at Bates with a friendly
glance. "I know you won't repeat anything, Bates! The trouble between
Simon and his son grew out of Copley's attachment for Sheila Graham. I
like her extremely, so I found myself in opposition to Simon. I cast
myself in the role of the heavy fairy godmother and took a hand in
shaping the destinies of the young couple--a fond aunt has an
inalienable right to barge into her nephew's affairs, hasn't she?"

"Second only to a grandmother's," he assured her.

"I persuaded them to elope," confessed Miss Ocky. "No date was set for
it that I heard of. Yesterday Copley succeeded in finding a job on the
Hambleton _News_ as a reporter--and the editor, Mr. Barlow, when he
arrived here this morning to cover this story told me that the boy had
immediately celebrated his getting a job by asking for a two-week
vacation to attend to some personal business. He left Hambleton last
night for parts unknown. Meanwhile, Sheila Graham had gone to visit
friends in New York for a fortnight. If you're a good detective, Mr.
Creighton, you may make the right deduction."

"He started off on a honeymoon the very day his father was murdered.
Rather--unpleasant coincidence."

"It struck me that way. I've been keeping mum just on that account.
Norvallis was apparently satisfied with a statement that Copley is
temporarily absent and that we are trying to get in touch with him."

"Norvallis is a very amiable gentleman; he has his reasons for being
so, I think. As for Copley--well, a good many newspapers will carry
the story of what happened last night and he will undoubtedly read it
by to-morrow morning--possibly this evening. Then he will come home."

"Keeping his marriage--if there was one--dark, I trust. With the
opposition--er--removed, I think it would be more suitable to have a
public ceremony after a decent interval."

"Um. A matter of taste, perhaps. Personally, I've seen so much
trouble caused by secret marriages that I'm inclined to eye them
doubtfully. But--may I ask you a few questions about the less romantic
adventures of the young man? Mrs. Varr declared this afternoon that
her husband had driven him from the house. Was their
disagreement--violent?"

"You must make allowances for my sister's nervous condition," answered
Miss Ocky quickly. Her perceptions were instantly alive to whither
this shift in the conversation might lead, and she resolved to limit
the information she gave him as much