The girl had seemingly grown almost lighthearted. Her speech was
punctuated by little smiles, and her half sad, half gay demeanor
bewitched me. I felt sure that what little suggestion of
lightheartedness had come into her mood had come because she had at last
confessed the falsehood she had told, and her freed conscience gave her
a little buoyancy of heart.

But there were still important questions to be asked, so, though
unwillingly, I returned to the old subject.

"Did you see your uncle's will while you were there?"

"No; he talked about it, but did not show it to me."

"Did he talk about it as if it were still in his possession?"

"Why, yes; I think so. That is, he said he would make a new one unless
I gave up Gregory. That implied that the old one was still in existence,
though he didn't exactly say so."

"Miss Lloyd, this is important evidence. I must tell you that I shall be
obliged to repeat much of it to the district attorney. It seems to me to
prove that your uncle did not himself destroy the will."

"He might have done so after I left him."

"I can't think it, for it is not in scraps in the waste-basket, nor are
there any paper-ashes in the grate."

"Well, then," she rejoined, "if he didn't destroy it, it may yet be
found."

"You wish that very much?" I said, almost involuntarily.

"Oh, I do!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands. "Not so much for myself
as--"

She paused, and I finished the sentence for her "For Mr. Hall."

She looked angry again, but said nothing.

"Well, Miss Lloyd," I said, as I rose to go, "I am going to do
everything in my power in your behalf and in behalf of Mr. Hall. But I
tell you frankly, unless you will both tell me the truth, and the whole
truth, you will only defeat my efforts, and work your own undoing."

I had to look away from her as I said this, for I could not look on that
sweet face and say anything even seemingly harsh or dictatorial.

Her lip quivered. "I will do my best," she said tremblingly. "I will
try to make Mr. Hall tell where he was that night. I will see you again
after I have talked with him."

More collusion! I said good-by rather curtly, I fear, and went quickly
away from that perilous presence.

Truly, a nice detective, I! Bowled over by a fair face, I was unable to
think clearly, to judge logically, or to work honestly!

Well, I would go home and think it out by myself. Away from her
influence I surely would regain my cool-headed meth