said, suddenly realizing the fact.

"Yes," she said, but her tone indicated that her fortune brought in its
train many perplexing troubles and many grave questions.

"Forgive me," I began, "if I am unwarrantably intrusive, but I must
say this. Affairs are so changed now, that new dangers and troubles may
arise for you. If I can help you in any way, will you let me do so? Will
you confide in me and trust me, and will you remember that in so doing
you are not putting yourself under the slightest obligation?"

She looked at me very earnestly for a moment, and then without replying
directly to my questions, she said in a low tone, "You are the very best
friend I have ever had."

"Florence!" I cried; but even as she had spoken, she had gone softly out
of the room, and with a quiet joy in my heart, I went away.

That afternoon I was summoned to Mr. Philip Crawford's house to be
present at the informal court of inquiry which was to interrogate
Gregory Hall.

Hall was summoned by telephone, and not long after he arrived. He was
cool and collected, as usual, and I wondered if even his arrest would
disturb his calm.

"We are pursuing the investigation of Mr. Joseph Crawford's death, Mr.
Hall," the district attorney began, "and we wish, in the course of our
inquiries, to ask some questions of you."

"Certainly, sir," said Gregory Hall, with an air of polite indifference.

"And I may as well tell you at the outset," went on Mr. Goodrich, a
little irritated at the young man's attitude, "that you, Mr. Hall, are
under suspicion."

"Yes?" said Hall interrogatively. "But I was not here that night."

"That's just the point, sir. You say you were not here, but you refuse
to say where you were. Now, wherever you may have been that night, a
frank admission of it will do you less harm than this incriminating
concealment of the truth."

"In that case," said Hall easily, "I suppose I may as well tell you.
But first, since you practically accuse me, may I ask if any new
developments have been brought to light?"

"One has," said Mr. Goodrich. "The missing will has been found."

"What?" cried Hall, unable to conceal his satisfaction at this
information.

"Yes," said Mr. Goodrich coldly, disgusted at the plainly apparent
mercenary spirit of the man; "yes, the will of Mr. Joseph Crawford,
which bequeaths the bulk of his estate to Miss Lloyd, is safe in Mr.
Randolph's possession. But that fact in no way affects your connection
wit