induced her father to appoint him her guardian."

"And for that reason he settled in Rickwell."

"Yes. Kent had known Mrs. Morley for many years, and it was she who was
the guardian. When he married Mrs. Morley our friend settled in
Rickwell, so that his wife might renew her friendship with Kent and get
the girl. It all came about as he designed, and Daisy Kent lived at The
Elms. Morley thought he would sell me, and when the girl got the money,
by using his influence to induce her to give it to him, I believe he was
capable of killing his wife and of marrying Daisy. But that scheme was
stopped by the fact that Daisy was engaged to you, Ware."

"I am thankful that she was," said Giles, wiping his face. "What a devil
the man is!"

"He is a clever man," replied Denham coolly, "but he was not
sufficiently clever to get the better of Daisy Kent. What she found
out, or how he treated her, I don't know; but she took a violent hatred
to him. He knew she would not give him the money when she got it, and
so----"

"Stop!" cried Ware. "Do you mean to say Morley killed the girl?"

"No. I wish I could say so. But he was in his house all the time. He is
innocent enough. I'll tell you about that later. At present let me go on
with the story. I heard by cable from Australia that Powell was dead,
and then I feigned death to get rid of Anne. I came to England, and, as
Wilson, heard about the will, and afterwards served the summons."

"Why did you serve the summons?"

"I simply wanted to see Morley without suspicion being excited. I saw
him in the library. He told me that he had ordered the yacht to anchor
off Gravesend and that Dane was coming to tell him when it was there. He
then asked me to kill Daisy Kent, saying I could get the fortune when
she was dead."

Denham paused, and wiped his face.

"I don't pretend to be a good man," he said, "but I declined to murder
the girl. While we were arguing Anne entered. When she saw me she nearly
fainted, as she thought I was dead. She recognized me."

"Yes," put in Giles, "but she said she didn't speak to you."

"But she did. Morley knew then that she was Franklin's daughter, and, if
Daisy died, the rightful owner of the money. I expect that is why he had
decoyed her away. Well, I made Anne agree to be silent, promising her an
explanation the next day. She left the room. I went away, and afterwards
to church. I wished to see Daisy and warn her against Morley. I passed a
note saying