version from which all other versions differed to their
discredit.

In the same magnificent spirit of public service he would have assumed
the direction of the search for the murderer, but Mr. Betts' jealousy
proved an obstacle to his ambitious design. In view of this he was
regretful, but not surprised when the hard-ridden miles covered by dusty
men and reeking horses yielded only failure.

"If I had shot that poor boy, I wouldn't ask any surer guarantee of
safety than to have that fool Betts with his microscopic brain working
in unhampered asininity on the case," he told Mahaffy.

"Is it your idea that you are enlarging your circle of intimate friends
by the way you go about slamming into folks?" inquired Mahaffy, with
harsh sarcasm.

Later, the judge was shocked at what he characterized as official
apathy. It became a point on which he expressed himself with surpassing
candor.

"Do they think the murderer's going to come in and give himself up?--is
that the notion?" he demanded heatedly of Mr. Saul.

"The sheriff owns himself beat, Sir; the murderer's got safely away and
left no clue to his identity."

The judge waived this aside.

"Clues, sir? If you mean physical evidence the eye can apprehend, I
grant it; the murderer has got away; certainly he's been given all the
time he needed, but what about the motive that prompted the crime? An
intelligently conducted examination such as I am willing to undertake
might still bring it to light. Isn't it known that Norton was attacked a
fortnight ago as he was leaving Belle Plain? He recovers and is about
to be married to Miss Malroy when he is shot at the church door; I'll
hazard the opinion the attack was in the nature of a warning for him to
keep away from Belle Plain. Now, had he a rival? Clear up these points
and you get a clue!" The judge paused impressively.

"Tom Ware has acted in a straightforward manner. He's stated frankly
he was opposed to the match, that when he heard about it on his way to
Memphis he turned back and made every effort to get to the church in
time to stop it if he could," said Mr. Saul.

"Mr. Ware need not be considered," observed the judge.

"Well, there's been a heap of talk."

"If he'd inspired the firing of the fatal shot he'd have kept away from
the church. No, no, Mr. Saul, is there anybody hereabout who aspired to
Miss Malroy's hand--any rejected suitor?"

"Not that we know of."

"Under ordinary circumstances, sir, I am opp