. It has
not done so yet, may never do so; then let us leave that topic and
return to the clue offered by the carrying of that child into the
long-closed room back of the bungalow. Mrs. Ocumpaugh, intentionally or
unintentionally, the proof upon which I relied for settling the identity
of the person so carrying her has been destroyed."

With a flush which her seemingly bloodless condition made perfectly
startling, she drew back, breaking into wild disclaimers:

"I know--I fear--I was too wild--too eager. I thought only of what might
lie under that floor."

"In a half-foot of earth, madam? The spades did not enter any deeper."

With a sudden access of courage, born possibly of her despair, she
sought neither to attempt denial nor palliate the fact.

"And if this was my intention--though I don't acknowledge it--you must
recognize my reason. I do not believe--you can not make me believe--that
Gwendolen was carried into that room by Mrs. Carew. But I could see that
you believed it, and to save her the shame of such an accusation and all
that might follow from it, I--oh, Mr. Trevitt, you do not think this
possible! Do you know so little of the impulses of a mind, bewildered as
mine has been by intolerable suffering?"

"I can understand madness, and I am willing to think that you were mad
just then--especially as no harm has been done and I can still accuse
Mrs. Carew of a visit to that room, with the proof in my hand."

"What do you mean?" The steady voice was faltering, but I could not say
with what emotion--hope for herself--doubt of me--fear for her friend;
it might have been any of these; it might have been all. "Was there a
footprint left, then? You say proof. Do you mean proof? A detective does
not use that word lightly."

"You may be sure that I would not," I returned. Then in answer to the
appeal of her whole attitude and expression: "No, there were no
footprints left; but I came upon something else which I have sufficient
temerity to believe will answer the same purpose. Remember that my
object is first to convince you and afterward Mrs. Carew, that it will
be useless for her to deny that she has been in that room. Once that is
understood, the rest will come easy; for we know the child was there,
and it is not a place she could have found alone."

"The proof!" She had no strength for more than that "The proof! Mr.
Trevitt, the proof!"

I put my hand in my pocket, then drew it out again empty, making haste