e place and closed the door
tightly after him. He well knew that the ears of all would be strained
to the utmost to hear what he was saying. It took him only a short
time to call up Central in the city and to get into communication with
Mr. Westcote. His message was very brief.

"There is great trouble here, and you must come as soon and fast as you
possibly can. Come at once to my cabin, and bring the best lawyer in
the city. I will explain everything then."

That was the message, and in reply Mr. Westcote told him that he would
leave immediately in his car, travel as fast as possible, and bring his
own lawyer with him.

Jasper then crossed the room and paid the storekeeper the price of the
message. There was a dead silence while he did this, which Jasper was
not slow to notice. He spoke to none of the men gathered there, in
fact did not even look at them, but left the store as soon as possible.

From the time the blow had fallen and he realised that he was a man
suspected of murder, he seemed to be dazed.

He had gone to his own cabin and had tried to reason the whole thing
out. But the more he thought the more puzzled he became. There was no
doubt that David had been murdered, but who had done the deed, and for
what purpose? Only one person came to his mind, and he recalled what
Betty had told him about the old man's narrow escape from the rolling
log. Though he felt that Sydney Bramshaw had something to do with the
affair, he had no definite proof. He naturally connected him with the
murder. But what object would the man have for doing such a dastardly
deed? He wondered much about the envelope, and how it got there. He
had never been to that spot before, and he was quite certain that David
did not have it with him. Somebody, then, must have obtained
possession of the envelope and dropped it near the body in order to
cast suspicion upon him. But why should any one wish to involve him in
such a serious crime?

Long and carefully Jasper considered the matter in an effort to solve
the problem. But the more he thought the greater was he puzzled. He
realised that he must have assistance as that envelope and the fact
that he was on the road with David the night of the murder would tell
strongly against him. He naturally turned to Robert Westcote as the
one man who could help him and would stand by him in his time of need.

He felt very lonely and wretched as he left the store and walked slowly
u