action you may take in this
matter must be of your own choosing. But, except for the stigma of past
sin, I stand again before the world, with no unconfessed crime upon my
conscience. I stole the will; I have restored it. But my hands are clean
of the blood of my brother, and I am now free to add my efforts to yours
to find the criminal and avenge the crime."

He had not raised his voice above those low, even tones in which he had
started his recital; he had made no bid for leniency of judgment; but,
to a man, his three hearers rose and held out friendly hands to him as
he finished his story.

"Thank you," he said simply, as he accepted this mute token of our
belief in his word. "I am gratified at your kindly attitude, but I
realize, none the less, what this will all mean for me. Not only myself
but my innocent family must share my disgrace. However, that is part of
the wrongdoer's punishment--that results fall not only on his own head,
but on the heads and hearts of his loved ones."

"Mr. Goodrich," said Mr. Randolph, "I don't know how you look upon this
matter from your official viewpoint, but unless you deem it necessary, I
should think that this confidence of Mr. Crawford's need never be given
to the public. May we not simply state that the missing will has been
found, without any further disclosures?"

"I am not asking for any such consideration," said Philip Crawford.
"If you decide upon such a course, it will be entirely of your own
volition."

The district attorney hesitated.

"Speaking personally," he said, at last, "I may say that I place
full credence in Mr. Crawford's story. I am entirely convinced of the
absolute truth of all his statements. But, speaking officially, I may
say that in a court of justice witnesses would be required, who could
corroborate his words."

"But such witnesses are manifestly impossible to procure," said Mr.
Randolph.

"Certainly they are," I agreed, "and I should like to make this
suggestion: Believing, as we do, in Mr. Crawford's story, it becomes
important testimony in the case. Now, if it were made public, it would
lose its importance, for it would set ignorant tongues wagging, and
give rise to absurd and untrue theories, and result in blocking our
best-meant efforts. So I propose that we keep the matter to ourselves
for a time--say a week or a fortnight--keeping Mr. Crawford under
surveillance, if need be. Then we can work on the case, with the benefit
of the suggesti