with that on my soul so--so this afternoon I wrote a full confession
and mailed it to Norvallis--"

"Oh--_that_!" he said contemptuously. He reached into his pocket,
plucked forth two letters and dropped them in her lap. "There!"

"Peter!" She stared at them. "Where on earth--? I couldn't go to
town s-so I gave them to young Merrill to post. And he--he--"

"Is one of my men, introduced by Judge Taylor at my request! I'm glad
you picked him, Ocky! He placed them on my desk, as in duty bound."
He hesitated, eyeing her dubiously. "I'm going for that
doctor--Joliffe, the chap your sister has had. I liked his looks.
First, though, I suppose I'll have to rouse Bates to mount guard over
you!"

"No-no--not that! Whatever happens, let that be our secret!"

"You must promise me not to do anything foolish while I'm gone." He
took one of her hands and clasped it tightly in both of his. "Ocky,
keep your nerve, dear! I'm going to get you out of this--get you out
_somehow_! Leave it to me, dear, and stop worrying. Now, promise me!"

"There's another thing, Peter; I ought to tell you while we have this
opportunity to talk. Mr. Krech knows I--I did it!"

"Krech! _Krech_! How in thunder--"

"I don't know, but he does. It would have been funny last n-night if
it hadn't been so tragic! He got me alone for a few minutes and began
to drop hints; said you were practically certain of the criminal and
that if he were the murderer he would do almost anything desperate to
prevent himself from being caught, only he admitted he couldn't think
of anything!"

"Will wonders never cease! However, we needn't bother our heads about
Krech--I'd trust him with my life. Can't waste any more time on him
now. Promise me, Ocky!"

"It's--no--use--"

"_Promise me!_"

"I--I promise, Peter!"

He bent and kissed her almost fiercely--and was gone.

_XXIV: Beyond the Stars_

The next two hours for Peter Creighton were more like a nightmare than
a nightmare itself. First he aroused Bates and startled the old man
with the news of Miss Ocky's illness, and ordered him to call Lucy Varr
and suggest that she go immediately to her sister. He could not bear
the thought of Ocky sitting there alone with hideous memories of the
past and fearful doubts of the future. Then he ran to the garage,
jumped in the car and drove madly through the night to the home of
Doctor Joliffe. The physician was an elderly and experienced man
lon