would have been in the accident."

"I had the same idea," he said slowly, giving me a searching look.

Helen!

I felt suddenly sick and faint. I wanted air, sunlight; to get away
from that darkened room and those piercing eyes that seemed to read my
thoughts. I thanked him for letting me know what he had discovered,
and hurriedly excused myself.

Helen! The blood pounded through my temples.

God! No!

Wilful, spoiled woman, if you will, ready to leave her husband without
thought of the consequences, to go with another man; but his
premeditated murderer? A thousand times, no!

I felt that with the unworthy suspicion in my mind, I could not face
Mary, and I waited a moment at the bottom of the stairs before going up
to meet her. There were two questions that had to be answered. Was
Helen in the back seat when the car left Mary's the evening before; and
had Jim told Helen about the proofs he had of Woods' irregularities?
Mary was probably there when Helen and Jim left, and could answer both
questions.

I wiped the perspiration from my forehead and assuming as calm an air
as possible, went up-stairs. Mary was chatting with the little
interne, but as soon as she saw my face, she hurried toward me.

"You look as though you'd seen a ghost. What was it, Bupps?"

"Not here!" I cautioned. "Wait until we get outside!"

We walked down the broad sunlit steps and climbed into the car. I felt
like a traitor to let Mary even think that I suspected Helen, but my
questions had to be answered.

"Will you have luncheon with me, Mary?"

"Certainly," she answered. "Let's go to Luigi's. We can talk quietly
there."

I headed for down-town and kept my eyes on the road, dreading to put my
questions into words.

"What was it, Bupps?" Mary asked.

I decided to ask what I had to ask before telling her the coroner's
verdict.

"Did you see Helen leave the house with Jim yesterday?"

"Yes. I was looking out the window when they started. Why?"

I could hardly force myself to go on.

"Was Helen--did Helen get into the front seat with Jim?" I faltered.

"No. She climbed into the back," Mary replied. "They had some sort of
an argument before they left. I knew Jim was excited and that Helen
was angry. Of course I didn't hear all that passed between them, I
tried not to hear any, but they talked very loud and were right in the
next room."

"What did you hear?" I asked, my heart sinking.

"Once Jim laughed,