suspect Wayne of this, if he doesn't already suspect him."

"But, surely father isn't so unjust, just because he doesn't like Wayne
. . ."

"If it were nothing more than just not liking him! Your father isn't
capable of a feeling that is merely negative about people, child. He
hated the boys' father; Wayne I think he hates as bitterly."

"But why, mamma? Surely there is no reason . . ."

"Men, strong men like your father, don't always wait for reasons,
Wanda," said Mrs. Leland gently. "He has never forgotten that had
circumstances been a very, very little different I might have married
the other Wayne Shandon. When we were married and the other Wayne
Shandon bought land so close to us your father was the angriest man I
ever saw. That was before your time, dear. He rode across the valley
the next day; he has never told me what happened but his face was still
white when he came home. There are only a few things which can stir
Martin into a passion like that."

"But, surely, mamma . . ."

"When the other Wayne Shandon married and the boys were born it made no
difference with Martin. When the other Wayne Shandon died and his wife
died and the boys were left the hatred in your father's breast did not
die with them. He transferred it to Arthur and the Wayne you know.
Toward Wayne especially it has grown strong and bitter."

"But why to him more than to Arthur?"

"Because, my dear, Wayne is his father over and over again! Because he
has the same red hair and the same eyes with the same way of laughing.
Because his voice is the same, his carriage is the same, his mad,
reckless heart the same. Because everytime that Martin sees the Wayne
Shandon that you know he sees the old Wayne Shandon I knew . . . and he
hated."

"But it can't be that if a man hates another, and he dies, the man will
go on hating his son just for being his son! Father is not so unjust
as that, mamma! He will not suspect Wayne of murder, of murdering his
own brother, just because of his father!"

Mrs. Leland's hands were interlocked tensely. "There are other
reasons, there will be other things remembered about the boy which will
make suspicion so easy."

"I know what you mean," the girl cried, breathing deeply. "He is
reckless, he is wild, I know. He gambles, he has quarrels with many
men. He does things that we would not do, but then we are women! He
does things that father would not do, but then father is not young any
long