had been chosen with such precision
that the alteration in that self-same will had never been made, and Ross
Duggan still stood as chief heir to his father's estates!

That was a queer thing--a very queer thing! He flung up his eyebrows and
twitched the corner of his mobile mouth.

"Your _brother_, Miss Duggan? I see. And how long ago was it that he
bought that pistol, may I ask? And for what purpose?"

She gave an uneasy laugh which ended in a little sob that brought a look
of pity to his eyes.

"Oh--ages and ages! Quite a couple of years ago, I think. Ross and a
fellow-officer who was here for the fishing got it together. Ross had
thought of a new idea for killing the big salmon after they had been
played so long, and though exhausted were brought to shore alive.
Everyone laughed at him, of course, and the thing never turned out to be
anything; but Ross's idea was to shoot them as soon after swallowing the
hook as was possible, and the soundless pistol wouldn't frighten the
other fish. It was a ridiculous idea--but Ross imagined it would be more
humane, though not nearly so much sport from the fisherman's point of
view, as you know, Mr. Deland--and he tried it only once. He was teased
out of it after that."

"And the pistol?"

"I really don't know ... what became of it. I never saw it again, and,
in fact, forgot all about it. But of course, Mr. Deland, Ross
couldn't--_couldn't!_--oh, I beg of you, don't think of such a terrible
thing for one instant! Ross adored his father _always_, in spite of the
bad blood between them of later years."

"Quite so. Only, naturally, in the pursuit of duty one must ask all
manner of irrelevant questions. You understand that, Miss Duggan, I
hope? Of course your brother Ross would not think of such a thing. But
if he is the only possessor of an air-pistol, well, naturally,
circumstantial evidence will be rather unpleasant for him--unless
something else turns up. I'd like to see your brother, if you please,
and have a little chat with him. And then he will show me the--your
father, and let me make a little perfunctory examination.... By the way,
how far away is the nearest police-station?"

"A matter of three miles. But the men have motorcycles, and should be
here at any moment. Hark! that's Rhea's bell, isn't it? No doubt they
have already come. Oh, Mr. Deland, _what_ shall I say to them? I don't
feel as though I could face a stranger _now_!"

Cleek laid his hand upon her shou