e turned away
her face, showing in this struggle with herself something of the
strength of her old days. Mr. Gryce watched her with interest.

"It is very strange," was her first remark. "I had such reasons for
thinking him guilty; he such good cause for thinking me so. What wonder
we doubted each other. And yet I can never forgive myself for doubting
him; I can sooner forgive him for doubting me. If you see him----"

"If _I_ see him?" interrupted the detective, with a smile.

"Yes," said she. "If you see him tell him that Imogene Dare thanks him
for his noble conduct toward one he believed to be stained by so
despicable a crime, and assure him that I think he was much more
justified in his suspicions than I was in mine, for there were
weaknesses in my character which he had ample opportunities for
observing, while all that I knew of him was to his credit."

"Miss Dare," suggested the detective, "couldn't you tell him this much
better yourself?"

"I shall not have the opportunity," she said.

"And why?" he inquired.

"Mr. Mansell and I have met for the last time. A woman who has stained
herself by such declarations as I made use of in court the last time I
was called to the stand has created a barrier between herself and all
earthly friendship. Even he for whom I perjured myself so basely cannot
overleap the gulf I dug between us two that day."

"But that is hard," said Mr. Gryce.

"My life _is_ hard," she answered.

The wise old man, who had seen so much of life and who knew the human
heart so well, smiled, but did not reply. He turned instead to another
subject.

"Well," he declared, "the great case is over! Sibley, satisfied with
having made its mark in the world, will now rest in peace. I quit the
place with some reluctance myself. 'Tis a mighty pretty spot to do
business in."

"You are going?" she asked.

"Immediately," was the reply. "We detectives don't have much time to
rest." Then, as he saw how deep a shadow lay upon her brow, added,
confidentially: "Miss Dare, we all have occasions for great regret. Look
at me now. Honest as I hold myself to be, I cannot blind myself to the
fact that I am the possible instigator of this crime. If I had not shown
Mr. Orcutt how a man like himself might perpetrate a murder without
rousing suspicion, he might never have summoned up courage to attempt
it. For a detective with a conscience, that is a hard thought to bear."

"But you were ignorant of what you were