ng-room Nora cried out.

The man at the desk swung around, lifting his hands and exposing the
white and contorted face of the butler, Thompson.

Garth laughed nervously.

"I've got him, Nora."

"Wh--what do you mean?" the man asked. "I came back--Who are you? What
do you want of me?"

Garth stepped forward aggressively. His conscience troubled him not at
all.

"I want you for the murder of Frederick Treving--there in the next
room."

The fellow's jaw dropped.

"No--no. I had nothing to do with it. I swear."

Garth raised his hand to the lapel of the butler's coat.

"I thought so," he said. "No question about you, my man. You wore the
rose I found where Treving's body lay. Got it at the wedding, didn't
you?"

The man sank on the unmade bed.

"What are you talking about? I had nothing to do with it."

"Tell that to the judge who'll send you to the chair," he said.

The butler shook. He raised his uncertain hands to his face. He
shuddered.

"No, no. I tell you I had nothing to do with it. It was Mrs. Randall. He
attacked her, and she shot him."

Garth relaxed.

"You heard that, Nora?"

Nora came to the door.

"Yes."

"Then," Garth said, "I am about through with the case."

He turned back to Thompson.

"But you're not clear yet. How did you happen to be here? I know you
went to the wedding with the rest."

"Yes, but Mrs. Randall got me on the telephone--said the doctor had been
called back to town and she was nervous and I'd have to come home. As I
let myself in the back way I heard her scream. I ran up and through
this room. I got to the door just in time to see her shoot him. But when
I rushed in and tried to lift her up she screamed. I couldn't do
anything with her. And I got frightened. When I heard the motorcycle and
guessed it was a policeman who had heard her screaming, I ran out the
servants' entrance and went back to the wedding and came home with the
rest. I was afraid they would take me, and she couldn't say anything to
clear me. That's the truth."

Garth looked him over contemptuously.

"And, knowing the truth, you'd have let Dr. Randall go to trial."

Thompson uncovered his face. Through his tears his eyes glowed with an
exceptional devotion.

"I worked for her, sir. I had been with her family ever since she was
born. Besides, if he didn't want to give her away, what business was it
of mine? He sent for me to-day, and when I told him I had seen her shoot
him, he made me pr