were together five years in California, so that this
business dates back not less than eleven years at the least?"
"That is so."
"It must be a very serious feud that would be kept up with such
earnestness for as long as that. It would be no light thing that would
give rise to it."
"I think it shadowed his whole life. It was never quite out of his
mind."
"But if a man had a danger hanging over him, and knew what it was,
don't you think he would turn to the police for protection?"
"Maybe it was some danger that he could not be protected against.
There's one thing you should know. He always went about armed. His
revolver was never out of his pocket. But, by bad luck, he was in his
dressing gown and had left it in the bedroom last night. Once the
bridge was up, I guess he thought he was safe."
"I should like these dates a little clearer," said MacDonald. "It is
quite six years since Douglas left California. You followed him next
year, did you not?"
"That is so."
"And he had been married five years. You must have returned about the
time of his marriage."
"About a month before. I was his best man."
"Did you know Mrs. Douglas before her marriage?"
"No, I did not. I had been away from England for ten years."
"But you have seen a good deal of her since."
Barker looked sternly at the detective. "I have seen a good deal of him
since," he answered. "If I have seen her, it is because you cannot
visit a man without knowing his wife. If you imagine there is any
connection--"
"I imagine nothing, Mr. Barker. I am bound to make every inquiry which
can bear upon the case. But I mean no offense."
"Some inquiries are offensive," Barker answered angrily.
"It's only the facts that we want. It is in your interest and
everyone's interest that they should be cleared up. Did Mr. Douglas
entirely approve your friendship with his wife?"
Barker grew paler, and his great, strong hands were clasped
convulsively together. "You have no right to ask such questions!" he
cried. "What has this to do with the matter you are investigating?"
"I must repeat the question."
"Well, I refuse to answer."
"You can refuse to answer; but you must be aware that your refusal is
in itself an answer, for you would not refuse if you had not something
to conceal."
Barker stood for a moment with his face set grimly and his strong black
eyebrows drawn low in intense thought. Then he looked up with a smile.
"Well, I guess you g
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