lotting-pad, which had a recent
impression on it, and afterwards poured the remaining contents of a
wineglass out into the stove. Then he glanced all round the room
before he went out to send for a doctor. It was an hour later when he
found his wife alone.

"How is she?" he said.

Mrs. Forel's eyes were hazy. "I think she has given way at last--it
was awful at first when she would only sit and look at me," she said;
and then her voice sank a little, "How did it happen, Tom?"

"Heart disease," said Forel. "The doctor is quite sure of that."

"But," said Mrs. Forel, "what brought it on?"

"Well," said Forel slowly, "anything that upsets one is apt to prove
perilous in cases like his, and I rather fancy that Deringham had a
quarrel with Hallam. They had dealings together, and I think Deringham
must have lost a good deal of money. You will not, however, mention it
to anybody."

Mrs. Forel looked at her husband curiously, "No, of course," she said.
"I wish I knew what to do for the girl."

CHAPTER XXXIII

MISS DERINGHAM'S CONFESSION

Several weeks had passed since Deringham's funeral when one evening
Forel, sitting alone on his verandah, saw Alton coming up the pathway.
His face was once more bronzed by wind and sun, but it had not wholly
lost the sombreness Forel had noticed when he had last seen him in
Vancouver.

"I'm glad to see you, Forel, for I've just come in from Victoria, and
there's a good deal I want to know," he said.

"You generally do," and Forel became suddenly grave. "You heard what
happened to your kinsman?"

"Yes," said Alton. "It was some time before I got your letter. I was
back up there at the mine, you know. Very sudden, wasn't it?"

Forel nodded. "Still, it was not altogether astonishing. The doctor
had warned him a few days before it happened that any unusual exertion
or excitement might prove perilous."

"And, so far as you know, was there anything of that kind?"

Ford watched his companion closely as he answered:

"I have told nobody else, but Hallam called here and saw him shortly
before it happened."

Alton's face remained impassive, but his voice was not quite in
accordance with it as he said, "The police have no word of him?"

Forel smiled. "As there cannot well be a prosecution without a
prisoner they are somewhat reticent. Still, Hallam caught the Sound
steamer, and late that night one of the officers came round here, while
I was eventually able to g