to be a magician," Stone smiled at him. "We quite often -do more astounding tricks than that." - -"Go to it, then!" cried Appleby. "That's the talk I like to hear. -Questions and answers any of us can put over. But the real detecting is -like magic. At least, I can't see how it's done. Duff in, Mr. Stone. Get -busy." - -The group dispersed then, Fleming Stone going to his room and the others -straying off by twos or threes. - -Burdon, who had said almost nothing during the confab, declared he wanted -a talk with the great detective alone, and would await his pleasure. - -So Burdon sat by himself, brooding, on the veranda, and presently saw the -boy, Fibsy, returning toward the house. - -"Come here, young one," Burdon called out. - -"Nixy, old one," was the saucy retort. - -"Why not?" in a conciliatory tone. - -"'Cause you spoke disrespectful like. I'm a detective, you know." - -"All right, old pal; come here, will you?" - -Fibsy grinned and came, seating himself on a cushioned swing nearby. - -"Whatcha want?" he demanded. - -"Only a line o' talk. Your Mr. Stone, now, do you think he'll show up -soon, or has he gone for a nap?" - -"Fleming Stone doesn't take naps," Fibsy said, disdainfully; "he isn't -that sort." - -"Then he'll be down again shortly?" - -"Dunno. Maybe he's begun his fasting and prayer over this phenomenal -case." - -"Does he do that?" - -"How do I know? I'm not of a curious turn of mind, me havin' other sins -to answer for." - -"I know. Mr. Stone told us you have no respect for the truth." - -"Did he, now! Well, he's some mistaken! I have such a profound respect -for the truth that I never use it except on very special occasions." - -"Is this one?" - -"It is not! Don't believe a word I say just now. In fact, I'm so lit up -with the beauties and glories of this place, that I hardly know what I am -a-saying! Ain't it the show-place, though!" - -"Yes, it is. Looky here, youngster, can't you go up and coax Mr. Stone to -see me--just a few minutes?" - -"Nope; can't do that. But you spill it to me, and if it's worth it, I'll -repeat it to him. I'm really along for that very purpose, you see." - -"But I haven't anything special to tell him----" - -"Oh, I see! Just want the glory and honor of chinning with the great -Stone!" - -As this so nearly expressed Burdon's intention, he grinned sheepishly, -and Fibsy understood. - -"No go, old top," he assured him. "F. Stone will send for you if he -thinks you'll interest him in the slightest degree. Better wait for the -sending--it'll mean a more satisfactory interview all round." - -"Well, then, let's you and me chat a bit." - -"Oho, coming round to sort of like me, are you? Well, I'm willing. Tell -me this: how far from the victim did the shooter stand?" - -"The doctor said, as nearly as he could judge, about ten feet or so -away." - -"H'm," and Fibsy looked thoughtful. "That would just about suit all three -of the present claimants for the honor, wouldn't it?" - -"Yes; and would preclude anybody not inside the room." - -"Unless he was close to the window." - -"Sure. But it ain't likely, is it now, that a rank outsider would come -right up to the window and fire through it, and not be seen by anybody?" - -"No; it isn't. And, of course, if that had happened, and any one of the -three Wheelers had seen it, they would be only too glad to tell of it. I -wonder they haven't made up some such yarn as that." - -"You don't know the Wheelers. I do, and I can see how they would perjure -themselves--any of them--and confess to a crime they didn't commit, to -save each other--but it wouldn't occur to them to invent a murderer--or -to say they saw some one they didn't see. Do you get the difference?" - -"Being an expert in the lyin' game, I do," and Fibsy winked. - -"It isn't only that. It's not only that they're unwilling to lie about -it, but they haven't the--the, well, ingenuity to contrive a plausible -yarn." - -"Not being lying experts, just as I said," Fibsy observed. "Well, we all -have our own kind of cleverness. Now, mine is finding things. Want to see -an example?" - -"Yes, I do." - -"All right. How far did you say the shooter person stood from his -victim?" - -"About ten feet--but I daresay it might be two or three feet, more or -less." - -"No; they can judge closer'n that by the powder marks. The truth wouldn't -vary more'n a foot or so, from their say. Now, s'posin' the shooter did -throw the revolver out of the bay window, as the three Wheelers agree, -severally, they did do, where would it most likely land?" - -"In that clump of rhododendrons." - -"Yep; if they threw it straight ahead. I s'pose you've looked there for -it?" - -"Yes, raked the place thoroughly." - -"All right. Now if they slung the thing over toward the right, where -would it land?" - -"On the smooth lawn." - -"And you didn't find it there!" - -"No. What are you doing? Stringing me?" - -"Oh, no, sir; oh, no! Now, once again. If they chanced to fling said -revolver far to the left, where would it land?" - -"Why--in that big bed of ferns--if they threw it far enough." - -"Looked there?" - -"No; I haven't." - -"C'mon, let's take a squint." - -Fibsy rose and lounged over toward the fern bed, Burdon following, almost -certain he was being made game of. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - THE GARAGE FIRE - - -"Now, watch me," he said, and with a quick thrust of his arm down among -the ferns, he drew forth a revolver, which he turned over to Burdon. - -"Land o' goodness!" exclaimed that worthy. "Howja know it was there?" - -"Knew it must be--looked for it--saw it," returned the boy, nonchalantly, -and then, hearing a short, sharp whistle, he looked up at the house to -see Fleming Stone regarding him from an upper window. - -"Found the weapon, Fibs?" he inquired. - -"Yes, Mr. Stone." - -"All right. Bring it up here, and ask Mr. Burdon to come along." - -Delighted at the summons, Burdon followed the boy's flying feet and they -went up to Stone's rooms. A small and pleasant sitting-room had been -given over to the detective, and he admitted his two visitors, then -closed the door. - -"Doing the spectacular, Terence?" Stone said, smiling a little. - -"Just one grandstand play," the boy confessed. As a matter of fact, he -had located the pistol sometime earlier, but waited to make the discovery -seem sensational. - -"All right; let's take a look at it." - -Without hesitation, Burdon pronounced the revolver Mr. Wheeler's. It had -no initials on it, but from Wheeler's minute description, Burdon -recognized it beyond reasonable doubt. One bullet had been fired from it, -and the calibre corresponded to the shot that had killed Samuel Appleby. - -"Oh, it's the right gun, all right," Burdon said, "but I never thought of -looking over that way for it. Must have been thrown by a left-handed -man." - -"Oh, not necessarily," said Stone. "But it was thrown with a conscious -desire to hide it, and not flung away in a careless or preoccupied -moment." - -"And what do you deduce from that?" asked Burdon, quite prepared to hear -the description of the murderer's physical appearance and mental -attainments. - -"Nothing very definite," Stone mused. "We might say it looked more like -the act of a strong-willed man such as Mr. Wheeler, than of a frightened -and nervously agitated woman." - -"If either of those two women did it," Burdon offered, "she wasn't -nervous or agitated. They're not that sort. They may go to pieces -afterward, but whatever Mrs. Wheeler or Maida undertake to do, they put -it over all right. I've known 'em for years, and I never knew either of -them to show the white feather." - -"Well, it was not much of an indication, anyway," Stone admitted, "but it -does prove a steady nerve and a planning brain that would realize the -advisability of flinging the weapon where it would not be probably -sought. Now, as this is Mr. Wheeler's revolver, there's no use asking the -three suspects anything about it. For each has declared he or she used it -and flung it away. That in itself is odd--I mean that they should all -tell the same story. It suggests not collusion so much as the idea that -whoever did the shooting was seen by one or both of the others." - -"Then you believe it was one of the three Wheelers?" asked Burdon. - -"I don't say that, yet," returned Stone. "But they must be reckoned with. -I want to eliminate the innocent two and put the guilt on the third--if -that is where it belongs." - -"And if not, which way are you looking?" - -"Toward the fire. That most opportune fire in the garage seems to me -indicative of a criminal who wanted to create a panic so he could carry -out his murderous design with neatness and despatch." - -"And that lets out the women?" - -"Not if, as you say, they're of the daring and capable sort." - -"Oh, they are! If Maida Wheeler did this thing, she could stage the fire -easily enough. Or Mrs. Wheeler could, either. They're hummers when it -comes to efficiency and actually doing things!" - -"You surprise me. Mrs. Wheeler seems such a gentle, delicate -personality." - -"Yep; till she's roused. Then she's full of tiger! Oh, I know Sara -Wheeler. You ask my wife what Mrs. Wheeler can do!" - -"Tell me a little more of this conditional pardon matter. Is it possible -that for fifteen years Mr. Wheeler has never stepped over to the -forbidden side of his own house?" - -"Perfectly true. But it isn't his house, it's Mrs. Wheeler's. Her folks -are connected with the Applebys and it was the work of old Appleby that -the property came to Sara with that tag attached, that she must live in -Massachusetts. Also, Appleby pardoned Wheeler on condition that he never -stepped foot into Massachusetts. And there they were. It was Sara -Wheeler's ingenuity and determination that planned the house on the state -line, and she has seen to it that Dan Wheeler never broke parole. It's -second nature to him now, of course." - -"But I'm told that he did step over the night of the murder. That he went -into the sitting-room of his wife--or maybe into the forbidden end of -that long living-room--to see the fire. It would be a most natural thing -for him to do." - -"Not natural, no, sir." Burdon rubbed his brow thoughtfully. "Yet he -might 'a' done it. But one misstep like that ought to be overlooked, I -think." - -"And would be by his friends--but suppose there's an enemy at work. -Suppose, just as a theory, that somebody is ready to take advantage of -the peculiar situation, that seems to prove Dan Wheeler was either -outside his prescribed territory--or he was the murderer. To my way of -thinking, at present, that man's alibi is his absence from the scene of -the crime. And, if he was absent, he must have been over the line. I know -this from talks I've had with the servants and the family and guests, and -I'm pretty confident that Wheeler was either in the den or in the -forbidden north part of the house at the moment of the murder." - -"Why don't you know which it was?" asked Burdon, bluntly. - -"Because," said Stone, not resenting the question, "because I can't place -any dependence on the truth of the family's statements. For three -respectable, God-fearing citizens, they are most astonishingly willing, -even eager, to perjure themselves. Of course, I know they do it for one -another's sake. They have a strange conscience that allows them to lie -outright for the sake of a loved one. And, it may be, commit murder for -the sake of a loved one! But all this I shall straighten out when I get -further along. The case is so widespread, so full of ramifications and -possible side issues, I have to go carefully at first, and not get -entangled in false clues." - -"Got any clue, sir? Any real ones?" - -"Meaning dropped handkerchiefs and broken cuff-links?" Stone chaffed him. -"Well, there's the pistol. That's a material clue. But, no, I can't -produce anything else--at present. Well, Terence, what luck?" - -Fibsy, who had slipped from the room at the very beginning of this -interview, now returned. - -"It's puzzlin'--that's what it is, puzzlin'," he declared, throwing -himself astride of a chair. "I've raked that old garage fore and aft, but -I can't track down the startings of that fire. You see, the place is -stucco and all that, and besides the discipline of this whole layout is -along the lines of p'ison neatness! Everybody that works at Sycamore -Ridge has to be a very old maid for keeping things clean! So, there's no -chance for accumulated rubbish or old rags or spontaneous combustion or -anything of the sort. Nextly, none of the three men who have any call to -go into the garage ever smoke in there. That's a Mede and Persian law. -Gee, Mr. Wheeler is some efficient boss! Well, anyway, after the fire, -though they tried every way to find out what started it, they couldn't -find a thing! There was no explanation but a brand dropped from the -skies, or a stroke of lightning! And there was no storm on. It wouldn't -all be so sure, but the morning after, it seems, Mr. Allen and Mr. Keefe -were doin' some sleuthin' on their own, and they couldn't find out how -the fire started. So, they put it up to the garage men, and they hunted, -too. It seems nothing was burnt but some things in Mr. Appleby's car, -which, of course, lets out his chauffeur, who had no call to burn up his -own duds. And a coat of his was burned and also a coat of Mr. Keefe's." - -"What were those coats doing in an unused car?" asked Stone. - -"Oh, they were extra motor coats, or raincoats, or something like that, -and they always staid in the car." - -"Where, in the car?" - -"I asked that," Fibsy returned, "and they were hanging on the coat-rail. -I thought there might have been matches in the pockets, but they say no. -There never had been matches in those coat pockets, nor any matches in -the Appleby car, for that matter." - -"Well, the fire is pretty well mixed up in the murder," declared Stone. -"Now it's up to us to find out how." - -"Ex-cuse me, Mr. Stone," and Burdon shook his head; "you'll never get at -it that way." - -"Ex-cuse me, Mr. Burdon," Fibsy flared back, "Mr. Stone _will_ get at it -that way, if he thinks that's the way to look. You don't know F. Stone -yet----" - -"Hush up, Fibs; Mr. Burdon will know if I succeed, and, perhaps he's -right as to the unimportance of the fire, after all." - -"You see," Burdon went on, unabashed, "Mr. Keefe--now, he's some smart in -the detective line--he said, find your phantom bugler, and you've got -your murderer! Now, what nonsense that is! As if a marauding villain -would announce himself by playing on a bugle!" - -"Yet there may be something in it," demurred Stone. "It may well be that -the dramatic mind that staged this whole mysterious affair is responsible -for the bugle call, the fire, and the final crime." - -"In that case, it's one of the women," Burdon said. "They could do all -that, either of them, if they wanted to; but Dan Wheeler, while he could -kill a man on provocation--it would be an impulsive act--not a -premeditated one. No, sir! Wheeler could see red, and go Berserk, but he -couldn't plan out a complicated affair like you're turning this case -into!" - -"I'm not turning it into anything," Stone laughed. "I'm taking it as it -is presented to me, but I do hold that the phantom bugler and the -opportune fire are theatrical elements." - -"A theatrical element, too, is the big sycamore," and Burdon smiled. -"Now, if that tree should take a notion to walk over into Massachusetts, -it would help out some." - -"What's that?" cried Fibsy. "What do you mean?" - -"Well, the Wheelers have got a letter from Appleby, written while he was -still governor, and it says that when the big sycamore goes into -Massachusetts, Wheeler can go, too. But it can't be done by a trick. I -mean, they can't transplant the thing, or chop it down and take the wood -over. It's got to go of its own accord." - -"Mere teasing," said Stone. - -"Yes, sir, just that. Appleby had a great streak of teasing. He used to -tease everybody just for the fun of seeing them squirm. This whole -Wheeler business was the outcome of Appleby's distorted love of fun. And -Wheeler took it so seriously that Appleby kept it up. I'll warrant, if -Wheeler had treated the whole thing as a joke, Appleby would have let up -on him. But Dan Wheeler is a solemn old chap, and he saw no fun in the -whole matter." - -"I don't blame him," commented Stone. "Won't he get pardoned now?" - -"No, sir, he won't. Some folks think he will, but I know better. The -present governor isn't much for pardoning old sentences--he says it -establishes precedent and all that. And the next governor is more than -likely to say the same." - -"I hear young Mr. Appleby isn't going to run." - -"No, sir, he ain't. Though I daresay he will some other time. But this -death of his father and the mystery and all, is no sort of help to a -campaign. And, too, young Appleby hasn't the necessary qualifications to -conduct a campaign, however good he might be as governor after he got -elected. No; Sam won't run." - -"Who will?" - -"Dunno, I'm sure. But there'll be lots ready and eager for a try at it." - -"I suppose so. Well, Burdon, I'm going down now to ask some questions of -the servants. You know they're a mine of information usually." - -"Kin I go?" asked Fibsy. - -"Not now, son. You stay here, or do what you like. But don't say much and -don't antagonize anybody." - -"Not me, F. Stone!" - -"Well, don't shock anybody, then. Behave like a gentleman and a scholar." - -"Yessir," Fibsy ducked a comical bow, and Burdon, understanding he was -dismissed, went home. - -To the dining-room Stone made his way, and asked a maid there if he might -see the cook. - -Greatly frightened, the waitress brought the cook to the dining-room. - -But the newcomer, a typical, strong-armed, strong-minded individual, was -not at all abashed. - -"What is it you do be wantin', sor?" she asked, civilly enough, but a -trifle sullenly. - -"Only a few answers to direct questions. Where were you when you first -heard the alarm of the garage fire?" - -"I was in me kitchen, cleanin' up after dinner." - -"What did you do?" - -"I ran out the kitchen door and, seein' flames, I ran toward the garage." - -"Before you ran, you were at the rear of the house--I mean the south -side, weren't you?" - -"Yes, sor, I was." - -"You passed along the south veranda?" - -"Not along it," the cook looked at him wonderingly--"but by the end of -it, like." - -"And did you see any one on the veranda? Any one at all?" - -The woman thought hard. "Well, I sh'd have said no--first off--but now -you speak of it, I must say I do have a remimbrance of seein' a -figger--but sort of vague like." - -"You mean your memory of it is vague--you don't mean a shadowy figure?" - -"No, sor. I mean I can't mind it rightly, now, for I was thinkin' -intirely of the fire, and so as I was runnin' past the end of the verandy -all I can say is, I just glimpsed like, a person standin' there." - -"Standing?" - -"Well, he might have been moving--I dunno." - -"Are you sure it was a man?" - -"I'm not. I'm thinkin' it was, but yet, I couldn't speak it for sure." - -"Then you went on to the fire?" - -"Yes, sor." - -"And thought no more about the person on the veranda?" - -"No, sor. And it niver wud have entered me head again, savin' your -speakin' of it now. Why--was it the--the man that----" - -"Oh, probably not. But everything I can learn is of help in discovering -the criminal and perhaps freeing your employers from suspicion." - -"And I wish that might be! To put it on the good man, now! And worse, -upon the ladies--angels, both of them!" - -"You are fond of the family, then?" - -"I am that! I've worked here for eight years, and never a cross word from -the missus or the master. As for Miss Maida--she's my darlint." - -"They're fortunate in having you here," said Stone, kindly. "That's all, -now, cook, unless you can remember anything more of that person you saw." - -"Nothin' more, sor. If I do, I'll tell you." - -Thinking hard, Stone left her. - -It was the most unusual case he had ever attempted. If he looked no -further for the murderer than the Wheeler family, he still had enough to -do in deciding which one of the three was guilty. But he yearned for -another suspect. Not a foolish phantom that went around piping, or a -perhaps imaginary prowler stalking on the piazza, but a real suspect with -a sound, plausible motive. - -Though, to be sure, the Wheelers had motive enough. To be condemned to an -absurd restriction and then teased about it, was enough to make life gall -and wormwood to a sensitive man like Wheeler. - -And who could say what words had passed between them at that final -interview? Perhaps Appleby had goaded him to the breaking point; perhaps -Wheeler had stood it, but his wife, descending the stairs and hearing the -men talk, had grown desperate at last; or, and Stone knew he thought this -most plausible of all, perhaps Maida, in her window-seat, had stood as -long as she could the aspersions and tauntings directed at her adored -father, and had, with a reckless disregard of consequences, silenced the -enemy forever. - -Of young Allen, Stone had no slightest suspicion. To be sure, his -interests were one with the Wheeler family, and moreover, he had hoped -for a release from restrictions that would let the Wheelers go into -Massachusetts and thereby make possible his home there with Maida. - -For Maida's vow that she would never go into the state if her father -could not go, too, was, Allen knew, inviolable. - -All this Stone mulled over, yet had no thought that Allen was the one he -was seeking. Also, Curtis Keefe had testified that Allen was with him at -the fire, during the time that included the moment of shooting. - -Strolling out into the gardens, the detective made his way to the great -tree, the big sycamore. - -Here Fibsy joined him, and at Stone's tacit nod of permission, the boy -sat down beside his superior on the bench under the tree. - -"What's this about the tree going to Massachusetts?" Fibsy asked, his -freckled face earnestly inquiring. - -"One of old Appleby's jokes," Stone returned. "Doubtless made just after -a reading of 'Macbeth.' You know, or if you don't, you must read it up -for yourself, there's a scene there that hinges on Birnam Wood going to -Dunsinane. I can't take time to tell you about it, but quite evidently it -pleased the old wag to tell Mr. Wheeler that he could go into his native -state when this great tree went there." - -"Meaning not at all, I s'pose." - -"Of course. And any human intervention was not allowed. So though Birnam -Wood _was_ brought to Dunsinane, such a trick is not permissible in his -case. However, that's beside the point just now. Have you seen any of the -servants?" - -"Some. But I got nothing. They're willing enough to talk, but they don't -know anything. They say I'd better tackle the ladies' maid, a fair -Rachel. So I'm going for her. But I bet I won't strike pay-dirt." - -"You may. Skip along, now, for here comes Miss Maida, and she's probably -looking for me." - -Fibsy departed, and Maida, looking relieved to find Stone alone, came -quickly toward him. - -"You see, Mr. Stone," she began, "you must _start_ straight in this -thing. And the only start possible is for you to be convinced that I -killed Mr. Appleby." - -"But you must admit, Miss Wheeler, that I am not _too_ absurd in thinking -that though you say you did it, you are saying it to shield some one -else--some one who is near and dear to you." - -"I know you think that--but it isn't so. How can I convince you?" - -"Only by circumstantial evidence. Let me question you a bit. Where did -you get the revolver?" - -"From my father's desk drawer, where he always keeps it." - -"You are familiar with firearms?" - -"My father taught me to shoot years ago. I'm not a crack shot--but that -was not necessary." - -"You premeditated the deed?" - -"For some time I have felt that I wanted to kill that man." - -"Your conscience?" - -"Is very active. I deliberately went against its dictates for my father's -sake." - -"And you killed Mr. Appleby because he hounded your father in addition to -the long deprivation he had imposed on him?" - -"No, not that alone. Oh, I don't want to tell you--but, if you won't -believe me otherwise, Mr. Stone, I will admit that I had a new -motive----" - -"A new one?" - -"Yes, a secret that I learned only a day or so before--before Mr. -Appleby's death." - -"The secret was Appleby's?" - -"Yes; that is, he knew it. He told it to me. If any one else should know -it, it would mean the utter ruin and desolation of the lives of my -parents, compared to which this present condition of living is Paradise -itself!" - -"This is true, Miss Wheeler?" - -"Absolutely true. _Now_, do you understand why I killed him?" - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - SARA WHEELER - - -Fleming Stone was deeply interested in the Appleby case. - -While his logical brain could see no possible way to look save toward one -of the three Wheelers, yet his soul revolted at the thought that any one -of them was the criminal. - -Stone was well aware of the fact that the least seemingly guilty often -proved to be a deep-dyed villain, yet he hesitated to think that Dan -Wheeler had killed his old enemy, and he could not believe it was a -woman's work. He was impressed by Maida's story, especially by the fact -that a recent development had made her more strongly desirous to be rid -of old Appleby. He wondered if it did not have something to do with young -Appleby's desire to marry her, and determined to persuade her to confide -further in him regarding the secret she mentioned. - -But first, he decided to interview Mrs. Wheeler. This could not be done -offhand, so he waited a convenient season, and asked for a conference -when he felt sure it would be granted. - -Sara Wheeler received the detective in her sitting-room, and her manner -was calm and collected as she asked him to make the interview as brief as -possible. - -"You are not well, Mrs. Wheeler?" Stone asked, courteously. - -"I am not ill, Mr. Stone, but naturally these dreadful days have upset -me, and the horror and suspense are still hanging over me. Can you not -bring matters to a crisis? Anything would be better than present -conditions!" - -"If some member of your family would tell me the truth," Stone said -frankly, "it would help a great deal. You know, Mrs. Wheeler, when three -people insist on being regarded as the criminal, it's difficult to choose -among them. Now, won't you, at least, admit that you didn't shoot Mr. -Appleby?" - -"But I did," and the serene eyes looked at Stone calmly. - -"Can you prove it--I mean, to my satisfaction? Tell me this: where did -you get a pistol?" - -"I used Mr. Wheeler's revolver." - -"Where did you get it?" - -"From the drawer in his desk, where he always keeps it." - -Stone sighed. Of course, both Maida and her mother knew where the -revolver was kept, so this was no test of their veracity as to the crime. - -"When did you take it from the drawer?" - -Sara Wheeler hesitated for an instant and from that, Stone knew that she -had to think before she spoke. Had she been telling the truth, he argued, -she would have answered at once. - -But immediately she spoke, though with a shade of hesitation. - -"I took it earlier in the day--I had it up in my own room." - -"Yes; where did you conceal it there?" - -"In--in a dresser drawer." - -"And, when you heard the alarm of fire, you ran downstairs in -consequence--but you paused to get the revolver and take it with you!" - -This sounded absurd, but Sara Wheeler could see no way out of it, so she -assented. - -"Feeling sure that you would find your husband and Mr. Appleby in such a -desperate quarrel that you would be called upon to shoot?" - -"I--I overheard the quarrel from upstairs," she faltered, her eyes -piteous now with a baffled despair. - -"Then you went down because of the quarreling voices--not because of the -fire-alarm?" - -Unable to meet Stone's inexorable gaze, Mrs. Wheeler's eyes fell and she -nervously responded: "Well, it was both." - -"Now, see here," Stone said, kindly; "you want to do anything you can, -don't you, to help your husband and daughter?" - -"Yes, of course!" and the wide-open eyes now looked at him hopefully. - -"Then will you trust me far enough to believe that I think you will best -help them by telling the truth?" - -"Oh, I can't!" and with a low moan the distracted woman hid her face in -her hands. - -"Please do; your attitude proves you are concealing important -information. I am more than ever sure you are not the guilty one--and I -am not at all sure that it was either of the other two." - -"Then who could it have been?" and Sara Wheeler looked amazed. - -"That we don't know. If I had a hint of any direction to look I'd be -glad. But if you will shed what light you can, it may be of great help." - -"Even if it seems to incriminate my----" - -"What can incriminate them more than their own confessions?" - -"Their confessions contradict each other. They can't both be guilty." - -"And you don't know which one is?" - -"N--no," came the faltering reply. - -"But that admission contradicts your own confession. Come now, Mrs. -Wheeler, own up to me that you didn't do it, and I'll not tell any one -else, unless it becomes necessary." - -"I will tell you, for I can't bear this burden alone any longer! I did go -downstairs because of the alarm of fire, Mr. Stone. Just before I came to -the open door of the den, I heard a shot, and as I passed the door of the -den, I saw Mr. Appleby, fallen slightly forward in his chair, my husband -standing at a little distance looking at him, and Maida in the bay -window, also staring at them both." - -"What did you do? Go in?" - -"No; I was so bewildered, I scarcely knew which way to turn, and in my -fear and horror I ran into my own sitting-room and fell on the couch -there in sheer collapse." - -"You stayed there?" - -"Until I heard voices in the den--the men came back from the fire and -discovered the--the tragedy. At least, I think that's the way it was. -It's all mixed up in my mind. Usually I'm very clear-headed and strong -nerved, but that scene seemed to take away all my will-power--all my -vitality." - -"I don't wonder. What did you do or say?" - -"I had a vague fear that my husband or daughter would be accused of the -crime, and so, at once, I declared it was the work of the phantom bugler. -You've heard about him?" - -"Yes. You didn't think it was he, though, did you?" - -"I wanted to--yes, I think I did. You see, I don't think the bugler was a -phantom, but I do think he was a criminal. I mean, I think it was -somebody who meant harm to my husband. I--well--I think maybe the shot -was meant for Mr. Wheeler." - -Stone looked at her sharply, and said: "Please, Mrs. Wheeler, be honest -with me, whatever you may pretend to others. Are you not springing that -theory in a further attempt to direct suspicion away from Mr. Wheeler?" - -She gave a gesture of helplessness. "I see I can hide nothing from you, -Mr. Stone! You are right--but may there not be a chance that it is a true -theory after all?" - -"Possibly; if we can find any hint of the bugler's identity. Mr. Keefe -says, find the bugler and you've found the murderer." - -"I know he does, but Keefe is--as I am--very anxious to direct suspicion -away from the Wheeler family. You see, Mr. Keefe is in love with my -daughter----" - -"As who isn't? All the young men fall down before her charms!" - -"It is so. Although she is engaged to Mr. Allen, both Mr. Keefe and Mr. -Sam Appleby are hopeful of yet winning her regard. To me it is not -surprising, for I think Maida the very flower of lovely girlhood, but I -also think those men should recognize Jeffrey Allen's rights and cease -paying Maida such definite attentions." - -"It is hard to repress an ardent admirer," Stone admitted, "and as you -say, that is probably Keefe's intent in insisting on the finding of the -bugler. You do not, then, believe in your old legend?" - -"I do and I don't. My mind has a tendency to revere and love the old -traditions of my family, but when it comes to real belief I can't say I -am willing to stand by them. Yet where else can we look for a -criminal--other than my own people?" - -"Please tell me just what you saw when you looked into the den -immediately after you heard the shot. You must realize how important this -testimony is." - -"I do," was the solemn reply. "I saw, as I told you, both my husband and -my daughter looking at Mr. Appleby as he sat in his chair. I did not know -then that he was dead, but he must have been dead or dying. The doctors -said the death was practically instantaneous." - -"And from their attitude or their facial expression could you assume -either your husband or daughter to have been the guilty one?" - -"I can only say they both looked stunned and horrified. Just as one would -expect them to look on the occasion of witnessing a horrible tragedy." - -"Whether they were responsible for it or not?" - -"Yes. But I'm not sure the attitude would have been different in the case -of a criminal or a witness. I mean the fright and horror I saw on their -faces would be the same if they had committed a crime or had seen it -done." - -Stone considered this. "You may be right," he said; "I daresay absolute -horror would fill the soul in either case, and would produce much the -same effect in appearance. Now, let us suppose for a moment, that one or -other of the two did do the shooting--wait a moment!" as Mrs. Wheeler -swayed uncertainly in her chair. "Don't faint. I'm supposing this only in -the interests of you and yours. Suppose, I say, that either Mr. Wheeler -or Miss Wheeler had fired the weapon--as they have both confessed to -doing--which would you assume, from their appearance, had done it?" - -Controlling herself by a strong effort, Sara Wheeler answered steadily, -"I could not say. Honestly, to my startled eyes they seemed equally -horrified and stunned." - -"Of course they would. You see, Mrs. Wheeler, the fact that they both -confess it, makes it look as if one of them did do it, and the other -having witnessed the deed, takes over the blame to save the guilty one. -This sounds harsh, but we have to face the facts. Then, if we can get -more or different facts, so much the better." - -"You're suggesting, then, that one of my people did do it, and the other -saw it done?" - -"I'm suggesting that that might be the truth, and so far as we can see -now, is the most apparent solution. But I'm not saying it is the truth, -nor shall I relax my efforts to find another answer to our problem. And I -want to tell you that you have helped materially by withdrawing your own -confession. Every step I can take toward the truth is helpful. You have -lessened the suspects from three to two; now if I can eliminate another -we will have but one; and if I can clear that one, we shall have to look -elsewhere." - -"That is specious argument, Mr. Stone," and Sara Wheeler fixed her large, -sad eyes upon his face. "For, if you succeeded in elimination of one of -the two, it may be you cannot eliminate the third--and then----" - -"And then your loving perjuries will be useless. True, but I must do my -duty--and that means my duty to you all. I may tell you that Mr. Appleby, -who employed me, asked me to find a criminal outside of your family, -whether the real one or not." - -"He put it that way!" - -"He did; and while I do want to find the outside criminal, I can't find -him if he doesn't exist." - -"Of course not. I daresay I shall regret what I've told you, but----" - -"But you couldn't help it, I know. Don't worry, Mrs. Wheeler. If you've -no great faith in me, try to have a hopeful trust, and I assure you I -will not betray it." - -"Well, Mr. McGuire," Stone said to his adoring satellite, a little later, -"there's one out." - -"Mother Wheeler?" - -"Yes, you young scamp; how did you know?" - -"Saw you hobnobbing with her--she being took with a sudden attack of the -confidentials--and, anyhow, two of 'em--at least--has got to cave in. You -can ferret out which of 'em is George Washingtons and which isn't." - -"Well, here's the way it seems to stand now. Mind, I only say seems to -stand." - -"Yessir." - -"The father and daughter--both of whom confess to the shooting, were seen -in the room immediately after the event. Now, they were on opposite sides -of the room, the victim being about midway between them. Consequently, if -one shot, the other was witness thereto. And, owing to the deep devotion -obtaining between them, either father or daughter would confess to the -crime to save the other." - -"Then," Fibsy summed up, "Mr. Wheeler and Maida don't suspect each other; -one did it, and both know which one." - -"Well put. Now, which is which?" - -"More likely the girl did the shooting. She's awful impulsive, awful high -strung and awful fond of her father. Say the old Appleby gentleman was -beratin' and oratin' and iratin,' against Friend Wheeler, and say he went -a leetle too far for Miss Maida to stand, and say she had that new -secret, or whatever it is that's eatin' her--well, it wouldn't surprise -me overly, if she up and shot the varmint." - -"Having held the pistol in readiness?" - -"Not nec'ess'rily. She coulda sprung across the room, lifted the weapon -from its customed place in the drawer, and fired, all in a fleetin' -instant o' time. And she's the girl to do it! That Maida, now, she could -do anything! And she loves the old man enough to do anything. Touch and -go--that's what she is! Especially go!" - -"Well, all right. Yet, maybe it was the other way. Maybe, Wheeler, at the -end of his patience, and knowing the 'secret,' whatever it may be, flung -away discretion and grabbed up his own pistol and fired." - -"Coulda been, F. Stone. Coulda been--easily. But--I lean to the Maida -theory. Maida for mine, first, last, and all the time." - -"For an admirer of hers, and you're not by yourself in that, you seem -cheerfully willing to subscribe to her guilt." - -"Well, I ain't! But I do want to get the truth as to the three Wheelers. -And once I get it fastened on the lovely Maida, I'll set to work to get -it off again. But, I'll know where I'm at." - -"And suppose we fasten it on the lovely Daniel?" - -"That's a serious proposition, F. Stone. For, if he did it, he did it. -And if Maida did it--she didn't do it. See?" - -"Not very clearly; but never mind, you needn't expound. It doesn't -interest me." - -Fibsy looked comically chagrined, as he often did when Stone scorned his -ideas, but he said nothing except: - -"Orders, sir?" - -"Yes, Terence. Hunt up Rachel, the maid, and find out all she knows. Use -your phenomenal powers of enchantment and make her come across." - -"'Tis the same as done, sir!" declared the boy, and he departed at once -in search of Rachel. - -He sauntered out of the north door and took a roundabout way to the -kitchen quarters. - -Finally he found the cook, and putting on his best and most endearing -little boy effects, he appealed for something to eat. - -"Not but what I'm well treated at the table," he said, "but, you know -what boys are." - -"I do that," and the good-natured woman furnished him with liberal pieces -of pie and cake. - -"Great," said Fibsy, eating the last crumb as he guilefully complimented -her culinary skill, "and now I've got to find a person name o' Rachel. -Where might she be?" - -"She might be 'most anywhere, but she isn't anywhere," was the cryptic -reply. - -"Why for?" - -"Well, she's plain disappeared, if you know what that means." - -"Vamoosed? Skipped? Faded? Slid? Oozed out?" - -"Yes; all those. Anyway, she isn't on the place." - -"Since when?" - -"Why, I saw her last about two hours ago. Then when Mrs. Wheeler wanted -her she wasn't to be found." - -"And hasn't sence ben sane?" - -"Just so. And as you are part and parcel of that detective layout that's -infestin' the house an' grounds, I wish you'd find the hussy." - -"Why, why, what langwitch! Why call her names?" - -"She's a caution! Get along now, and if you can't find her, at least you -can quit botherin' me." - -"All right. But tell me this, before we part. Did she confide to your -willin' ears anything about the murder?" - -"Uncanny you are, lad! How'd you guess it?" - -"I'm a limb of Satan. What did she tell you? and when?" - -"Only this morning; early, before she flew off." - -"Couldn't very well have told you after she started." - -"No impidence now. Well, she told me that the night of the murder, as she -ran from here to the garage, she saw on the south veranda a man with a -bugle pipe!" - -"A pipe dream!" - -"I dunno. But she told it like gospel truth." - -"Just what did she say?" - -"Said she saw a man--a live man, no phantom foolishness, on the south -veranda, and he carried a bugle." - -"Did he play on it?" - -"No; just carried it like. But she says he musta been the murderer, and -by the same token it's the man I saw!" - -"Oho, you saw him, too?" - -"As I told your master, I saw him, but not plain, as I ran along to the -fire. Rachel, now, she saw him plain, so he musta been there. Well, -belike, he was the murderer and that sets my people free." - -"Important if true, but are you both sure? And why, oh, why does the -valuable Rachel choose this time to vanish? Won't she come back?" - -"Who knows? She didn't take any luggage----" - -"How did she go?" - -"Nobody knows. She walked, of course----" - -"Then she couldn't have gone far." - -"Oh, well, she could walk to the railway station. It's only a fairish -tramp. But _why_ did she go?" - -"I ask _you_ why." - -"And I don't know. But I suppose it was because she didn't want to be -questioned about the man who shot." - -"What! You didn't say she saw him shoot!" - -"Yes, I did. Or I meant to. Anyway that's what Rachel said. The man with -the bugle shot through the window and that's what killed Mr. Appleby." - -"Oh, come now, this is too big a yarn to be true, especially when the -yarner lights out at once after telling it!" - -"Well, Rachel has her faults, but I never knew her to lie. And if it was -the man I saw--why, that proves, at least, there was a man there." - -"But you didn't see him clearly." - -"But I saw him." - -"Then he must be reckoned with. Now, Cookie, dear, we _must_ find Rachel. -We must! Do you hear? You help me and I bet we'll get her." - -"But I've no idea where she went----" - -"Of course you haven't. But think; has she any friends or relatives -nearby?" - -"Not one." - -"Are there any trains about the time she left?" - -"I don't know what time she left, but there's been no train since -nine-thirty, and I doubt she was in time for that." - -"She took no luggage?" - -"No, I'll vouch for that." - -"Then she's likely in the neighborhood. Is there any inn or place she -could get a room and board?" - -"Oh, land, she hasn't gone away to stay. She's scart at something most -likely, and she'll be back by nightfall." - -"She may and she may not. She must be found. Wait, has she a lover?" - -"Well, they do say Fulton, the chauffeur, is sweet on her, but I never -noticed it much." - -"Who said he was?" - -"Mostly she said it herself." - -"She ought to know! Me for Fulton. Good-bye, Cookie, for the nonce," and -waving a smiling farewell, Fibsy went off toward the garage. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - RACHEL'S STORY - - -"Hello, Fult," Fibsy sang out gaily to the chauffeur, and received a -pleasant response, for few could resist the contagious smile of the -round, freckled face of the boy. - -"Hello, Mr. Fibsy," the other returned, "how you getting on with your -detective work?" - -"Fine; but I want a little help from you." - -"Me? I don't know anything about anything." - -"Well, then tell me what you don't know. That fire now, here in the -garage, the night of the murder, did you ever find out how it started?" - -Fulton's face took on a perplexed look and he said: "No, we didn't--and -it's a queer thing. It must have been started by some one purposely, for -there's no way it could have come about by accident." - -"Spontaneous combustion?" - -"Whatever made you think of that? And it couldn't have been from old -paint rags, or such, for there's nothing like that about. But--well, -here's what I found." - -Fulton produced a small bottle. It was empty and had no label or stopper, -and Fibsy looked at it blankly. - -"What is it?" he asked. - -"Never see one like it?" - -"No; have you?" - -"Yes, I have. I was in the war, and bottles like that contained acid -which, when combined with another acid, caused spontaneous combustion." - -"Combined--how?" - -"Well, they used to saturate some cloth or old clothes with the other -acid, and throw them about. Then, when the time came they threw a little -bottle like that, filled with acid, and with only a paper stopper, in -among the clothes. The acid slowly ate out the paper stopper, and then -the two acids caused combustion. So, by the time the fire started, the -man who was responsible for it was far away from the scene." - -"Whew! And you think that happened here?" - -"There's the bottle. The fire began in Mr. Appleby's car. Two coats and a -rug were burned--now, mightn't they have been sprinkled with the other -acid----" - -"Of course that's what happened! Why haven't you told this before?" - -"I only found the bottle this morning. It had been kicked under a bench, -and the sweeper found it. Then I fell a-thinking, for it's the very same -sort of bottle I saw used over there. Somebody who knew that trick did -it." - -"And whoever did it is either Mr. Appleby's murderer, or an accomplice." - -"You think the two crimes are connected, then?" - -"Haven't a doubt of it. You're a clever chap, Fulton, to dope this -out----" - -"Well, there was no other explanation. Anything else hinted at -carelessness of my management of this place, and that hurt my pride, for -I like to think this garage the pink of perfection as to cleanliness and -order." - -"Mr. Wheeler is fortunate in having such a man as you. Now, one more -thing, Fulton; where is Rachel?" - -"Rachel!" - -"Yes, your blush gives you away. If you know where she is, tell me. If -she's done nothing wrong it can do no harm to find her. If she _has_ done -anything wrong, she _must_ be found." - -"I don't know where she is, Mr. Fibsy----" - -"Call me McGuire. And if you don't know where she is, you know something -about her disappearance. When did she go away?" - -"I saw her last night. She said nothing about going away, but she seemed -nervous and worried, and I couldn't say anything to please her." - -"Can't you form any idea of where she might have gone? Be frank, Fulton, -for much depends on getting hold of that girl." - -"I can only say I've no idea where she is, but she may communicate with -me. In that case----" - -"In that case, let me know at once," Fibsy commanded, and having learned -all he could there, he went off to think up some other means of finding -the lost Rachel. - -Meantime Sam Appleby was taking his departure. - -"I have to go," he said, in response to the Wheelers' invitation to tarry -longer; "because Keefe is coming down to-morrow. One of us ought to be in -father's office all the time now, there's so much to attend to." - -"Why is Mr. Keefe coming here?" asked Maida. - -"Mr. Stone wants to see him," Appleby informed her. "You know, Keefe is -more or less of a detective himself, and Mr. Stone thinks he may be -helpful in finding the criminal. Miss Lane is coming also, she begged to, -mostly, I think, because she took such a liking to you." - -"I liked her, too," returned Maida; "she's a funny girl but a sincere, -thorough nature." - -"Yes, she is. Well, they'll only stay over a day or two, I can't spare -them longer. Of course, they may be of help to Mr. Stone, and they may -not. But I don't want to miss a trick in this investigation. What a queer -little chap that boy of Stone's is!" - -"Fibsy?" and Maida smiled. "Yes, he's a case! And he's my devoted slave." - -"As who isn't?" exclaimed Appleby. "Oh, Maida, do give me a little -encouragement. After this awful business is all over, mayn't I come back -with a hope that you'll smile on me?" - -"Don't talk that way, Sam. You know I'm engaged to Jeffrey." - -"Oh, no, you're not. I mean, it can be possible for you to change your -mind. Girls are often engaged to several men before they marry." - -"I'm not that sort," and Maida smiled a little sadly. - -"Be that sort, then." - -"You seem to forget that I may be openly accused of crime at any moment. -And a crime that hits you pretty closely." - -"Don't say such things, dear. Neither you nor any of your people are -responsible for the dreadful thing that happened to father--or, if you -are, I never want to know it. And I do want you, Maida dear--so much----" - -"Hush, Sam; I won't listen to anything like that from you." - -"Not now, but later on," he urged. "Tell me that I may come back, Maida -dear." - -"Of course you may come here, whenever you like, but I hold out no hope -of the sort you ask for." - -"I shall hope all the same. I'd die if I didn't! Good-bye, Maida, for -this time." - -He went away to the train, and later, came Keefe and Genevieve Lane. - -"Oh," the girl cried, "I'm so glad to be back here again, Maida. My, but -you're prettier than ever! If you'd only touch up those pale cheeks--just -a little bit--here, let me----" - -She opened her ever-ready vanity box, and was about to apply a touch of -rouge, but Maida sprang away from her. - -"No, no, Genevieve, I never use it." - -"Silly girl! You don't deserve the beauty nature gave you, if you're not -willing to help it along a little yourself! How do you do, Mrs. Wheeler -and Mr. Wheeler?" - -She greeted them prettily, and Keefe, too, exchanged greetings with the -family. - -"Anything being done?" he asked, finally. "Has Mr. Stone discovered -anything of importance?" - -"Nothing very definite, I fear," returned Daniel Wheeler. He spoke -wearily, and almost despairingly. Anxiety and worry had aged him, even in -the last few days. "I do hope, Keefe, that you can be of assistance. You -have a keen eye for details, and may know or remember some points that -escaped our notice." - -"I'm hoping I can help," Keefe returned with a serious face. "Can I see -Stone shortly?" - -"Yes, now. Come along into the den, he's in here." - -The two men went to the den, where Stone and Fibsy were in deep -consultation. - -"Very glad to see you, Mr. Keefe," Fleming Stone acknowledged the -introduction. "This is McGuire, my young assistant. You may speak frankly -before him." - -"If I have anything to speak," said Keefe. "I don't really know anything -I haven't told, but I may remind Mr. Wheeler of some points he has -forgotten." - -"Well, let's talk it all over," Stone suggested, and they did. - -Keefe was greatly surprised and impressed by the story of the cook's -having seen a man on the south veranda at the time of the shooting. - -"But she didn't see him clearly," Fibsy added. - -"Couldn't she describe him?" - -"No; she didn't see him plain enough. But the maid, Rachel, told cook -that she saw the man, too, and that he carried a bugle. Cook didn't see -the bugle." - -"Naturally not, if she only saw the man vaguely," said Wheeler. "But, it -begins to look as if there must have been a man there and if so, he may -have been the criminal." - -"Let us hope," said Keefe, earnestly. "Now, can you find this man, Mr. -Stone?" - -"We've got to find him," Stone returned, "whether we can or not. It's -really a baffling case. I think we've discovered the origin of the fire -in the garage." - -He told the story that Fibsy had learned from the chauffeur, and Keefe -was greatly interested. - -"What are the acids?" he asked. - -"I don't know the exact names," Stone admitted, "but they are of just -such powers as Fulton described, and the thing is plausible. Here's the -bottle." He offered the little vial for inspection and Keefe looked at it -with some curiosity. - -"The theory being," he said, "that the murderer first arranged for a fire -in our car--in Mr. Appleby's car--and then waited for the fire to come -off as planned. Then, at the moment of greatest excitement, he, being -probably the man the servants saw--shot through the bay window and killed -Mr. Appleby. You were fortunate, Miss Maida, that you weren't hit first!" - -"Oh, I was in no danger. I sat well back in the window-seat, and over to -one side, out of range of a shot from outside. And, too, Mr. Keefe, I can -scarcely discuss this matter of the shot from outside, as I am, myself, -the confessed criminal." - -"Confessing only to save me from suspicion," said her father, with an -affectionate glance. "But it won't do any good, dear. I take the burden -of the crime and I own up that I did it. This man on the veranda--if, -indeed, there was such a one, may have been any of the men servants about -the place, startled by the cry of fire, and running to assure himself of -the safety of the house and family. He, doubtless, hesitates to divulge -his identity lest he be suspected of shooting." - -"That's all right," declared Fibsy, "but if it was one of your men, he'd -own up by this time. He'd know he wouldn't be suspected of shooting Mr. -Appleby. Why should he do it?" - -"Why should anybody do it, except myself?" asked Dan Wheeler. "Not all -the detectives in the world can find any one else with a motive and -opportunity. The fact that both my wife and daughter tried to take the -crime off my shoulders only makes me more determined to tell the truth." - -"But you're not telling the truth, dad," and Maida looked at him. "You -know I did it--you know I had threatened to do it--you know I felt I just -could not stand Mr. Appleby's oppression of you another day! And so--and -so, I----" - -"Go on, Miss Wheeler," urged Stone, "and so you--what did you do?" - -"I ran across the den to the drawer where father keeps his pistol; I took -it and shot--then I ran back to the window-seat----" - -"What did you do with the pistol?" - -"Threw it out of the window." - -"Toward the right or left?" - -"Why, I don't know." - -"Try to think. Stand up there now, and remember which way you flung it." - -Reluctantly, Maida went to the bay window, and stood there thinking. - -"I don't know," she said, at last. "I can't remember." - -"It doesn't matter," said Keefe. "I think we can prove that it was none -of the Wheelers, but there was a man, an intruder, on the veranda who -shot. Even if we never find out his identity, we may prove that he was -really there. Where is this maid who saw him clearly? Rachel--is that her -name?" - -"That's a pretty thing, too!" Fibsy spoke up. "She has flew the coop." - -"Gone! Where?" Keefe showed his disappointment. - -"Nobody knows where. She just simply lit out. Even her lover doesn't know -where she is." - -"Who is her lover?" - -"Fulton, the chauffeur. He's just about crazy over her disappearance." - -"Oh, she'll return," surmised Stone. "She became frightened at something -and ran off. I think she'll come back. If not, we'll have to give chase. -We must find her, as she's the principal witness of the man on the -veranda. Cook is not so sure about him." - -"Who could he have been?" Keefe said. "Doubtless some enemy of Mr. -Appleby, in no way connected with the Wheelers." - -"Probably," agreed Stone. - -"We found the pistol, you know, Mr. Keefe," remarked Fibsy. - -"You did! Well, you have made progress. Where was it?" - -"In the fern bed, not far from the veranda railing." - -"Just where the man would have thrown it!" exclaimed Keefe. - -"Or where I threw it," put in Daniel Wheeler. - -"I'd like to see the exact place it was found," Keefe said. - -"Come on, I'll show you," offered Fibsy and the two started away -together. - -"Here you are," and Fibsy showed the bed of ferns, which, growing closely -together, made a dense hiding place. - -"A wonder you ever found it," said Keefe. "How'd you happen to?" - -"Oh, I just snooped around till I came to it. I says to myself, 'Either -the murderer flung it away or he didn't. If he did, why it must be -somewheres,' and it was." - -"I see; and does Mr. Stone think the finding of it here points to either -of the Wheelers?" - -"Not necess'rily. You see, if the man we're looking for did the shooting, -he's the one who threw the pistol in this here fern bed. And, you know -yourself, it's more likely a man threw this farther than a woman." - -"Miss Wheeler is athletic." - -"I know, but I'm convinced that Miss Wheeler didn't do the deed. Ain't -you?" - -"Oh, I can't think she did it, of course. But it's all very mysterious." - -"Not mysterious a bit. It's hard sleddin', but there ain't much mystery -about it. Why, look a-here. If either the father or daughter did it, they -both know which one it was. Therefore, one is telling the truth and one -isn't. It won't be hard to find out which is which, but F. Stone, he's -trying to find some one that'll let the Wheelers both out." - -"Oh, that's his idea? And a mighty good one. I'll help all I can. Of -course, the thing to do is to trace the pistol." - -"Oh, it was Mr. Wheeler's pistol, all right." - -"It was!" Keefe looked dismayed. "Then how can we suspect an outsider?" - -"Well, he could have stolen Mr. Wheeler's pistol for the purpose of -casting suspicion on him." - -"Yes; that's so. Now to find that Rachel." - -"Oh, do find her," Maida cried, overhearing the remark as she and -Genevieve crossed the lawn toward Keefe and Fibsy. - -The lad had not yet seen Miss Lane and he frankly admired her at once. -Perhaps a sympathetic chord was struck by the similarity of their -natures. Perhaps they intuitively recognized each other's gay impudence, -for they engaged in a clash of words that immediately made them friends. - -"Maybe Rachel'd come back if she knew you were here," he said. "I'm sure -she'd admire to wait on such a pretty lady." - -"Just tell her that you saw me," Genevieve said, "and I'll be glad to -have her back. She's a first-class ladies' maid." - -"Oh, then she only waits on first-class ladies?" - -"Yes; that's why she's so fond of me. Do hunt her up." - -"Well, cutie, just for you, I'll do that same. Where shall I go to look -for her?" - -"How should I know? But you keep watch of Fulton, and I'll bet he gets -some word from her." - -"Yes, they're sweethearts. Now, how do sweethearts get word to each -other? You ought to know all about sweethearting." - -"I don't," said Genevieve, demurely. - -"Pshaw, now, that's too bad. Want me to teach you?" - -"Yes--if you don't mind." - -"Saunter away with me, then," and the saucy boy led Miss Lane off for a -stroll round the grounds. - -"Honest, now, do you want to help?" he asked. - -"Yes, I do," she asserted. "I'm downright fond of Maida, and though I -know she didn't do it, yet she and her father will be suspected unless we -can find this other person. And the only way to get a line on him, seems -to be through Rachel. Why do you suppose she ran away?" - -"Can't imagine. Don't see how she could get scared." - -"No; what would scare her? I think she's at some neighbor's." - -"Let's you and me go to all the neighbors and see." - -"All right. We'll go in the Wheelers' little car. Fulton will take us." - -"Don't we get permission?" - -"Nixy. They might say no, by mistake for a yes. Come on--we'll just hook -Jack." - -To the garage they went and easily persuaded Fulton to take them around -to some of the neighboring houses. - -And at the third one they visited they found Rachel. A friend of hers was -a maid there, and she had taken Rachel in for a few days. - -"Why did you run off?" queried Fulton. - -"Oh, I don't know," and Rachel shuddered. "It all got on my nerves. Who's -over there now?" - -"Just the family, and the detectives and Mr. Keefe," Fulton answered. -"Will you come home?" - -"She will," Fibsy answered for her. "She will get right into this car and -go at once--in the name of the law!" he added sternly, as Rachel seemed -undecided. - -Fibsy often used this phrase, and, delivered in an awe-inspiring tone, it -was usually effective. - -Rachel did get into the car, and they returned to Sycamore Lodge in -triumph. - -"Good work, Fibs," Stone nodded his approval. "Now, Rachel, sit right -down here on the veranda, and tell us about that man you saw." - -The girl was clearly frightened and her voice trembled, but she tried to -tell her story. - -"There's nothing to fear," Curtis Keefe said, kindly. "Just tell slowly -and simply the story of your seeing the man and then you may be excused." - -She gave him a grateful look, and seemed to take courage. - -"Well, I was passing the veranda----" - -"Coming from where and going where?" interrupted Stone, speaking gently. - -"Why, I--I was coming from the--the garage----" - -"Where you had been talking to Fulton?" - -"Yes, sir." - -"All right, go on." - -"And I was going--going to go up to Mrs. Wheeler's room. I thought she -might want me. And as I went by the veranda, I saw the man. He was a big -man, and he carried a bugle." - -"He didn't blow on it?" - -"No, sir. Just waved it about like." - -"You didn't see that he had a pistol?" - -"I--I couldn't say, sir." - -"Of course you couldn't," said Keefe. "Men with pistols don't brandish -them until they get ready to shoot." - -"But you saw this man shoot?" went on Stone. - -"Yes, sir," Rachel said; "I saw him shoot through the bay window and then -I ran away." - -Whereupon, she repeated the action at the conclusion of her statement, -and hurried away. - -"Humph!" said Fleming Stone. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - THE AWFUL TRUTH - - -"Well, Fibs," said Stone, as the two sat alone in conclave, "what about -Rachel's story?" - -"You know, F. Stone, how I hate to doubt a lady's word, but--not to put -too fine a point upon it, the fair Rachel lied." - -"You think so, too, eh? And just why?" - -"Under orders. She was coached in her part. Told exactly what to say----" - -"By whom?" - -"Oh, you know as well as I do. You're just leading me on! Well, he -coached her, all right, and she got scared before the performance came -off and that's why she ran away." - -"Yes, I agree to all that. Keefe, of course, being the coach." - -"Yessir. He doing it, to save the Wheelers. You see, he's so desperately -in love with Miss Maida, that it sort of blinds his judgment and -cleverness." - -"Just how?" - -"Well, you know his is love at first sight--practically." - -"Look here, Terence, you know a great deal about love." - -"Yessir, it--it comes natural to me. I'm a born lover, I am." - -"Had much experience?" - -"Not yet. But my day's coming. Well, never mind me--to get back to Friend -Keefe. Here's the way it is. Miss Wheeler is sort of engaged to Mr. -Allen, and yet the matter isn't quite settled, either. I get that from -the servants--mean to gossip, but all's fair in love and sleuthing. Now, -Mr. Keefe comes along, sees the lovely Maida, and, zip! his heart is -cracked! All might yet be well, but for the wily Genevieve. She has her -cap set for Keefe, and he knows it, and was satisfied it should be so, -till he saw Miss Wheeler. Now, the fat's in the fire, and no pitch hot." - -"You do pick up a lot of general information." - -"It's necess'ry, sir." The red-head nodded emphatically. "These -sidelights often point the way to the great and shinin' truth! For, don't -you see, Mr. Keefe, being so gone on Miss Maida, naturally doesn't want -her or her people suspected of this crime--even if one of them is guilty. -So he fixes up a cock-and-bull story about a bugler man--on the south -veranda. This man, he argues, did the shooting. He gets Rachel--he must -have some hold on her, bribery wouldn't be enough--and he fair crams the -bugler yarn down her throat, and orders her to recite it as Gospel -truth." - -"Then she gets scared and runs away." - -"Exactly. You see it that way, don't you, Mr. Stone?" - -The earnest little face looked up to the master. Terence McGuire was -developing a wonderful gift for psychological detective work, and -sometimes he let his imagination run away with him. In such cases Stone -tripped him up and turned him back to the right track. Both had an -inkling that the day might eventually come when Stone would retire and -McGuire would reign in his stead. But this was, as yet, merely a dream, -and at present they worked together in unison and harmony. - -"Yes, Fibsy--at least, I see it may have been that way. But it's a big -order to put on--to Mr. Keefe." - -"I know, but he's a big man. I mean a man of big notions and projects. -Anybody can see that. Now, he's awful anxious Miss Wheeler and Mr. -Wheeler shall be cleared of all s'picion--even if he thinks one of 'em is -guilty. He doesn't consider Mrs. Wheeler--I guess nobody does now." - -"Probably not. Go on." - -"Well, so Keefie, he thinks if he can get this bugler person guaranteed, -by a reliable and responsible witness--which, of course, Rachel would -seem to be--then, Mr. Keefe thinks, he's got the Wheelers cleared. Now, -Rachel, getting cold feet about it all, goes back on Keefe--oh, I could -see it in his face!" - -"Yes, he looked decidedly annoyed at Rachel's failure of a convincing -performance." - -"He did so! Now, Mr. Stone, even if he bolsters up Rachel's story or gets -her to tell it more convincingly--we know, you and I, that it isn't true. -There wasn't any man on the south veranda." - -"Sure, Terence?" - -"Yessir, I'm pretty sure. For, what became of him? Where did he vanish -to? Who was he? There never was any bugler--I mean as a murderer. The -piper who piped some nights previous had nothing to do with the case!" - -"Sure, Terence?" - -"Oh, come now, Mr. Stone--I was sure, till you say that at me, so dubious -like--and then I'm not so sure." - -"Well, go on with your theory, and let's see where you come out. You may -be on the right track, after all. I'm not sure of many points myself -yet." - -"All right. To my mind, it comes back to a toss-up between Miss Maida and -her father, with the odds in favor of the old gentleman. Agree?" - -"I might, if I understood your English. The odds in favor of Mr. Wheeler -indicating his guilt or innocence?" - -"His guilt, I meant, F. Stone. I can't think that sweet young lady would -do it, and this isn't because she is a sweet young lady, but because it -isn't hardly plausible that she's put the thing over, even though she was -willing enough to do so." - -"It seems so to me, too, but we can't bank on that. Maida Wheeler is a -very impulsive girl, very vigorous and athletic, and very devoted to her -father. She worships him, and she has been known to say she would -willingly kill old Mr. Appleby. These things must be remembered, Fibsy." - -"That's so. But I've noticed that when folks threaten to kill people they -most generally don't do it." - -"I've also noticed that. But, striking out Maida's name, leaves us only -Mr. Wheeler." - -"Well, ain't he the one? Ain't he the down-trodden, oppressed victim, -who, at last, has opportunity, and who is goaded to the point of -desperation by the arguments of his enemy?" - -"You grow oratorical! But, I admit, you have an argument." - -"'Course I have. Now, say we've got to choose between Miss Wheeler and -Mr. Wheeler, how do we go about it?" - -"How?" - -"Why, we find out how Mr. Appleby was sitting, how Mr. Wheeler was facing -at the moment, and also Miss Maida's position. Then, we find out the -direction from which the bullet entered the body, and then we can tell -who fired the shot." - -"I've done all that, Fibs," Stone returned, with no note of superiority -in his voice. "I found out all those things, and the result proves that -the bullet entered Mr. Appleby's body from the direction of Miss Maida, -in the bay window, and directly opposite from what would have been its -direction if fired by Mr. Wheeler, from where he stood, when seen -directly after the shot." - -Fibsy looked dejected. He made no response to this disclosure for a -moment, then he said: - -"All right, F. Stone. In that case I'm going over to Mr. Keefe's side, -and I'm going to hunt up the bugler." - -"A fictitious person?" - -"Maybe he ain't so fictitious after all," and the red-head shook -doggedly. - -A tap at the door of Stone's sitting-room was followed by a "May I come -in?" and the entrance of Daniel Wheeler. - -"The time has come, Mr. Wheeler," Stone began a little abruptly, "to put -all our cards on the table. I've investigated things pretty thoroughly, -and, though I'm not all through with my quest, I feel as if I must know -the truth as to what you know about the murder." - -"I have confessed," Wheeler began, but Stone stopped him. - -"That won't do," he said, very seriously. "I've proved positively that -from where you stood, you could not have fired the shot. It came from the -opposite direction. Now it's useless for you to keep up that pretence of -being the criminal, which, I've no doubt, you're doing to shield your -daughter. Confide in me, Mr. Wheeler, it will not harm the case." - -"God help me, I must confide in somebody," cried the desperate man. "She -did do it! I saw Maida fire the shot! Oh, can you save her? I wouldn't -tell you this, but I think--I hope you can help better if you know. You'd -find it out anyway----" - -"Of course I should. Now, let us be strictly truthful. You saw Miss Maida -fire the pistol?" - -"Yes; I was sitting almost beside Appleby; he was nearer Maida than I -was, and she sat in the bay window, reading. She sits there much of the -time, and I'm so accustomed to her presence that I don't even think about -it. We were talking pretty angrily, Appleby and I, really renewing the -old feud, and adding fuel to its flame with every word. I suppose Maida, -listening, grew more and more indignant at his injustice and cruelty to -me--those terms are not too strong!--and she being of an impulsive -nature, even revengeful when her love for me is touched, and I suppose -she, somehow, possessed herself of my pistol and fired it." - -"You were not looking at her before the shot?" - -"Oh, no; the shot rang out, Appleby fell forward, and even as I rose to -go to his aid, I instinctively turned toward the direction from which the -sound of the shot had come. There I saw Maida, standing white-faced and -frightened, but with a look of satisfied revenge on her dear face. I felt -no resentment at her act, then--indeed, I was incapable of coherent -thought of any sort. I stepped to Appleby's side, and I saw at once that -he was dead--had died instantly. I cannot tell you just what happened -next. It seemed ages before anybody came, and then, suddenly the room was -full of people. Allen and Keefe came, running--the servants gathered -about, my wife appeared, and Maida was there. I had a strange -undercurrent of thought that kept hammering at my brain to the effect -that I must convince everybody that I did it, to save my girl. I was -clear-headed to the extent of planning my words in an effort to carry -conviction of my guilt, but that effort so absorbed my attention that I -gave no heed to what happened otherwise." - -"Thank you, Mr. Wheeler, for your kindness. I assure you you will not -regret it." - -"You're going to save her? You can save my little girl? Oh, Mr. Stone, I -beg of you----" - -The agonized father broke down completely, and Stone said, kindly: - -"Keep up a good heart, Mr. Wheeler. That will help your daughter more -than anything else you can do. I assumed that if one of you were guilty -the other was shielding the criminal, but your story has straightened out -the tangle considerably." - -"Lemme ask something, please," broke in Fibsy. "Say, Mr. Wheeler, did you -see the pistol in Miss Maida's hands?" - -"I can't say I did or didn't," Wheeler replied, listlessly. "I looked -only at her face. I know my daughter's mind so well, that I at once -recognized her expression of horror mingled with relief. She had really -desired the death of her father's enemy, and she was glad it had been -accomplished! It's a terrible thing to say of one's own child, but I've -made up my mind to be honest with you, Mr. Stone, in the hope of your -help. I should have persisted in my own story of guilt, had I not -perceived it was futile in the face of your clear-sighted logic and -knowledge of the exact circumstances." - -"You did wisely. But say nothing to any one else, for the present. Do not -even talk to Miss Maida about it, until I have time to plan our next -step. It is still a difficult and a very delicate case. A single false -move may queer the whole game." - -"You think, then, you can save Maida--oh, do give a tortured father a -gleam of hope!" - -"I shall do my best. You know they rarely, if ever, convict a woman--and, -too, Miss Wheeler had great provocation. Then--what about self-defence?" - -"Appleby threatened neither of us," Wheeler said. "That can't be used." - -"Well, we'll do everything we can, you may depend on that," Stone assured -him. And Wheeler went away, relieved at the new turn things had taken, -though also newly concerned for Maida's safety. - -"Nice old chap," said Fibsy to Stone. "He stuck to his faked yarn as long -as the sticking was good, and then he caved in." - -"Open and shut case, Terence?" - -"Open--but not yet shut, F. Stone. Now, where do we go from here?" - -"You go where you like, boy. Leave me to grub at this alone." - -Without another word Fibsy left the room. He well knew when Stone spoke -in that serious tone that great thoughts were forming in that fertile -brain and sooner or later he would know of them. But at present his -company was not desired. - -The boy drifted out on the terraced lawn and wandered about among the -gardens. He, too, thought, but he could see no light ahead. - -"S'long as the old man saw her," he observed to himself, "there's no more -to be said. He never'd say he saw her shoot, if he hadn't seen her. He's -at the end of his rope, and even if they acquit the lady I don't want to -see her dragged through a trial. But where's any way of escape? What can -turn up to contradict a straight story like that? Who else can testify -except the eye-witness who has just spoken? I wonder if he realized -himself how conclusive his statement was? But he trusted in F. Stone to -get Maida off, somehow. Queer, how most folks think a detective is a -magician, and can do the impossible trick!" - -In a brown study he walked slowly along the garden paths, and was seen by -Keefe and Maida, who sat under the big sycamore tree. - -"Crazy idea, Stone bringing that kid," Keefe said, with a laugh. - -"Yes, but he's a very bright boy," Maida returned. "I've been surprised -at his wise observations." - -"Poppycock! He gets off his speeches with that funny mixture of newsboy -slang and detective jargon, and you think they're cleverer than they -are." - -"Perhaps," agreed Maida, not greatly interested. "But what a strange -story Rachel told. Do you believe it, Mr. Keefe?" - -"Yes, I do. The girl was frightened, I think; first, at the information -she tried to divulge, and second, by finding herself in the limelight. -She seems to be shy, and I daresay the sudden publicity shook her nerves. -But why shouldn't her story be true? Why should she invent all that?" - -"I don't know, I'm sure. But it didn't sound like Rachel--the whole -thing, I mean. She seemed acting a part." - -"Nonsense! You imagine that. But never mind her, I've something to tell -you. I know--Maida, mind you, I know what Mr. Appleby meant by the speech -which I took to be 'Mr. Keefe and the airship.'" - -Maida's face went white. - -"Oh, no!" she cried, involuntarily. "Oh, no!" - -"Yes," Keefe went on, "and I know now he said heirship. Not strange I -misunderstood, for the words are of the same sound--and, then I had no -reason to think of myself in connection with an heirship!" - -"And--and have you now?" - -"Yes, I have. I've been over Mr. Appleby's papers--as I had a right to -do. You know I was his confidential secretary, and he kept no secrets -from me--except those he wanted to keep!" - -"Go on," said Maida, calm now, and her eyes glistening with an expression -of despair. - -"Need I go on? You know the truth. You know that I am the rightful heir -of this whole place. Sycamore Ridge is mine, and not your mother's." - -"Yes." The word was scarce audible. Poor Maida felt as if the last blow -had fallen. She had seared her conscience, defied her sense of honor, -crucified her very soul to keep this dreadful secret from her parents for -their own sake, and now all her efforts were of no avail! - -Curtis Keefe knew that the great estate was legally his, and now her dear -parents would be turned out, homeless, penniless and broken down by -sorrow and grief. - -Even though he might allow them to stay there, they wouldn't, she knew, -consent to any such arrangement. - -She lifted a blanched, strained face to his, as she said: "What--what are -you going to do?" - -"Just what you say," Keefe replied, drawing closer to her side. "It's all -up to you, Maida dear. Don't look offended; surely you know I love -you--surely you know my one great desire is to make you my wife. Give -your consent; say you will be mine, and rest assured, dearest, there will -be no trouble about the 'heirship.' If you will marry me, I will promise -never to divulge the secret so long as either of your parents live. They -may keep this place, and, besides that, darling, I will guarantee to get -your father a full pardon. I--well, I'm not speaking of it yet--but I'll -tell you that there is a possibility of my running for governor myself, -since young Sam is voluntarily out of it. But, in any case, I have -influence enough in certain quarters--influence increased by knowledge -that I have gleaned here and there among the late Mr. Appleby's -papers--to secure a full and free pardon for your father. Now, Maida, -girl, even if you don't love me very much yet, can't you say yes, in view -of what I offer you?" - -"How can you torture me so? Surely you know that I am engaged to Mr. -Allen." - -"I didn't know it was a positive engagement--but, anyway," his voice grew -hard, "it seems to me that any one so solicitous for her parents' welfare -and happiness as you have shown yourself, will not hesitate at a step -which means so much more than others you have taken." - -"Oh, I don't know what to do--what to say--let me think." - -"Yes, dear, think all you like. Take it quietly now. Remember that a -decision in my favor means also a calm, peaceful and happy life insured -to your parents. Refusal means a broken, shattered life, a precarious -existence, and never a happy day for them again. Can you hesitate? I'm -not so very unpresentable as a husband. You may not love me now, but you -will! I'll be so good to you that you can't help it. Nor do I mean to win -your heart only by what I shall do for you. For, Maida dearest, love -begets love, and you will find yourself slowly perhaps, but surely, -giving me your heart. And we will be so happy! Is it yes, my darling?" - -The girl stared at him, her big brown eyes full of agony. - -"You forget something," she said, slowly. "I am a murderess!" - -"Hush! Don't say that awful word! You are not--and even if you were, I'll -prove you are not! Listen, Maida, if you'll promise to marry me, I'll -find the real murderer--not you or your father, but the real murderer. -I'll get a signed confession--I'll acquit you and your family of any -implication in the deed, and I'll produce the criminal himself. Now, will -you say yes?" - -"You can't do all that," she said, speaking in an awestruck whisper, as -if he had proposed to perform a miracle. - -"I can--I swear it!" - -"Then, if you can do that, you ought to do it, anyway! In the interests -of right and justice, in common honesty and decency, you ought to tell -what you know!" - -"Maida, I am a man and I am in love with you. That explains much. I will -do all I have promised, to gain you as my bride--but not otherwise. As to -right and justice--you've confessed the crime, haven't you?" - -"Yes." - -"Do you confess it to me, now? Do you say to me that you killed Samuel -Appleby?" - -There was but a moment's pause, and then Maida said, in a low tone: -"Yes--I confess it to you, Mr. Keefe." - -"Then, do you see what I mean when I say I will produce the--murderer? Do -you see that I mean to save you from the consequences of your own rash -act--and prove you, to the world at large, innocent?" - -Keefe looked straight into Maida's eyes, and her own fell in confusion. - -"Can you do it?" she asked, tremulously. - -"When I say I will do a thing, I've already proved to my own satisfaction -that I can do it. But, I'll do it only at my own price. The price being -you--you dear, delicious thing! Oh, Maida, you've no idea what it means -to be loved as I love you! I'll make you happy, my darling! I'll make you -forget all this horrible episode; I'll give you a fairyland life. You -shall be happier than you ever dreamed of." - -"But--Jeffrey--oh, I can't." - -"Then--Miss Wheeler, you must take the consequences--all the -consequences. Can you do that?" - -"No," Maida said, after an interval of silence. "I can't. I am forced to -accept your offer, Mr. Keefe----" - -"You may not accept it with that address." - -"Curtis, then. Curtis, I say, yes." - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - MAIDA'S DECISION - - -"Maida, it cannot be. I shall never let you marry Mr. Keefe when I know -how you love Jeffrey." Sara Wheeler spoke quietly, but her agonized face -and tear-filled eyes told of her deep distress. Though not demonstrative, -she loved her daughter, her only child, with an affection that was almost -idolatry, and she had been glad of the idea of Maida's marriage to -Jeffrey, for she knew of his sterling worth, and she knew the depth and -sincerity of their attachment. - -"Don't say you won't let me, mother," Maida spoke in a dull, sad tone--a -tone of calm despair. "It must be so. I'm not saying I love him--I'm not -saying much about it all--but I tell you solemnly--it must be. And you -must not raise a single word of objection--if you do, you will only make -my hard lot harder." - -"But, dear, you must explain. I am your mother--I've always had your -confidence, and I ought to be told why you are doing this thing." - -"That's just the trouble, mother. I can't tell you. And because of the -confidence that has always been between us, you must trust me and believe -that I am doing right--and doing the only possible thing. Oh, it is all -hard enough, without having to argue about it. Why, my will power may -give out! My soul strength may break down! Mother! don't--don't combat -me! Don't tempt me aside from the only straight line of duty and of -right!" - -"Child, you are not doing right! You cannot have a duty of which I know -nothing! Of which your father knows nothing! Maida, my little girl, what -is this thing that has warped your sense of right and wrong? Has Curtis -Keefe won your heart away from Jeffrey----" - -"No--oh, no! Never that! But it would be a wrong to Jeffrey for me to -marry him--it would be a wrong to--to all of us! By marrying Mr. Keefe I -can make everything right--and----" she suddenly assumed an air of cold, -stern determination. "Mother, my mind is made up. You cannot change it, -nor can you help me by trying. You only make it harder for me, and I beg -of you to stop. And then--you know, mother--I killed Mr. Appleby----" - -"Hush, Maida, you never did! I know you didn't!" - -"But it was either I or father! You don't believe he did, do you?" - -"God help me! I don't know what to believe! But I tried to say I did -it--only I couldn't carry it out--nor can you, dear." - -"Nor can father, then. Oh, mother, I did do that shooting! I did! I did!" - -"Every assertion like that makes me more certain you didn't," and Mrs. -Wheeler fondly caressed the head that lay on her breast. Maida was not -hysterical, but so deeply troubled that she was nervously unstrung and -now gave way to torrents of tears, and then ceased crying and bravely -announced her plans. - -"Please, mother darling, don't talk about that. Suppose I tell you that -even that matter will be all set right if I marry Curtis Keefe--and by no -other means. Even Mr. Stone can't find any other suspect than us three -Wheelers. He doesn't at all believe in the 'bugler.' Nobody does." - -"I do." - -"Only as a last chance to free father and me. Mother it's an awful -situation. Worse, far worse than you know anything about. Won't you trust -me to do what I know to be right--and when I tell you I must marry Mr. -Keefe, won't you believe me? And not only believe me but help me. Help me -in every way you can--for God knows I need help." - -"What can I do, darling," asked Sara Wheeler, awed by the look of utter -hopelessness on Maida's face. - -"Stand by me, mother. Urge father not to oppose this marriage. Help me to -tell Jeffrey--you tell him, can't you, mother? I can't--oh, I can't!" - -Again Sara Wheeler broke out into protestations against this sacrifice of -her loved daughter, and again Maida had to reaffirm her decision, until, -both worn out, they separated, Sara promising to do just as Maida wished -in all things. - -And in fulfillment of this promise, Sara told young Allen. - -As she expected, he was stunned by the news, but where she had supposed -he would show anger or rage, he showed only a deep sympathy for Maida. - -"Poor little girl," he said, the quick tears springing to his eyes; "what -dreadful thing can that man have held over her to force her to this? And -what is the best way for me to go about remedying the situation? You -know, Mrs. Wheeler, Maida wouldn't talk like that unless she had arrived -at a very desperate crisis----" - -"If she killed Mr. Appleby----" - -"She never did! No power on earth can make me believe that! Why, when -Maida's own confession doesn't convince me, what else could? No; there's -some deep mystery behind that murder. I mean something far deeper and -more mysterious than any of us yet realize. I think Mr. Stone is on track -of the solution, but he cannot have made much progress--or, if he has, he -hasn't told of it yet. But, I'm not a detective--nor is any needed when -Mr. Stone is on the case, but I am out to protect and clear my Maida--my -darling. Poor child, how she is suffering! Where is she?" - -"Don't go to her, Jeff. At least, not just now. She begged that you -wouldn't----" - -"But I must--I've got to!" - -"No; for her sake--Jeffrey dear, for our Maida's sake, leave her alone -for the present. She is so worried and anxious, so wrought up to the very -verge of collapse, that if you try to talk to her she will go all to -pieces." - -"But that's all wrong. I ought to soothe her, to comfort her--not make -her more troubled!" - -"You ought to, I know, but you wouldn't. Oh, it isn't your fault--it -isn't that you don't love her enough--not that she doesn't love you -enough--in fact, that's just the trouble. Try to see it, Jeff. Maida is -in the clutch of circumstances. I don't know the facts, you don't; but it -is true that the kindest thing we can do for her just now is to leave her -alone. She will do right----" - -"As she sees it, yes! But she sees wrong, I know she does! The child has -always been overconscientious--and I'm positive that whatever she is up -to, it's something to save her father!" - -"Oh, Jeff--then you believe he is----" - -"Why, Mrs. Wheeler, don't _you_ know whether your husband killed Mr. -Appleby or not?" - -"I don't know! Heaven help me--how can I know? The two of them, shielding -each other----" - -"Wait a minute, if they are shielding each other--they're both innocent!" - -"But it isn't that way. Mr. Wheeler said to me, at first: 'Of course, -either Maida or I did it. We both know which one did it, but if we don't -tell, no one else can know.'" - -"I see that point; but I should think, knowing both so closely as you do, -you could discern the truth--and"--he gazed at her steadily--"you have." - -"Yes--I have. Of course, as you say, in such intimacy as we three are, it -would be impossible for me not to know." - -"And--it was Maida?" - -"Yes, Jeffrey." - -"How are you certain?" - -"Her father saw her." - -"Saw her shoot?" - -"Yes." - -"Then, I'm glad you told me. I'm going to marry her at once, and have all -rights of her protection through the trial--if it comes to that. Nothing -else could have convinced me of her act! Poor, dear little Maida. I've -known her capability for sudden, impulsive action but--oh, well, if Mr. -Wheeler saw her--that's all there is to be said. Now, dear Mrs. Wheeler, -you must let me go to my Maida!" - -"But, Jeffrey, I only told you that to persuade you to let her alone. Let -her have her own way. She says that to marry Curtis Keefe will save her -from prosecution--even from suspicion. She says he can free her from all -implication in the matter." - -"By a fraud?" - -"I don't know----" - -"I won't have it! If Maida did that shooting she had ample -excuse--motive, rather. Not a man on a jury would convict her. And I'd -rather she'd stand trial and----" - -"Oh, no, Jeffrey, don't talk like that! I'd consent to anything to save -that girl from a trial--oh, you can't mean you want her tried!" - -"Rather than to see her married to any man but me, I'd----" - -"Wait, Jeff. We mustn't be selfish. I'm her mother, and much as I'd hate -to see her marry Keefe, I'd far prefer it--for her sake, than----" - -"No! a thousand times, no! Why, I won't give her up! Keefe is a fine -man--I've nothing against him--but she's my Maida--my own little -sweetheart----" - -"And for that reason--for your own sake--you're going to claim her?" - -"It isn't only for my own sake"--Jeff spoke more humbly; "but I know--I -know how she loves me. To let her marry another would be to do her a -grievous wrong----" - -"Not if she wants to--look there!" - -Mrs. Wheeler pointed from the window, and they saw Maida walking across -the lawn in deep and earnest conversation with Curtis Keefe. He was tall -and handsome and the deferential air and courteous attitude all spoke in -his favor. Maida was apparently listening with interest to his talk, and -they went on slowly toward the old sycamore and sat down on the bench -beneath it. - -"Our trysting-place!" Jeffrey murmured, his eyes fastened on the pair. - -It did not require over-close observation to see that Maida was listening -willingly to Keefe. Nor was there room for doubt that he was saying -something that pleased her. She was brighter and more cheerful than she -had been for days. - -"You see," said Sara Wheeler, sadly. "And he is a worth-while man. Mr. -Appleby thought very highly of him." - -"I don't!" said Allen, briefly, and unable to stand any more, he left the -room. - -He went straight to the two who were sitting under the big tree, and -spoke directly: - -"What does this mean, Maida? Your mother tells me you----" - -"Let me answer," spoke up Keefe, gaily; "it means that Miss Wheeler has -promised to marry me. And we ask your congratulations." - -"Are you not aware," Jeff's face was white but his voice was controlled -and steady, "that Miss Wheeler is my fiancée?" - -"Hardly that," demurred Keefe. "I believe there was what is called an -understanding, but I'm assured it has never been announced. However, the -lady will speak for herself." - -"Go away, Jeff," Maida pleaded; "please, go away." - -"Not until you tell me yourself, Maida, what you are doing. Why does Mr. -Keefe say these things?" - -"It is true." Maida's face was as white as Allen's. "I am going to marry -Mr. Keefe. If you considered me bound to you, I--hereby break it off. -Please go away!" the last words were wrung from her in a choked, agonized -voice, as if she were at the end of her composure. - -"I'm going," Allen said, and went off in a daze. - -He was convinced of one thing only. That Maida was in the power of -something or some person--some combination of circumstances that forced -her to this. He had no doubt she meant what she said; had no doubt she -would really marry Keefe--but he couldn't think she had ceased to love -him--her own Jeffrey! If he thought that, he was ready to die! - -He walked along half blindly, thinking round in circles, always coming -back to the possibility--now practically a certainty--of Maida being the -murderer, and wondering how Keefe meant to save her from the clutches of -the law. He was perturbed--almost dazed, and as he went along unseeingly, -Genevieve Lane met him, turned and walked by his side. - -"What's Curtie Keefe doing with your girl?" she asked, for the rolling -lawn was so free of trees, the pair beneath the sycamore could be plainly -seen. - -"I don't know!" said Allen, honestly enough, as he looked in the -good-humored face of the stenographer. - -"I don't want him making love to her," Miss Lane went on, pouting a -little, "first, because she's altogether too much of a belle anyway; and -second--because----" - -She paused, almost scared at the desperate gaze Allen gave her. - -"I hope you mean because you look upon him as your property," he said, -but without smiling. - -"Now, just why do you hope that?" - -"Because in that case, surely you can get him back----" - -"Oh, what an aspersion on Miss Wheeler's fascinations!" - -"Hush; I'm in no mood for chaffing. Are you and Keefe special friends?" - -Genevieve looked at him a moment, and then said, very frankly: "If we're -not, it isn't my fault. And--to tell you the bald truth, we would have -been, had not Miss Wheeler come between us." - -"Are you sure of that?" - -"How rude you are! But, yes--I'm practically sure. Nobody can be sure -till they're certain, you know." - -"Don't try to joke with me. Look here, Miss Lane, suppose you and I try -to work together for our respective ends." - -"Meaning just what, Mr. Allen?" - -"Meaning that we try to separate Keefe and Maida--not just at this -moment--but seriously and permanently. You, because you want him, and I, -because I want her. Isn't it logical?" - -"Yes; but if I could get him back, don't you suppose I would?" - -"You don't get the idea. You're to work for me, and I for you." - -"Oh--I try to make Maida give him up--and you----" - -"Yes; but we must have some pretty strong arguments. Now, have you any -idea why Maida has----" - -"Has picked him up with the tongs? I have a very decided idea! In fact, I -know." - -"You do! Is it a secret?" - -"It is. Such a big secret, that if it leaked out, the whole universe, so -far as it affects the Wheeler family, would be turned topsy-turvy!" - -"Connected with the--the death of Mr. Appleby?" - -"Not with the murder--if that's what you mean. But it was because of the -death of Mr. Appleby that the secret came to light." - -"Can you tell me?" - -"I can--but do I want to?" - -"What would make you want to?" - -"Why--only if you could do what you sort of suggested--make Mr. Keefe -resume his attentions to poor little Genevieve and leave the lovely Maida -to you." - -"But how can I do that?" - -"Dunno, I'm sure! Do you want me to tell you the secret, and then try to -get my own reward by my own efforts?" - -"Oh, I don't know what I want! I'm nearly distracted. But"--he pulled -himself together--"I'm on the job! And I'm going to accomplish -something--a lot! Now, I'm not going to dicker with you. Size it up for -yourself. Don't you believe that if you told me that -secret--confidentially--except as it can be used in the furtherance of -right and happiness for all concerned--don't you believe that I might use -it in a way that would incidentally result in a better adjustment of the -present Keefe-Wheeler combination?" He nodded toward the two under the -sycamore. - -"Maybe," Genevieve said, slowly and thoughtfully, "I thought of telling -Mr. Stone--but----" - -"Tell me first, and let me advise you." - -"I will; I have confidence in you, Mr. Allen, and, too, it may be a good -thing to keep the secret in the family. The truth is, then, that Mrs. -Wheeler is not legally the heir to this estate." - -"She is, if she lives in Massachusetts, and the house is so built----" - -"Oh, fiddlesticks! I don't mean that part of it. The estate is left with -the proviso that the inheritor shall live in Massachusetts--but, what I -mean is, that it isn't left to Mrs. Wheeler at all. She thought it was, -of course--but there is another heir." - -"Is there? I've often heard them speak of such a possibility but they -never could find a trace of one." - -"I know it, and they're so honest that if they knew of one they'd put up -no fight. I mean if they knew there is a real heir, and that Sara Wheeler -is not the right inheritor." - -"Who is?" - -"Curtis Keefe!" - -"Oh, no! Miss Lane, are you sure?" - -"I am. I discovered it from Mr. Appleby's private papers, since his -death." - -"Does Keefe know it?" - -"Of course; but he doesn't know I know it. Now, see here, Mr. Allen, get -this. Mr. Appleby knew it when he came down here. He--this is only my own -theory, but I'll bet it's the right one--he had discovered it lately; -Keefe didn't know it. My theory is, that he came down here to hold that -knowledge as a club over the head of Mr. Wheeler to force him to do his, -Appleby's, bidding in the campaign matters. Well, then--he was killed to -prevent the information going any farther." - -"Killed by whom?" - -Genevieve shrugged her shoulders. "I can't say. Any one of the three -Wheelers might have done it for that reason." - -"No; you're wrong. Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Wheeler would have. They'd give -up the place at once." - -"Your mental reservation speaks for itself! That leaves Maida! Suppose -she knew it and the rest didn't. Suppose, in order to keep the knowledge -from her parents----" - -"Don't go on!" he begged. "I see it--maybe it was so. But--what next?" - -"Next--alas, Curt Keefe has fallen a victim to Maida's smiles. That's -what's making more trouble than anything else. I'm positive he is arguing -that if she will marry him he will keep quiet about his being the heir. -Then, her parents can live here in peace for the rest of their lives." - -"I begin to see." - -"I knew you would. Now, knowing this, and being bound to secrecy -concerning it, except, as you agreed, if it can serve our ends, where do -we go from here?" - -Allen looked at her steadily. "Do you expect, Miss Lane, that I will -consent to keep this secret from the Wheelers?" - -"You'll have to," she returned, simply. "Maida knows it, therefore it's -her secret now. If she doesn't want her parents told--you can't presume -to tell them!" - -Allen looked blank. "And you mean, she'd marry Keefe, to keep the secret -from her parents?" - -"Exactly that; and there'd be no harm in keeping the secret that way, for -if Curt Keefe were her husband, it wouldn't matter whether he was the -rightful heir or not, if he didn't choose to exercise or even make known -his rights." - -"I see. And--as to the----" - -"The murder?" Genevieve helped him. "Well, I don't know. If Maida did -it--and I can't see any way out of that conclusion, Curt will do whatever -he can to get her off easily. Perhaps he can divert suspicion -elsewhere--you know he made up that bugler man, and has stuck to -him--maybe he can get a persons unknown verdict--or maybe, with money and -influence, he can hush the whole thing up--and, anyway--Maida would never -be convicted. Why, possibly, the threat of Mr. Appleby--if he did -threaten--could be called blackmail. Anyhow, if there's a loophole, -Curtis Keefe will find it! He's as smart as they make 'em. Now, you know -the probabilities--almost the inevitabilities, I might say, what are we -going to do about it?" - -"Something pretty desperate, I can tell you!" - -"Fine talk, but what's the first step?" - -"Do you want to know what I think?" - -"I sure do." - -"Then, I say, let's take the whole story to Fleming Stone--and at once." - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - MAIDA AND HER FATHER - - -Genevieve hesitated. Although she had thought of doing this herself, yet -she was not quite sure she wanted to. - -But Allen insisted. - -"Come with me or not, as you choose," he said; "but I'm going to tell -Stone. A secret like that must be divulged--in the interests of law and -justice and----" - -"Justice to whom?" asked Genevieve. - -"Why, to all concerned." Allen stopped to think. "To--to Keefe, for one," -he concluded, a little lamely. - -"Yes, and to yourself for two!" Genevieve exclaimed. "You want the secret -to come out so Maida won't marry Curt to keep it quiet! Own up, now." - -Allen couldn't deny this, but back of it was his instinctive desire for -justice all round, and he doggedly stuck to his determination of laying -the matter before Fleming Stone. - -Genevieve accompanied him, and together they sought Stone in his -sitting-room. - -Fibsy was there and the two were in deep consultation. - -"Come in," Stone said, as his visitors appeared. "You have something to -tell me, I gather from your eager faces." - -"We have," Allen returned, and he began to tell his story. - -"Let me tell it," Miss Lane interrupted him, impatiently. "You see, Mr. -Stone, Mr. Allen is in love with Miss Wheeler, and he can't help coloring -things in her favor." - -"And you're in love with Mr. Keefe," Stone said, but without a smile, -"and you can't help coloring things in his favor." - -The girl bridled a little, but was in no way embarrassed at the -assertion. - -"Take your choice, then," she said, flippantly. "Who do you want to tell -you the secret we're ready to give away?" - -"Both," Fibsy spoke up. "I'll bet it's a worth-while yarn, and we'll hear -both sides--if you please. Ladies first; pipe up, Miss Lane." - -"The actual secret can be quickly told," the girl said, speaking a little -shortly. "The truth is, that Mrs. Wheeler is not the legal heir to this -estate of Sycamore Ridge--but, Mr. Keefe is." - -"Curtis Keefe!" Stone exclaimed, and Fibsy gave a sharp, explosive -whistle. - -"Yes," said Genevieve, well pleased at the sensation her words had -produced. - -Not that her hearers made any further demonstration of surprise. Stone -fell into a brown study, and Fibsy got up and walked up and down the -room, his hands in his pockets, and whistling softly under his breath. - -"Well!" the boy said, finally, returning to his chair. "Well, F. Stone, -things is changed since gran'ma died! Hey?" - -"In many ways!" Stone assented. "You're sure of this, of course?" he -asked Genevieve. "How do you know?" - -"Well, I learned it from Mr. Appleby's papers----" - -"Private papers?" - -"Yes, of course. He didn't have 'em framed and hanging on his wall. You -see, Mr. Keefe, being Mr. Appleby's confidential secretary, had access to -all his papers after the old gentleman died." - -"His son?" - -"Of course, young Sam is the heir, and owns everything, but he kept Curt -on, in the same position, and so, Curt--Mr. Keefe went over all the -papers. As stenographer and general assistant, I couldn't very well help -knowing the contents of the papers and so I learned the truth, that Mr. -Keefe, who is of another branch of the family, is really the principal -heir to the estate that is now in Mrs. Wheeler's possession. I can't give -you all the actual details, but you can, of course, verify my -statements." - -"Of course," mused Stone. "And Mr. Keefe hasn't announced this -himself--because----" - -"That's it," Genevieve nodded assent to his meaning glance. "Because he -wants to marry Maida, and if she'll marry him, he'll keep quiet about the -heirship. Or, rather, in that case, it won't matter, as the elder -Wheelers can live here if it's the property of their son-in-law. But, if -not, then when Mr. Keefe walks in--the Wheeler family must walk out. And -where would they go?" - -"I can take care of them," declared Allen. "Maida is my promised wife; if -she consents to marry Keefe, it will be under compulsion. For she knew -this secret, and she dared not tell her people because it meant poverty -and homelessness for them. You know, Mr. Wheeler is incapable of -lucrative work, and Mrs. Wheeler, brought up to affluence and comfort, -can't be expected to live in want. But I can take care of them--that is, -I could--if they could only live in Boston. My business is there, and we -could all live on my earnings if we could live together." - -The boy--for young Allen seemed scarcely more than a boy--was really -thinking aloud as he voiced these plans and suggestions. But he shook his -head sadly as he realized that Daniel Wheeler couldn't go to Boston, and -that a marriage between Keefe and Maida was the only way to preserve to -them their present home. - -"Some situation!" remarked Fibsy. "And the secret is no secret really, -for if Miss Wheeler doesn't marry Mr. Keefe, he'll tell it at once. And -if she does, the whole matter doesn't matter at all! But I think she -will, for what else can she do?" - -Jeffrey Allen looked angrily at the boy, but Fibsy's funny little face -showed such a serious interest that it was impossible to chide him. - -"I think she won't!" Allen said, "but I'm not sure just yet how I'm going -to prevent it." - -"You won't have to," said Stone; "Miss Wheeler will prevent it -herself--or I miss my guess!" He looked kindly at the young man, but -received only a half smile in return. - -"If we all do our share in the matter, perhaps we can arrange things," -Genevieve said, speaking very seriously. "I've something to say, for I am -engaged to Curtis Keefe myself." - -"Does he think you are?" Stone said, rather casually. - -Miss Lane had the grace to blush, through her rouge, but she declared: -"He doesn't want to," and added, "but he ought to. He has made love to -me, and he once asked me to marry him. But since then he has said he -didn't mean it. I don't suppose I've enough evidence for a breach of -promise suit, but--oh, well," and she tossed her pretty head, "I've not -the least doubt that if Miss Wheeler were out of the question--say, -safely married to Mr. Allen, I'd have no trouble in whistling my Curtie -back." - -"I'll bet you wouldn't!" Fibsy looked at her admiringly. "If I were only -a few years older----" - -"Hush, Terence," said Fleming Stone, "don't talk nonsense." - -Immediately Fibsy's face became serious and he turned his attention away -from the fascinating Genevieve. - -"But all this is aside the question of the murderer, Mr. Stone," said -Allen. "How are you progressing with that investigation?" - -"Better than I've disclosed as yet," Stone returned, speaking slowly; -"recent developments have been helpful, and I hope to be ready soon to -give a report." - -"You expect Mr. Appleby down?" - -"Yes; to-night or to-morrow. By that time I hope to be ready to make an -arrest." - -"Maida!" cried Jeffrey, the word seeming wrung from him against his will. - -"Forgive me, if I do not reply," said Stone, with an earnest glance at -the questioner. "But I'd like to talk to Miss Wheeler. Will you go for -her, Mr. Allen?" - -"I'd--I'd rather not--you see----" - -"Yes, I see," said Stone, kindly. "You go, Fibs." - -"I'll go," offered Genevieve, with the result that she and McGuire flew -out of the room at the same time. - -"All right, Beauteous One, we'll both go," Fibsy said, as they went along -the hall side by side. "Where is the lady?" - -"Donno; but we'll find her. I say, Terence, come down on the veranda just -a minute, first." - -Leading him to a far corner, where there was no danger of eavesdroppers, -Genevieve made another attempt to gain an ally for her own cause. - -"I say," she began, "you have a lot of influence with your Mr. Stone, -don't you?" - -"Oh, heaps!" and Fibsy's sweeping gesture indicated a wide expanse of -imagination, at least. - -"No fooling; I know you have. Now, you use that influence for me and I'll -do something for you." - -"What'll you do?" - -"I don't know; nothing particular. But, I mean if, at any time I can help -you in any way--I've influence, too, with big men in the financial and -business world. I haven't always worked for the Applebys, and wherever -I've been I've made friends that I can count on." - -"Oh, you mean a tip on the stock market or something of that sort?" - -"Yes, or a position in a big, worth-while office. You're not always going -to be a detective's apprentice, are you?" - -"You bet I am! Watcha talking about? Me leave F. Stone! Not on your -fleeting existence! But, never mind that part of the argument, I'll -remember your offer, and some day, when I have a million dollars to -invest, I'll ask your advice where to lose it. But, now, you tell me what -you want." - -"Only for you to hint to Mr. Stone that he'd better advise Miss Wheeler -not to marry Mr. Keefe." - -"So's you can have him." - -"Never mind that. There are other reasons--truly there are." - -"Well, then, my orders are to advise F. Stone to advise M. Wheeler not to -wed one C. Keefe." - -"That's just it. But don't say it right out to him. Use tact, which I -know you have--though nobody'd guess it to look at you--and sort of argue -around, so he'll see it's wiser for her not to marry him----" - -"Why?" - -Miss Lane stamped her foot impatiently. "I'm not saying why. That's -enough for me to know. You'll get along better not knowing." - -"Does he know she's the--the----" - -"I don't wonder you can't say it! I can't, either. Yes, he knows -she's--it--but he's so crazy about her, he doesn't care. What is there in -that girl that gets all the men!" - -"It's her sweetness," said Fibsy, with a positive nod of his head, as if -he were simply stating an axiom. "Yep, Keefe is clean gone daffy over -her. I don't blame him--though, of course my taste runs more to----" - -"Don't you dare!" cried Genevieve, coquettishly. - -"To the rouged type," Fibsy went on, placidly. "To my mind a complexion -dabbed on is far more attractive than nature's tints." - -Miss Lane burst into laughter and, far from offended, she said: - -"You're a darling boy, and I'll never forget you--even in my will; now, -to come back to our dear old brass tacks. Will you tip a gentle hint to -the great Stone?" - -"Oh, lord, yes--I'll tip him a dozen--tactfully, too. Don't worry as to -my discretion. But I don't mind telling you I might as well tip the -Washington monument. You see, F. S. has made up his mind." - -"As to the murderer?" - -"Yep." - -"Who is it?" - -"Haven't an idea--and if I had, I'd say I hadn't. You see, I'm his -trusty." - -"Oh, well, in any case, you can put in a word against Mr. Keefe, can't -you?" - -But Genevieve had lost interest in her project. She realized if Mr. Stone -had accomplished his purpose and had solved the murder mystery he would -be apt to take small interest in the love affairs of herself or Maida -Wheeler, either. - -"He won't think much of his cherished trusty, if you don't do the errand -he sent you on," she said, rather crossly. - -Fibsy gave her a reproachful glance. "This, from you!" he said, -dramatically. "Farewell, fair but false! I go to seek a fairer maiden, -and I know where to find her!" - -He went flying across the lawn, for he had caught a glimpse of Maida in -the garden. - -"Miss Wheeler," he said, as he reached her, "will you please come now to -see Mr. Stone? He wants you." - -"Certainly," she replied, and turning, followed him. - -Genevieve joined them, and the three went to Stone's rooms. - -"Miss Wheeler," the detective said, without preamble, "I want you to tell -me a few things, please. You'll excuse me if my questions seem rather -pointed, also, if they seem to be queries already answered. Did you kill -Mr. Appleby?" - -"Yes," said Maida, speaking wearily, as if tired of making the assertion. - -"You know no one believes that statement?" - -"I can't help that, Mr. Stone," she said, with a listless manner. - -"That is, no one but one person--your father. He believes it." - -"Father!" exclaimed the girl in evident amazement. - -"Yes; he believes you for the best of all possible reasons: He saw you -shoot." - -"What, Mr. Stone? My father! Saw me shoot Mr. Appleby!" - -"Yes; he says so. That is not strange, when, as you say, you fired the -pistol from where you stood in the bay window, and Mr. Wheeler stood by -or near the victim." - -"But--I don't understand. You say, father says he _saw_ me?" - -"Yes, he told me that." - -Maida was silent, but she was evidently thinking deeply and rapidly. - -"This is a trap of some sort, Mr. Stone," she said at last. "My father -didn't see me shoot--he couldn't have seen me, and consequently he -couldn't say he did! He wouldn't lie about it!" - -"But he said, at one time, that he did the shooting himself. Was not that -an untruth?" - -"Of a quite different sort. He said that in a justifiable effort to save -me. But this other matter--for him to say he saw me shoot--when he -didn't--he couldn't----" - -"Why couldn't he, Miss Wheeler? Why was it so impossible for your father -to see you commit that crime, when he was right there?" - -"Because--because--oh, Mr. Stone, I don't know what to say! I feel sure I -mustn't say anything, or I shall regret it." - -"Would you like your father to come here and tell us about it?" - -"No;--or, yes. Oh, I don't know. Jeffrey, help me!" - -Allen had sat silently brooding all through this conversation. He had not -looked at Maida, keeping his gaze turned out of the window. He was sorely -hurt at her attitude in the Keefe matter; he was puzzled at her speech -regarding her father; and he was utterly uncertain as to his own duty or -privilege in the whole affair. But at her appeal, he turned joyfully -toward her. - -"Oh, Maida," he cried, "let me help you. Do get your father here, now, -and settle this question. Then, we'll see what next." - -"Call him, then," said Maida, but she turned very white, and paid no -further attention to Allen. She was still lost in thought, when her -father arrived and joined the group. - -"You said, Mr. Wheeler," Stone began at once, "that you saw your daughter -fire the shot that killed Mr. Appleby?" - -"I did say that," Daniel Wheeler replied, "because it is true. And -because I am convinced that the truth will help us all better than any -further endeavor to prove a falsehood. I did see you, Maida darling, and -I tried very hard to take the blame myself. But it has been proved to me -by Mr. Stone that my pretence is useless, and so I've concluded that the -fact must come out, in hope of a better result than from concealment. Do -not fear, my darling, no harm shall come to you." - -"And you said you did it, father, and mother said she did it." - -"Yes, of course, I told your mother the truth, and we plotted--yes, -plotted for each of us to confess to the deed, in a wild hope of somehow -saving our little girl." - -"And you saw me shoot, father?" - -"Why, yes, dear--that is, I heard the shot, and looked up to see you -standing there with consternation and guilt on your dear face. Your arm -had then dropped to your side, but your whole attitude was unmistakable. -I couldn't shut my eyes to the evident fact that there was no one else -who could have done the deed." - -"There must have been, father--for--I didn't do it." - -"I knew you didn't! Oh, Maida!" With a bound Allen was at her side and -his arm went round her. But she moved away from him, and went on -talking--still in a strained, unnatural voice, but steadily and -straightforwardly. - -"No; I didn't shoot Mr. Appleby. I've been saying so, to shield my -father. I thought he did it." - -"Maida! Is it possible?" and Daniel Wheeler looked perplexed. "But, oh, -I'm so glad to hear your statement." - -"But who did do it, then?" Miss Lane asked, bluntly. - -"Who cares, so long as it wasn't any of the Wheelers!" exclaimed Jeffrey -Allen, unable to contain his gladness. "Oh, Maida----" - -But again she waved him away from her. - -"I don't understand, Mr. Stone," she began; "I don't know where these -disclosures will lead. I hope, not back to my mother----" - -"No, Maida," said her father, "there's no fear of that." - -Reassured, Maida went on. "Perhaps I can't be believed now, after my -previous insistence on my guilt, but God knows it is the truth; I am -utterly innocent of the crime." - -"I believe it," said Fleming Stone. "There was little evidence against -you, except your own confession. Now you've retracted that it only -remains for me to find the real criminal." - -"Can you," cried Fibsy excitedly, "can you, F. Stone?" - -"Don't you know which way to look, Terence?" - -"I do--and I don't--" the boy murmured; "oh, lordy! I do--and--I don't!" - -"But there's another matter to be agreed upon," said Maida, who had not -at all regained her normal poise or appearance. Her face was white and -her eyes blurred with tears. But she persisted in speech. - -"I want it understood that I am engaged to marry Mr. Keefe," she said, -not looking at Jeffrey at all. "I announce my engagement, and I desire -him to be looked upon and considered as my future husband." - -"Maida!" came simultaneously from the lips of her father and Allen. - -"Yes, that is positive and irrevocable. I have my own reasons for this, -and one of them is"--she paused--"one very important one is, that Mr. -Keefe knows who shot Mr. Appleby, and can produce the criminal and -guarantee his confession to the deed." - -"Wow!" Fibsy remarked, explosively, and Fleming Stone stared at the girl. - -"He used this as an argument to persuade you to marry him, Miss Wheeler?" - -"I don't put it that way, Mr. Stone, but I have Mr. Keefe's assurance -that he will do as I told you, and also that he will arrange to have a -full and free pardon granted to my father for the old sentence he is -still suffering under." - -"Well, Maida, I don't wonder you consented," said Miss Lane, her round -eyes wide with surprise. "And I suppose he's going to renounce all claim -to this estate?" - -"Yes," said Maida, calmly. - -"Anything else?" said Allen, unable to keep an ironic note out of his -voice. - -"Yes," put in Fibsy, "he's going to be governor of Massachusetts." - -"Oh, my heavens and earth!" gasped Genevieve, "what rubbish!" - -"Rubbish, nothing!" Fibsy defended his statement. "You know he's after -it." - -"I felt sure he would, when Sam Appleby gave up the running--but--I -didn't know he had taken any public steps." - -"Never mind what Mr. Keefe is going to do, or not going to do," said -Maida, in a tone of finality, "I expect to marry him--and soon." - -"Well," said Stone, in a business-like way, "I think our next one to -confer with must be Mr. Keefe." - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - A FINAL CONFESSION - - -Inquiry for Keefe brought the information that he had gone to a nearby -town, but would be back at dinner-time. - -Mr. Appleby was also expected to arrive for dinner, coming from home in -his motor car. - -But in the late afternoon a severe storm set in. The wind rose rapidly -and gained great velocity while the rain fell steadily and hard. Curtis -Keefe arrived, very wet indeed, though he had protecting clothing. But a -telephone message from Sam Appleby said that he was obliged to give up -all idea of reaching Sycamore Ridge that night. He had stopped at a -roadhouse, and owing to the gale he dared not venture forth again until -the storm was over. He would therefore not arrive until next day. - -"Lucky we got his word," said Mr. Wheeler. "This storm will soon put many -telephone wires out of commission." - -When Keefe came down at the dinner hour, he found Maida alone in the -living-room, evidently awaiting him. - -"My darling!" he exclaimed, going quickly to her side, "my own little -girl! Are you here to greet me?" - -"Yes," she said, and suffered rather than welcomed his caressing hand on -her shoulder. "Curtis, I told them you would tell them who killed Mr. -Appleby." - -"So I will, dearest, after dinner. Let's not have unpleasant subjects -discussed at table. I've been to Rushfield and I've found out all the -particulars that I hadn't already learned, and--I've got actual proofs! -Now, who's a cleverer detective than the professionals?" - -"Then that's all right. Now, are you sure you can also get father freed?" - -"I hope to, dear. That's all I can say at present. Do you take me for a -magician? I assure you I'm only an ordinary citizen. But I----" - -"But you promised----" - -"Yes, my little love, I did, and I well know that you promised because I -did! Well, I fancy I shall keep every promise I made you, but not every -one as promptly as this exposure of the criminal." - -"But you'll surely fix it so father can go into Massachusetts--can go to -Boston?" - -"Well, rather! I expect--though you mustn't say anything about it--but -I've an idea that you may yet be a governor's wife! And it wouldn't do -then to have your father barred from the state!" - -Maida sighed. The hopes Keefe held out were the realization of her -dearest wishes--but, oh, the price she must pay! Yet she was -strong-willed. She determined to give no thought whatever to Jeffrey, for -if she did she knew her purpose would falter. Nor did she even allow -herself the doubtful privilege of feeling sorry for him. Well she knew -that that way madness lay. And, thought the poor child, sad and -broken-hearted though Jeff may be, his sadness and heartbreak are no -worse than mine. Not so bad, for I have to take the initiative! I have to -take the brunt of the whole situation. - -The others assembled, and at dinner no word was said of the tragedy. Save -for Maida and Jeffrey Allen, the party was almost a merry one. - -Daniel Wheeler and his wife were so relieved at the disclosure of Maida's -innocence that they felt they didn't care much what happened next. Fibsy -flirted openly with Genevieve and Fleming Stone himself was quietly -entertaining. - -Later in the evening they gathered in the den and Keefe revealed his -discoveries. - -"I felt all along," he said, "that there was--there must have been a man -on the south veranda who did the shooting. Didn't you think that, Mr. -Stone?" - -"I did at times," Stone replied, truthfully. "I confess, though my -opinion changed once or twice." - -"And at the present moment?" insisted Keefe. - -"At the present moment, Mr. Keefe, your attitude tells me that you expect -to prove that there was such a factor in the case, so I would be foolish -indeed to say I doubted it. But, to speak definitely--yes, I do think -there was a man there, and he was the murderer. He shot through the -window, past Miss Wheeler, and most naturally, her father thought she -fired the shot herself. You see, it came from exactly her direction." - -"Yes;" agreed Keefe, "and moreover, you remember, Rachel saw the man on -the veranda--and the cook also saw him----" - -"Yes--the cook saw him!" Fibsy put in, and though the words were innocent -enough, his tone indicated a hidden meaning. - -But beyond a careless glance, Keefe didn't notice the interruption and -went on, earnestly: - -"Now, the man the servants saw was the murderer. And I have traced him, -found him, and--secured his signed confession." - -With unconcealed pride in his achievement, Keefe took a folded paper from -his pocket and handed it to Daniel Wheeler. - -"Why the written confession? Where is the man?" asked Stone, his dark -eyes alight with interest. - -"Gee!" muttered Fibsy, under his breath, "going some!" - -Genevieve Lane stared, round-eyed and excited, while Allen and the -Wheelers breathlessly awaited developments. - -"John Mills!" exclaimed Mr. Wheeler, looking at the paper. "Oh, the -faithful old man! Listen, Stone. This is a signed confession of a man on -his death-bed----" - -"No longer that," said Keefe, solemnly, "he died this afternoon." - -"And signed this just before he died?" - -"Yes, Mr. Wheeler. In the hospital. The witnesses, as you see, are the -nurses there." - -The paper merely stated that the undersigned was the slayer of Samuel -Appleby. That the deed was committed in order to free Daniel Wheeler from -wicked and unjust molestation and tyranny. The signature, though faintly -scrawled, was perfectly legible and duly witnessed. - -"He was an old servant of mine," Wheeler said, thoughtfully, "and very -devoted to us all. He always resented Appleby's attitude toward me--for -Mills was my butler when the trouble occurred, and knew all about it. He -has been an invalid for a year, but has been very ill only recently." - -"Since the shooting, in fact," said Keefe, significantly. - -"It must have been a hard task for one so weak," Wheeler said, "but the -old fellow was a true friend to me all his life. Tell us more of the -circumstances, Mr. Keefe." - -"I did it all by thinking," said Keefe, his manner not at all superior, -nor did he look toward Fleming Stone, who was listening attentively. "I -felt sure there was some man from outside. And I thought first of some -enemy of Mr. Appleby's. But later, I thought it might have been some -enemy of Mr. Wheeler's and the shot was possibly meant for him." - -Wheeler nodded at this. "I thought that, too," he observed. - -"Well, then later, I began to think maybe it was some friend--not an -enemy. A friend, of course, of Mr. Wheeler's. On this principle I -searched for a suspect. I inquired among the servants, being careful to -arouse no suspicion of my real intent. At last, I found this old Mills -had always been devoted to the whole family here. More than devoted, -indeed. He revered Mr. Wheeler and he fairly worshipped the ladies. He -has been ill a long time of a slow and incurable malady, and quite lately -was taken to the hospital. When I reached him I saw the poor chap had but -a very short time to live." - -"And you suspected him of crime with no more evidence than that?" Fleming -Stone asked. - -"I daresay it was a sort of intuition, Mr. Stone," Keefe returned, -smiling a little at the detective. "Oh, I don't wonder you feel rather -miffed to have your thunder stolen by a mere business man--and I fear -it's unprofessional for me to put the thing through without consulting -you, but I felt the case required careful handling--somewhat -psychological handling, indeed----" - -"Very much so," Stone nodded. - -"And so," Keefe was a little disconcerted by the detective's demeanor, -but others set it down to a very natural chagrin on Stone's part. - -Fibsy sat back in his chair, his bright eyes narrowed to mere slits and -darting from the face of Keefe to that of Stone continually. - -"And so," Keefe went on, "I inquired from the servants and also, -cautiously from the members of the family, and I learned that this Mills -was of a fiery, even revengeful, nature----" - -"He was," Mr. Wheeler nodded, emphatically. - -"Yes, sir. And I found out from Rachel that----" - -"Rachel!" Fibsy fairly shot out the word, but a look from Stone made him -say no more. - -"Yes, Rachel, the maid," went on Keefe, "and I found that the man she saw -on the veranda was of the same general size and appearance as Mills. -Well, I somehow felt that it was Mills--and so I went to see him." - -"At the hospital?" asked Wheeler. - -"Yes; some days ago. He was then very weak, and the nurses didn't want me -to arouse him to any excitement. But I knew it was my duty----" - -"Of course," put in Stone, and Keefe gave him a patronizing look. - -"So, against the wishes of the nurses and doctors, I had an interview -alone with Mills, and I found he was the criminal." - -"He confessed?" asked Stone. - -"Yes; and though he refused to sign a written confession, he agreed he -would confess in the presence of Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Stone. But--that was -only this morning--and the doctor assured me the man couldn't live the -day out. So I persuaded the dying man to sign this confession, which I -drew up and read to him in the presence of the nurses. He signed--they -witnessed--and there it is." - -With evident modesty, Keefe pointed to the paper still in Wheeler's -hands, and said no more. - -For a moment nobody spoke. The storm was at its height. The wind whistled -and roared, the rain fell noisily, and the elements seemed to be doing -their very worst. - -Genevieve shuddered--she always was sensitive to weather conditions, and -that wind was enough to disturb even equable nerves. - -"And this same Mills was the phantom bugler?" asked Stone. - -"Yes--he told me so," returned Keefe. "He knew about the legend, you see, -and he thought he'd work on the superstition of the family to divert -attention from himself." - -Genevieve gasped, but quickly suppressed all show of agitation. - -Fibsy whistled--just a few notes of the bugle call that the "phantom" had -played. - -At the sound Keefe turned quickly, a strange look on his face, and the -Wheelers, too, looked startled at the familiar strain. - -"Be quiet, Terence," Stone said, rather severely, and the boy subsided. - -"Now, Mr. Keefe," Fleming Stone said, "you must not think--as I fear you -do--that I grudge admiration for your success, or appreciation of your -cleverness. I do not. I tell you, very sincerely, that what you have -accomplished is as fine a piece of work as I have ever run across in my -whole career as detective. Your intuition was remarkable and your -following it up a masterpiece! By the way, I suppose that it was Mills, -then, who started the fire in the garage?" - -"Yes, it was," said Keefe. "You see, he is a clever genius, in a sly way. -He reasoned that if a fire occurred, everybody would run to it except Mr. -Wheeler, who cannot go over the line. He hoped that, therefore, Mr. -Appleby would not go either--for Mr. Appleby suffered from flatfoot--at -any rate, he took a chance that the fire would give him opportunity to -shoot unnoticed. Which it did." - -"It certainly did. Now, Mr. Keefe, did he tell you how he set that fire?" - -"No, he did not," was the short reply. "Moreover, Mr. Stone, I resent -your mode of questioning. I'm not on the witness stand. I've solved a -mystery that baffled you, and though I understand your embarrassment at -the situation, yet it does not give you free rein to make what seem to me -like endeavors to trip me up!" - -"Trip you up!" Stone lifted his eyebrows. "What a strange expression to -use. As if I suspected you of faking his tale." - -"It speaks for itself," and Keefe glanced nonchalantly at the paper he -had brought. "There's the signed confession--if you can prove that -signature a fake--go ahead." - -"No," said Daniel Wheeler, decidedly; "that's John Mills' autograph. I -know it perfectly. He wrote that himself. And a dying man is not going to -sign a lie. There's no loophole of doubt, Mr. Stone. I think you must -admit Mr. Keefe's entire success." - -"I do admit Mr. Keefe's entire success," Stone's dark eyes flashed, "up -to this point. From here on, I shall undertake to prove my own entire -success, since that is the phrase we are using. Mr. Wheeler, your present -cook was here when John Mills worked for you?" - -"She was, Mr. Stone, but you don't need her corroboration of this -signature. I tell you I know it to be Mills'." - -"Will you send for the cook, please?" - -Half unwillingly, Wheeler agreed, and Maida stepped out of the room and -summoned the cook. - -The woman came in, and Stone spoke to her at once. - -"Is that John Mills' signature?" he asked, showing her the paper. - -"It is, sir," she replied, looking at him in wonder. - -A satisfied smile played on Keefe's face, only to be effaced at Stone's -next question. - -"And was John Mills the person you saw--vaguely--on the south veranda -that night of Mr. Appleby's murder?" - -"That he was not!" she cried, emphatically. "It was a man not a bit like -Mills, and be the same token, John Mills was in his bed onable to walk at -all, at all." - -"That will do, Mr. Wheeler," and Stone dismissed the cook with a glance. -"Now, Mr. Keefe?" - -"As if that woman's story mattered," Keefe sneered, contemptuously, "she -is merely mistaken, that's all. The word of the maid, Rachel, is as good -as that of the cook----" - -"Oh, no, it isn't!" Stone interrupted, but, paying no heed to him, Keefe -went on; "and you can scarcely doubt the signature after Mr. Wheeler and -your friend the cook have both verified it." - -Though his demeanor was quiet, Keefe's face wore a defiant expression and -his voice was a trifle blustering. - -"I do not doubt the signature," Stone declared, "nor do I doubt that you -obtained it at the hospital exactly as you have described that incident." - -Keefe's face relaxed at that, and he recovered his jaunty manner, as he -said: "Then you admit I have beaten you at your own game, Mr. Stone?" - -"No, Mr. Keefe, but I have beaten you at yours." - -A silence fell for a moment. There was something about Stone's manner of -speaking that made for conviction in the minds of his hearers that he -said truth. - -"Wait a minute! Oh, wait a minute!" It was Genevieve Lane who cried out -the words, and then she sprang from her chair and ran to Keefe's side. - -Flinging her arms about him, she whispered close to his ear. - -He listened, and then, with a scornful gesture he flung her off. - -"No!" he said to her; "no! a thousand times, no! Do your worst." - -"I shall!" replied Genevieve, and without another word she resumed her -seat. - -"Yes," went on Stone, this interruption being over, "your ingenious -'success' in the way of detecting is doomed to an ignominious end. You -see, sir," he turned to Daniel Wheeler, "the clever ruse Mr. Keefe has -worked, is but a ruse--a stratagem, to deceive us all and to turn the -just suspicion of the criminal in an unjust direction." - -"Explain, Mr. Stone," said Wheeler, apparently not much impressed with -what he deemed a last attempt on the part of the detective to redeem his -reputation. - -"Yes, Mr. Stone," said Keefe, "if my solution of this mystery is a -ruse--a stratagem--what have you to offer in its place? You admit the -signed confession?" - -"I admit the signature, but not the confession. John Mills signed that -paper, Mr. Keefe, but he is not the murderer." - -"Who is, then?" - -"You are!" - -Keefe laughed and shrugged his shoulders, but at that moment there was -such a blast of wind and storm, accompanied by a fearful crash, that what -he said could not be heard. - -"Explain, please, Mr. Stone," Wheeler said again, after a pause, but his -voice now showed more interest. - -"I will. The time has come for it. Mr. Wheeler, do you and Mr. Allen see -to it, that Mr. Keefe does not leave the room. Terence--keep your eyes -open." - -Keefe still smiled, but his smile was a frozen one. His eyes began to -widen and his hands clenched themselves upon his knees. - -"Curtis Keefe killed Samuel Appleby," Stone went on, speaking clearly but -rapidly. "His motive was an ambition to be governor of Massachusetts. He -thought that with the elder Appleby out of the way, his son would have -neither power nor inclination to make a campaign. There were other, minor -motives, but that was his primary one. That, and the fact that the elder -Appleby had a hold on Mr. Keefe, and of late had pressed it home -uncomfortably hard. The murder was long premeditated. The trip here -brought it about, because it offered a chance where others might -reasonably be suspected. Keefe was the man on the veranda, whom the cook -saw--but not clearly enough to distinguish his identity. Though she did -know it was not John Mills." - -"But--Mr. Stone----" interrupted Wheeler, greatly perturbed, "think what -you're saying! Have you evidence to prove your statements?" - -"I have, Mr. Wheeler, as you shall see. Let me tell my story and judge me -then. A first proof is--Terence, you may tell of the bugle." - -"I went, at Mr. Stone's orders," the boy stated, simply, "to all the -shops or little stores in this vicinity where a bugle might have been -bought; I found one was bought in a very small shop in Rushfield and -bought by a man who corresponded to Mr. Keefe's description, and who, -when he stopped at the shop, was in a motor car whose description and -occupants were the Appleby bunch. Well, anyway--Miss Lane here knows that -Mr. Keefe bought that bugle--don't you?" He turned to Genevieve, who, -after a glance at Keefe, nodded affirmation. - -"And so," Stone went on, "Mr. Keefe used that bugle----" - -"How did he get opportunity?" asked Wheeler. - -"I'll tell you," offered Genevieve. "We all staid over night in -Rushfield, and I heard Mr. Keefe go out of doors in the night. I watched -him from my window. He returned about three hours later." - -It was clear to all listening, that when Genevieve had whispered to Keefe -and he had told her to do her worst, they were now hearing the "worst." - -"So," Stone narrated, "Mr. Keefe came over here and did the bugling as a -preliminary to his further schemes. You admit that, Mr. Keefe?" - -"I admit nothing. Tell your silly story as you please." - -"I will. Then, the day of the murder, Mr. Keefe arranged for the fire in -the garage. He used the acids as the man Fulton described, and as Keefe's -own coat was burned and his employer's car he felt sure suspicion would -not turn toward him. When the fire broke out--which as it depended on the -action of those acids, he was waiting for, Keefe ran with Mr. Allen to -the garage. But--and this I have verified from Mr. Allen, Keefe -disappeared for a moment, and, later was again at Allen's side. In that -moment--Mr. Wheeler, that psychological moment, Curtis Keefe shot and -killed Samuel Appleby." - -"And Mills?" - -"Is part of the diabolically clever scheme. Mills was dying; he was -leaving a large family without means of support. He depended, and with -reason, on hope of your generosity, Mr. Wheeler, to his wife and -children. But Curtis Keefe went to him and told him that you were about -to be dispossessed of your home and fortune, and that if he would sign -the confession--knowing what it was--that he, Keefe, would settle a large -sum of money on Mrs. Mills and the children at once. And he did." - -"You fiend! You devil incarnate!" cried Keefe, losing all control. "How -do you know that?" - -"I found it all out from Mrs. Mills," Stone replied; "your accomplices -all betrayed you, Mr. Keefe. A criminal should beware of accomplices. -Rachel turned state's evidence and told how you bribed her to make up -that story of the bugler--or rather, to relate parrot-like--the story you -taught to her." - -"It's all up," said Keefe, flinging out his hands in despair. "You've -outwitted me at every point, Mr. Stone. I confess myself vanquished----" - -"And you confess yourself the murderer?" said Stone, quickly. - -"I do, but I ask one favor. May I take that paper a moment?" - -"Certainly," said Stone, glancing at the worthless confession. - -Keefe stepped to the table desk, where the paper lay, but as he laid his -left hand upon it, with his right he quickly pulled open a drawer, -grasped the pistol that was in it, and saying, with a slight smile: "A -life for a life!" drew the trigger and fell to the floor. - -From the gruesome situation, its silence made worse by the noise of the -storm outside, Daniel Wheeler led his wife and daughter. Jeffrey Allen -followed quickly and sought his loved Maida. - -Reaction from the strain made her break down, and sobbing in his arms she -asked and received full forgiveness for her enforced desertion of him. - -"I couldn't do anything else, Jeff," she sobbed. "I had to say yes to him -for dad's sake--and mother's." - -"Of course you did, darling; don't think about it. Oh, Maida, look! The -wind has torn up the sycamore! Unrooted it, and it has fallen over----" - -"Over into Massachusetts!" Maida cried; "Jeffrey, think what that means!" - -"Why--why!----" Allen was speechless. - -"Yes; the sycamore has gone into Massachusetts--and father can go!" - -"Is that real, Maida--is it truly a permission?" - -"Of course it is! We've got Governor Appleby's letter, saying so--written -when he was governor, you know! Jeffrey--I'm so happy! It makes me forget -that awful----" - -"Do forget it all you can, dearest," and beneath her lover's caresses, -Maida did forget, for the moment at least. - -"It's the only inexplicable thing about it all, Fibs," Fleming Stone -observed, after the case was among the annals of the past, "that the old -sycamore fell over and fell the right way." - -"Mighty curious, F. Stone," rejoined the boy, with an expressionless -face. - -"You didn't help it along, did you? You know the injunction was, 'without -intervention of human hands.'" - -"I didn't intervent my hands, Mr. Stone," said the boy, earnestly, -"honest I didn't. But--it wasn't nominated in the bond that I shouldn't -kick around those old decaying roots with my foot--just so's if it -_should_ take a notion to fall it would fall heading north!" - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Provided an original cover image, for free and unrestricted use with - this Distributed Proofreaders-Canada eBook. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Mystery of the Sycamore, by Carolyn Wells - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERY OF THE SYCAMORE *** - -***** This file should be named 50209-8.txt or 50209-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/2/0/50209/ - -Produced by Mardi Desjardins, Stephen Hutcheson, and the -online Distributed Proofreaders Canada team at -http://www.pgdpcanada.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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