y
written in her beautiful face; indeed, there was more than hesitancy;
refusal of the offer trembled upon her lips. But this was only for an
instant; a sudden rush of excitement seemed to possess her, and she held
out her hand to Ashton-Kirk, warmly.

"This is good of you," she said, "and I thank you a thousand times. If
you can, in any way, make it clear to Frank Burton's friends--to every
one--that he is not guilty, you'll do the best deed of your life; and,"
here the great brown eyes opened widely, "you will be helping me more
than I can say."

"Very well," said the investigator. Going to a window, he stood with his
back to them looking at the sky, now blotched red and gold in the waning
rays of the sun. He was motionless for a moment or two and then he
turned, briskly.

"It's a pity there are not a few hours more of daylight," said he. "For
my experience has shown me that most cases, in which there is any doubt,
do not stand delay. A few hours sometimes dims what otherwise would be
hopeful clues; traces which, had they been taken up in time, might have
led directly to the criminal, are rendered cold and useless."

"Couldn't something be done out at Stanwick to-night?" asked Bat,
anxiously.

But the criminologist shook his head.

"It would be impossible," said he. "Night always puts any sort of
intelligent examination out of the question. But," and he looked at Nora
with an alertness of manner which showed how his keen mind was already
taking hold, "the time between now and daylight need not be altogether
lost."

"What can we do?" she asked, eagerly.

"Sometimes even the smallest scrap of information is of great value,"
said he. "The movements--the conversation of a suspect--or a
victim--immediately before the crime, has more than once provided the
thing necessary to a successful solution."

"Why, yes, that would be true, of course." But the eagerness had gone
out of her manner suddenly; her hands seemed to flutter at her breast.
"Small, seemingly unimportant things, even in my work, add greatly to a
result."

The keen eyes of Ashton-Kirk never left her face.

"About what time was it last night that your husband came here?" he
asked.

"It must have been between eleven-thirty and twelve o'clock," she
replied, slowly. "I had just got home from the theatre."

"He demanded money, I believe?"

"Yes; that was always the cause of his visits."

"Will you tell me, as nearly as you can remember, what pass