-up that put me where I was found that night," he
declared, with bitterness.

"No, Frank, I tell you again that I don't believe he knew it was going
to happen. When I stood there outside the curtain that night I was
looking straight at him, and at nobody else. I don't remember another
face. Tasper Britt is not actor enough to make up the expression that I
saw. It was simple, absolute, flabbergasted fright!"

They started down the slope and walked in silence.

"He's considerable of a coward," Vaniman admitted, after his pondering.
"I'm depending on that fact, more or less. I don't believe he'll dare to
stand up as a witness in court and perjure himself. Squire Hexter has a
line of questions that he and I have prepared very carefully. Britt will
have to testify that I did not have sole opportunity. In considering
crimes, it's proving sole opportunity that sends folks to prison!"

She turned away her face and set her teeth upon her lower lip,
controlling her agitation.

"I'm trying to face the thing just as bravely as I can, Vona. On the
face of it I'm in bad! When I remember how Britt maneuvered with me, I
feel like running to him and twisting his head off his neck."

When they arrived in front of Britt Block, Vaniman scowled at the stone
effigy in its niche. Then, when his eyes came down from that complacent
countenance, they beheld the face of Tasper Britt framed in his office
window. The Britt in the bank was distinctly in an ugly mood. And there
was a challenge in his demeanor, a sneer in the twist of his features.

"Vona, I'm going in there," Vaniman declared. "There's got to be a
showdown, but it's no job for you!"

She offered neither protest nor advice. At that moment the young man was
manifestly in a state of mind which sudden resolution had inflamed with
something like desperation. When he strode in through the front door
Britt disappeared from the window.

Vona, following her lover, put her hand on his arm when he arrived in
front of the office door. "Don't you need me with you in there?" She
could not hide her apprehensiveness.

"I'm going to hold myself in, dear! Don't be worried. But it's best for
me to see him alone."

He waited until she had gone into the bank office.

He did not bother to knock on Britt's door. When he twisted the handle
he found that the door was locked. He called, but Britt did not reply.
He put his mouth close to the door. "Mr. Britt, I have some business to
talk over wit