lain it. I don't know what did it."

"Well, then I'll have to fish on that alone, I guess. I thought you,
knowing a lot about clock-works, might have some explanation. You know
most of the timepieces _were_ stopped--all of them, in fact, except the
watch in your cousin's hand?"

"Yes, I remarked that at the time. That watch was going."

"Yes, so you told me--you thought it was her heart beating."

"I wish, oh, how I wish, it _had_ been!" exclaimed Darcy in tones of
despair. "If it had been I wouldn't be here. But it's too late to
think of that now."

"Do you happen to know what became of that watch--the one in her hand?
It belonged to an East Indian, you said."

"Yes, to Singa Phut. I was to make one little adjustment in it for
him, and he was to come in early to get it. It wasn't much. The hair
spring, I think, had become caught up and it ran very fast. I planned
to do it the night before, but the light was too poor. So I made up my
mind to get up early and attend to it. But I never got the chance.
No, I don't recall what happened to that watch. I suppose the
detectives have it."

"The prosecutor did take it, but Singa Phut has it now."

"He has!" cried Darcy.

"Yes, he called at the court house and begged that it be given to him.
Said it was an ancient timepiece, which he had owned for many years,
and as it could have no connection with the crime they let him take it."

"Oh, well, I suppose that was all right. No, Singa Phut didn't have a
thing to do with the killing, I'm positive of that."

"And his _alibi_ is perfect," said the colonel. "Well, I guess you've
told me all I want to know. You haven't any reason to suspect any one,
have you, Darcy?"

"Not a soul! God knows I wouldn't want to name any one, either, much
as I'd like to get out Of here myself."

"Mrs. Darcy had no enemies?"

"Not a one in the world that I know of. She was a friendly woman. Of
course, that was good business policy. No, she had no enemies. Most
people liked her."

"So I've heard. Well, we'll get at the truth somehow. Now brace up."

"I'm trying to, Colonel."

"Well, try harder. When I go to see Miss Mason--"

"You are going to see Amy?" cried the prisoner eagerly.

"Yes. But if I have to tell her you looked as though you had lost
every last friend you had in the world--"

"It's all right, Colonel. Tell her you saw me--laughing!" and Darcy
did manage to utter what _might_ pass for a laugh. It