as possible. "But I am
bound to point out to you that the prosecution will make the most of
this, and that--it looks bad for you."

"I know it does, Colonel. But I had no more to do with my cousin's
death than Carroll or you. Nor have I the least suspicion who did kill
her. My God! what object would I have?" and he turned and paced up and
down.

"Well I'll do the best I can," said the colonel. "But I must say it
looks black. Then you never knew your wires might, by the closing of
the switch on your table, shock some one standing near the show case?"

"I never dreamed of it! The wires must have been changed since I used
them."

"That will be looked into. And the stopping of the clocks? Could your
apparatus have done that?"

"Never. It is true a strong electrical current might, under certain
circumstances, stop clocks, as well as start them. But it would not
stop all the clocks in the store--or all that were going--at different
hours."

"Perhaps not. Well, I must see what I can do. Carroll and Thong, with
the prosecutor's men, will use this for all it is worth. We must
combat it somehow."

"Please find a way, Colonel! I was so hopeful and--now--"

The young man could not go on for a moment because of his emotion.

"Amy--Miss Mason--how does _she_ take this?" he faltered.

"She doesn't know it yet, I believe. It didn't get in this morning's
papers, but it will be in this afternoon's."

"I wish you could see her and explain. I--I can't stand it to have her
lose faith in me."

"I'll see what I can do. I'll put the best face on it I can for her."

"And you yourself, Colonel! You--you don't believe me guilty because
of this new development, do you?"

"If I did I wouldn't still be handling your case, Mr. Darcy," was the
answer. "But I don't say that there isn't something to explain. I am,
now, giving you the benefit of the doubt."

"Then maybe Amy will do the same."

It was not many hours before the colonel knew this point. The first
edition afternoon papers had not long been out when the detective, who
had gone to his hotel after an early morning visit to the jail, was
telephoned to by Miss Mason.

"I happened to be in town, shopping," she said, and the agitation was
plainly audible in her voice, "when I saw this terrible thing about Mr.
Darcy's wires and poor Sallie. Is she in any danger, Colonel?"

"I believe not."

"That's good! May I come to see you? I have something import