idden peril threatening me from behind awoke the
savage in me instantly. Before Coombs could realize what had occurred
I had the gun muzzle at the side of his head.

"Now answer," I commanded sharply. "Whose orders put you here?"

He choked, shrinking back helpless in the chair.

"By God! you won't always have the drop on me--"

"Well, I have now. Speak up; who is the man?"

His eyes ranged along the wall, an expression in them like that of a
whipped cur.

"Philip Henley," he whispered, so low I scarcely caught the name.

"What!"

"Wal, I told yer," he growled resentfully. "Yer kin believe er not
just as you please, but, so help me, that's the truth. I reckon I
know."

As I stared at him, half believing, half incredulous, I became
conscious that she stood in the hall doorway. Coombs lifted his head,
glad of any respite, and I glanced aside also, dropping the revolver
back into my coat pocket.

"You--you were quarreling?" she asked, coming into the room, "you were
so long I became anxious, and came down."

"Nothing serious," I assured her, smilingly. "Coombs here was a little
reluctant to impart information, and I was compelled to resort to
primitive methods. The result has been quite satisfactory."

"Kin I go now?" he asked uneasily.

"Yes, by way of the front door."

I watched his great hulking figure until he disappeared along the path
leading around the house. I had no fear that he would ever face me
openly; all I needed to guard against was treachery. Then I turned and
looked into the questioning eyes of the woman.

"What did you learn? What did he say?"

"Only one thing of real importance," I answered in subdued tone, "and I
dragged that out of him by threat. He was not employed by Neale, and
the fellow who was sent down here to assist us was disposed of in some
way."

"Killed, you mean?"

"I suspect as much, but Coombs claims he was kicked off the place, and
returned North."

For a moment she stood silent, breathing heavily, her eyes on my face.
In the pause I saw again the picture of the old Judge, and remembered.

"Why is he here then? What authority has he?"

"Come outside into the garden, and I will tell you the whole story.
Somehow I feel here as though we were being watched every minute.
Never mind a hat; we will find shade somewhere."

CHAPTER XVII

CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE

In front of the veranda, and to the right of the brick walk, the
latticework of a s