annot; I dare not interfere in any way. It would prejudice his
case too."

"Father," she said, "listen to me."

"Have you discovered anything?"

"I don't know yet," she said. "Listen."

CHAPTER XXXI

EZEKIEL ASHWORTH, HERBALIST

"Yes, Mary, what is it?"

"It may be I have been foolish, father, but for days I have been
thinking about nothing except this. Being absolutely certain that Paul
is innocent, I--well, you know what my suspicions were, father. But
since you told me what that man Archie Fearn said, I was obliged to
come to the conclusion that you were right."

The girl hesitated a second, and then went on excitedly: "I believe
I've found out something."

The judge looked at his daughter questioningly, but there was no look
of hope in his eyes. He could not believe that what he had failed to
do she could accomplish. He had, as far as he knew, examined every
possible source of evidence, and although he was still fain to believe
as she believed, his reason still pointed to one dread conclusion.

"Until this morning," she went on, "I expect all my inquiries had been
coloured by my belief, but when you destroyed that belief I was obliged
to think on new lines. It's still a question of the knife, isn't it,
father?"

"Yes," said the judge. "It's still a question of the knife. You see
this is the fact, the salient fact, upon which the jury will have to
fasten. Who could have become possessed of it? Paul was always
careful about locking his office, and although it seems unlikely he
should have done what it is believed he has done, what other
explanation can be given?"

"Yes, I see," replied the girl. "But after you'd gone this morning I
remembered lots of things which seemed to have no meaning before. We
know now that Ned Wilson has not borne as good a character in the town
as we thought."

The judge nodded.

"I heard all sorts of strange rumours," went on the girl, "to which I
did not attach much importance. But when you convinced me that Paul's
mother could not possibly have done it, I began to think those rumours
might have some meaning. It may be the thing that I have found out has
no meaning."

"What have you found out?" he asked sharply.

"This. First of all gossip associated Ned Wilson's name with a girl in
this town by the name of Emily Dodson. People say she is very
good-looking."

"Yes. And what then?"

"She worked for Paul," replied the girl. "She has worked in