hall, the boy laid a detaining
hand upon the arm of the older man.

"If you'll take my advice, which you won't," he said, "we'll all cut and
run now, while we got the chance!"

In the library, Gaylor turned savagely upon his fellow conspirator.

"Well!" he demanded.

Rainey frowned at him sulkily. "I wash my hands of the whole thing!" he
cried.

Gaylor dropped his voice to a whisper.

"What are you afraid of now?" he demanded. "If you're not afraid of a
district attorney, why are you afraid of a reporter?"

"I'm not afraid of anybody," returned Rainey, thickly. "But, I
don't mean to be a party to no murder!" He paused, shaking his head
portentously. "That man in there," he whispered, nodding toward the
bedroom, "is in no condition to go through this. After that shock this
morning, and last night--it'll kill him. His heart's rotten, I tell you,
rotten!"

Garrett snarled contemptuously.

"How do you know?" he demanded.

"How do I know?" returned Rainey, fiercely. "I was four years in a
medical college, when you were in jail, you--" "Stop that!" cried
Gaylor. Glancing fearfully toward the open door, he interposed between
them.

"Don't take my advice, then," cried Rainey. "Go on! Kill him! And he
won't sign your will. Only, don't say I didn't tell you."

"Have you told him?" demanded Gaylor.

"Yes," Rainey answered stoutly. "Told him if he didn't stop this, he
wouldn't live till morning."

"Are we forcing him to do this?" demanded Gaylor. "No! He's forcing it
on us. My God!" he exclaimed, "do you think I want this farce? You say,
yourself, you told him it would kill him, and he will go on with it.
Then why do you blame us? Can we help ourselves?"

The butler had distinguished the sounds of footsteps in the hall. He
fell hastily to rearranging the camp chairs.

"Hush!" he warned. "Look out!" Gaylor and Rainey had but time to move
apart, when Winthrop entered. He regarded the three men with a smile of
understanding.

"I beg pardon," he exclaimed, "I am interrupting?"

Gaylor greeted him with exaggerated heartiness.

"Ah, it is Mr. Winthrop!" he cried. "Have you come to help us find out
the truth this evening?"

"I certainly hope not!" said Winthrop brusquely. "I know the truth about
too many people already." He turned to Garrett, who, unobtrusively, was
endeavoring to make his escape.

"I want to see Miss Vera," he said.

"Miss Vera," interposed Gaylor. "I'm afraid that's not possible. She
espec