eaf, of average height and weight, had
nothing of command or domination about him. With his red, weatherbeaten
face and mild, expressionless blue eyes, he looked like a well-to-do
farmer. He was suggestive of no acquaintance with Tarde, Lombroso or any
other authorities on crime and criminals.

"Won't you sit down?" invited Bristow.

The new-comer was tall and slender. In spite of a straight, high-bridged
nose and thin lips, his face indicated weakness. His dark-gray eyes had
in them either a great deal of worry or undisguised fear. As he took the
chair pointed out to him, he was being catalogued by Bristow as showing
too much uncertainty, even a womanish timidity. Bristow noticed also that
his thick, soft blond hair was carefully parted and brushed, and that his
fingers were much manicured.

He breathed in short, quick gasps.

"What is it? How--how did it happen?" he asked, his gaze still on
Bristow.

Greenleaf took a seat so that Morley sat between him and Bristow.

"We don't know how it happened," said the chief. "We wanted to know if
you could tell us anything."

"I didn't see Mrs. Withers late last night," Morley replied, a nervous
tremor in his voice.

"Nobody said you did," commented Bristow.

"No; I know that," Morley agreed in a queer, high voice.

"But you were in the house, Number Five, last evening, weren't you?"
Bristow inquired.

"Yes."

"Well, tell us about it."

"I came down here from Washington Saturday," the young man began. "I
didn't come to see Mrs. Withers. I came to see Miss Fulton, her sister.
Of course, I've seen Mrs. Withers since I've been here; I saw her early
last night. You see, last night she went up to the Maplewood Inn for the
dinner dance, and, when I called, she was just leaving with a Mr.
Campbell. Miss Fulton and I sat on the front porch and in the parlour
talking until a little after eleven."

"We understood," put in Bristow, "that Miss Fulton was confined to her
bed."

"She was, that is--er--she was supposed to be; but she got up last
evening and dressed to receive me."

"I beg your pardon," again interrupted his questioner, "but everything is
important here now, and we need information. We have so little of it as
yet. I really apologize, but may I ask what your relations with Miss
Fulton are?"

Morley hesitated a full minute before he answered.

"If it is to go no further than you gentlemen," he began.

"Of course," the other two agreed.

"Well, then, Mi