re if I could.

Instead of showing surprise or anger, he gave a slight smile, as one
would at an idea too ridiculous to be entertained for an instant.
Somehow, that smile was more convincing to me than any verbal
protestation could have been.

Then I realized that the man was doubtless a consummate actor, and
he had carefully weighed the value of that supercilious smile against
asseverations of innocence. So I went on:

"When did you first learn of the accident to the Atlantic liner, the
North America?"

"I suppose you mean that question for a trap," he said coolly; "but I
haven't the least objection to answering it. I bought a late 'extra' in
New York City the night of the disaster."

"At what hour did you buy it?"

"I don't know exactly. It was some time after midnight."

Really, there was little use in questioning this man. If he had bought
his paper at half-past eleven, as I felt positive he did, and if he had
come out to Sedgwick on the twelve o'clock train, he was quite capable
of answering me in this casual way, to throw me off the track.

Well, I would try once again.

"Excuse me, Mr. Hall, but I am obliged to ask you some personal
questions now. Are you engaged to Miss Lloyd?"

"I beg your pardon?"

His continued requests for me to repeat my questions irritated me beyond
endurance. Of course it was a bluff to gain time, but he did it so
politely, I couldn't rebuke him.

"Are you engaged to Miss Lloyd?" I repeated.

"No, I think not," he said slowly. "She wants to break it off, and I,
as a poor man, should not stand in the way of her making a brilliant
marriage. She has many opportunities for such, as her uncle often told
me, and I should be selfish indeed, now that she herself is poor, to
hold her to her promise to me."

The hypocrite! To lay on Florence the responsibility for breaking the
engagement. Truly, she was well rid of him, and I hoped I could convince
her of the fact.

"But she is not so poor," I said. "Mr. Philip Crawford told me he
intends to provide for her amply. And I'm sure that means a fair-sized
fortune, for the Crawfords are generous people."

Gregory Hall's manner changed.

"Did Philip Crawford say that?" he cried. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure, as he said it to me."

"Then Florence and I may be happy yet," he said; and as I looked him
straight in the eye, he had the grace to look ashamed of himself,
and, with a rising color, he continued: "I hope you understa