as if he had
struck her."

"Then what?" The situation was growing clearer.

"Mrs. Curtis and I had the drawing-room. I had a dreadful night, just
sleeping a little now and then. I dreaded to see dawn come. It was to be
my wedding-day. When we found Harry had disappeared in the night, Mrs.
Curtis was in a frenzy. Then--I saw his cigarette case in your hand. I
had given it to him. You wore his clothes. The murder was discovered and
you were accused of it! What could I do? And then, afterward, when I saw
him asleep at the farmhouse, I--I was panic-stricken. I locked him in
and ran. I didn't know why he did it, but--he had killed a man."

Some one was calling Alison through a megaphone, from the veranda. It
sounded like Sam. "All-ee," he called. "All-ee! I'm going to have some
anchovies on toast! All-ee!" Neither of us heard.

"I wonder," I reflected, "if you would be willing to repeat a part of
that story--just from the telegram on--to a couple of detectives, say
on Monday. If you would tell that, and--how the end of your necklace got
into the sealskin bag--"

"My necklace!" she repeated. "But it isn't mine. I picked it up in the
car."

"All-ee!" Sam again. "I see you down there. I'm making a julep!"

Alison turned and called through her hands. "Coming in a moment, Sam,"
she said, and rose. "It must be very late: Sam is home. We would better
go back to the house."

"Don't," I begged her. "Anchovies and juleps and Sam will go on for
ever, and I have you such a little time. I suppose I am only one of a
dozen or so, but--you are the only girl in the world. You know I love
you, don't you, dear?"

Sam was whistling, an irritating bird call, over and over. She pursed
her red lips and answered him in kind. It was more than I could endure.

"Sam or no Sam," I said firmly, "I am going to kiss you!"

But Sam's voice came strident through the megaphone. "Be good, you two,"
he bellowed, "I've got the binoculars!" And so, under fire, we walked
sedately back to the house. My pulses were throbbing--the little swish
of her dress beside me on the grass was pain and ecstasy. I had but to
put out my hand to touch her, and I dared not.

Sam, armed with a megaphone and field glasses, bent over the rail and
watched us with gleeful malignity.

"Home early, aren't you?" Alison called, when we reached the steps.

"Led a club when my partner had doubled no-trumps, and she fainted.
Damn the heart convention!" he said cheerfully. "T