but
I walked out and took a careful look at him. I knew enough about
anatomy to see at once that he had been stabbed through the heart and
must have died instantly. Then I lost no time in getting away--"

"You kept to this cement path?"

"Yes; I had sense enough to leave no tracks in that soft earth. I got
home without meeting any one, and I hoped I would never be drawn into
the case.

"It gave me a jolt when I found the crime had not been reported by that
second man. The inquest reassured me when it seemed as if everybody
was at a loss to know who had committed the murder. They could remain
at a loss for all of me, so long as I wasn't brought into the case--and
Lucy! Then, the next morning, the papers had the news of Maxon's
arrest! I haven't slept much since!"

"I'm hardly surprised," said Creighton dryly. "Your story does one
thing to the Queen's taste--it corroborates Maxon's description of his
movements that evening. He was drunk when he broke jail, he had an
hour or so to kill before meeting Drusilla Jones, and he staggered up
here with the tipsy notion of wrecking the garden to spite old Varr.
He was sobered by what he found, as you noticed, but even then didn't
have sense enough to see that his best bet was to go straight to the
police. He claims he never stopped to think how black appearances
against him would be. Would you be able to swear that he was the man
you saw here after the murder?"

"Yes. I went to court when he was examined and remanded and I
recognized him beyond a shadow of doubt."

"And I'm to understand you've kept silent simply out of consideration
for Mrs. Varr?"

"That weighs a good deal with me," said Sherwood quietly. "I haven't
enjoyed these past nine days, Mr. Creighton. When I couldn't stand it
any longer, I came to Miss Copley to tell her of my difficulty."

"And I advised him to talk with you and be guided by your
instructions," threw in Miss Ocky.

"What had I better do?" asked Sherwood hopelessly.

"Do! There's a man in the county jail with an ugly charge hanging over
him that a word from you will lift--and you ask me what to do!"
Creighton was scandalized. "Go to Norvallis--instantly! Tell him the
truth and let him decide how much publicity must attend the liberation
of Maxon. I don't think he will insist upon much!"

"You're right, Mr. Creighton--but not helpful."

"Helpful! What did you expect?" snorted the detective indignantly.
"Did you think I'