e bowed with a show of
deference to the District Attorney, and settling into the attitude of a
man willing to plead his own cause, responded:

"It would be more just, perhaps, if I first heard the reasons you have
for suspecting me, before I attempt to advance arguments to prove the
injustice of your suspicions."

"Well," said Mr. Ferris, "you shall have them. If frankness on my part
can do aught to avert the terrible scandal which your arrest and its
consequent developments would cause, I am willing to sacrifice thus much
to my friendship for Mr. Orcutt. But if I do this, I shall expect an
equal frankness in return. The matter is too serious for subterfuge."

The other merely waved his hand.

"The reasons," proceeded Mr. Ferris, "for considering you a party as
much open to suspicion as Mr. Hildreth, are several. First, we have
evidence to prove your great desire for a sum of money equal to your
aunt's savings, in order to introduce an invention which you have just
patented.

"Secondly, we can show that you left your home in Buffalo the day before
the assault, came to Monteith, the next town to this, alighted at the
remote station assigned to the use of the quarrymen, crossed the hills
and threaded the woods till you came to a small hut back of your aunt's
house, where you put up for the night.

"Thirdly, evidence is not lacking to prove that while there you visited
your aunt's once, if not twice; the last time on the very morning she
was killed, entering the house in a surreptitious way by the back door,
and leaving it in the same suspicious manner.

"And fourthly, we can prove that you escaped from this place as you had
come, secretly, and through a difficult and roundabout path over the
hills.

"Mr. Mansell, these facts, taken with your reticence concerning a visit
so manifestly of importance to the authorities to know, must strike
even you as offering grounds for a suspicion as grave as that attaching
to Mr. Hildreth."

With a restraint marked as it was impressive, Mr. Mansell looked at the
District Attorney for a moment, and then said:

"You speak of proof. Now, what proof have you to give that I put up, as
you call it, for a night, or even for an hour, in the hut which stands
in the woods back of my aunt's house?"

"This," was Mr. Ferris' reply. "It is known you were in the woods the
afternoon previous to the assault upon your aunt, because you were seen
there in company with a young lady with whom y