ing, I was awakened by the police. They had found Tom Langdon
dead, with his skull crushed, evidently by the blow of a club or a
hammer. They said I did it."

A slight gasp traveled over the lips of Medaine, still by the window.
Ba'tiste, his features old and lined, reached out with one big hand and
patted the man on the shoulder. Then for a long time, there was
silence.

"Eet is the lie, eh?"

"Ba'tiste," Houston turned appealingly to him "as I live, that's all I
know. I never saw Langdon after he took that mallet from me. Some one
killed him, evidently while he was wandering around, looking for me.
The mallet dropped by his side. It had blood on it--and they accused
me. It looked right--there was every form of circumstantial evidence
against me. And," the breath pulled hard, "what was worse, everybody
believed that I killed him. Even my best friends--even my father."

"Ba'teese no believe it."

"Why?" Houston turned to him in hope,--in the glimmering chance that
perhaps there was something in the train of circumstances that would
have prevented the actuality of guilt. But the answer, while it
cheered him, was rather disconcerting.

"You look like my Pierre. Pierre, he could do no wrong. You look like
heem."

It was sufficient for the old French-Canadian. But Houston knew it
could carry but little weight with the girl by the window. He went on:

"Only one shred of evidence was presented in my behalf. It was by a
woman who had worked for about six months for my father,--Miss Jierdon.
She testified to having passed in a taxicab just at the end of our
quarrel, and that, while it was true that there was evidence of a
struggle, Langdon had the mallet. She was my only witness, besides the
experts. But it may help here, Miss Robinette."

It was the first time he had addressed her directly and she turned,
half in surprise.

"How," she asked the question as though with an effort, "how were you
cleared?"

"Through expert medical testimony that the blow which killed Langdon
could not have been struck with that mallet. The whole trial hinged on
the experts. The jury didn't believe much of either side. They
couldn't decide absolutely that I had killed Langdon. And so they
acquitted me. I'm trying to tell you the truth, without any veneer to
my advantage."

"_Bon_! Good! Eet is best."

"Miss Jierdon is the same one who is out here?"

"Yes."

"She testified in your behalf?"

"Yes. And