posing I turn state's evidence on James? Is that what
you're driving at?"

"Did James kill Uncle James?"

"Of course he didn't, but you may have it in that warped mind of yours
that he did."

"What I think doesn't matter. All that will count is the truth. It's
bound to come out. There are witnesses that saw you come to the
Paradox, a witness that actually saw you in uncle's rooms. If you
don't believe me, I'll tell you somethin'. When you an' Miss Harriman
came into the room where my uncle had been killed, James was sittin' at
the desk lookin' over papers. A gun was lyin' close by his hand. Miss
Harriman nearly fainted an' you steadied her."

Miss Harriman, or rather Mrs. James Cunningham, nearly fainted again.
She caught at the back of a chair and stood rigid, looking at Kirby
with dilated, horror-filled eyes.

"He knows everything--everything. I think he must be the devil," she
murmured from bloodless lips.

Jack, too, was shaken, badly. "For God's sake, man, what do you know?"
he asked hoarsely.

"I know so much that you can't safely keep quiet any longer. The whole
matter is goin' to the police. It's goin' to them this afternoon.
What are you goin' to do? If you refuse to talk, then it will be taken
to mean guilt."

"Why should it go to the police? Be reasonable, man. James didn't do
it, but he's in an awful hole. No jury on earth would refuse to
convict him with the evidence you've piled up. Can't you see that?"

Kirby smiled. This time his smile was grim. "I ought to know that
better than you. I'll give you two hours to decide. Meet you at
James's office then. There are some things we want to talk over alone,
but I think Miss Harriman had better be there ready to join us when we
send for her."

"Going through with this, are you?"

"I'm goin' through in spite of hell and high water."

Jack strode up and down the room in a stress of emotion. "You're going
to ruin three lives because you're so pigheaded or because you want
your name in the papers as a great detective. Is there anything in the
world we can do to head you off?"

"Nothin'. And if lives are ruined it's not my fault. I'll promise
this: The man or woman I point to as the one who killed Uncle James
will be the one that did it. If James is innocent, as you claim he is,
he won't have it saddled on him. Shall I tell you the thing that's got
you worried? Down in the bottom of your heart you're not dead sure he
didn