perjuring herself?"

Barbara started and her face paled. "Are you insinuating that Helen
killed Jimmie?" she cried.

"No," his emphatic denial was prompt. "But I do believe that she knows
more of what transpired Monday night than she is willing to admit. Is
that not so, Barbara?"

"Yes," she acknowledged reluctantly.

"Does she know who poisoned Jimmie?"

"No--no!" Barbara rested a firm hand on his shoulder. "I swear Helen
does not know. You must believe me, Harry."

"She may not know," Kent spoke slowly. "But are you sure she does not
suspect some one?"

"Well, what if I do?" asked Helen quietly, and Kent, looking around,
found her standing just inside the door. Her entrance had been
noiseless.

"You should tell the authorities, Helen." Kent rose as she passed him
and selected a seat which brought her face somewhat in shadow. "If you
do not you may retard justice."

"But if I speak I may involve the innocent," she retorted. "I--" her
eyes shifted from him to Barbara and back again. "I cannot undertake
that responsibility."

"Better that than let the guilty escape through your silence," protested
Kent. "Possibly the theories of the police may coincide with yours.

"What are they?" asked Barbara impetuously.

Kent considered before replying. If Detective Ferguson had gone so far
as to secure a search warrant to go through Rochester's apartment and
office it would not be long before the fact of his being a "suspect"
would be common property; there could, therefore, be no harm in his
repeating Ferguson's conversation to the twins. In fact, as their legal
representative, they were entitled to know the latest developments from
him.

"Detective Ferguson believes that the poison was administered by Philip
Rochester," he said finally, and watched to see how the announcement
would affect them. Barbara's eyes opened to their widest extent, and
back in her corner, into which she had gradually edged her chair, Helen
emitted a long, long breath as her taut muscles relaxed.

"What makes Ferguson think Philip guilty?" demanded Barbara.

"It is known that he and Jimmie were not on good terms," replied Kent.
"Then Rochester's disappearance after Jimmie's death lends color to the
theory."

"Has Philip really disappeared?" asked Helen. "You showed me a
telegram--"

"Apparently the telegram was a fake," admitted Kent. "The Cleveland
police report that he is not at the address given in the telegram."

"But who could