suddenly. Giles
saw a clean-shaven face, large black eyes, and a sallow complexion. He
stood aside to let him pass.

"Rather a nice day," said Ware pleasantly.

"Very," responded the man, and continued his walk.

Giles knew very well that he was the new tenant of the Priory. It was in
his mind to speak to him, but on second thoughts he decided to do so on
a more propitious occasion. Standing at the gate, he looked thoughtfully
after the retiring figure. There was something familiar about it and
about the face of the man. His eyes especially aroused a vague
recollection in his mind, but he could not, as the saying goes, "put a
name to it." But while walking to the inn it suddenly flashed into his
brain that this was the man whom he had seen in church on that fatal New
Year's Eve.

"It's the clerk," he said breathlessly. "He has shaved his beard. He is
Wilson, the man who fled with Anne, who murdered poor Daisy!"

CHAPTER XIII

MRS. BENKER REAPPEARS

The more Giles thought about Franklin, the more he was certain that he
was the man for whom search was being made. To be sure there was no
distinguishing mark of identification; the evidence that he was one and
the same amounted to the facts that he had large black eyes, and that
his height and figure resembled the so-called Wilson. Moreover, although
other people in the village had seen the clerk, no one but Giles seemed
to recognize him. In fact, this recognition was rather due to an
instinct than to any tangible reason. But in his own mind he was
convinced. He recalled how the man had suddenly removed his scarf as
though he were stifling on that night. He remembered the wan face, the
dark, anxious face, and the rough red beard and hair.

To be sure Franklin was dark-haired and sallow in complexion; also he
was clean-shaved, and even when not--according to Mrs. Parry--had worn a
full black beard. But the red hair and whiskers might have been assumed
as a disguise. Giles did not know very well how to verify his
suspicions. Then he determined to confide in Morley. Steel had told him
that the proprietor of The Elms was an ex-detective, and Giles thought
that for the sake of avenging Daisy's death he might be induced to take
up his old trade. With this idea he called at The Elms.

Morley was delighted to see him and welcomed him in the most cheerful
manner. He and Giles were always good friends, and the only subject of
contention between them was the questio