usted, me--yes! But as a "gentleman."
Should I fail in that test of her faith I could never again hope to
regain my place in her esteem. I have wondered since how I ever won
that swift, deadly battle; how I ever crushed back the wild passion,
the mad impulse to clasp her In my arms. Yet, under God's mercy I did,
my voice emotionless, my face white from restraint, my lips dry as with
fever. The one thing I was sure about just then was that we must break
away from this personal conversation; flesh and blood could stand the
strain no longer.

"Let's not talk of ourselves then," I said, releasing her hands, "but
of what we must face here. We trust each other; that is enough for the
present surely. You will not leave, and let me ferret out the mystery
alone, so we must work together in its solution. I have told you that
Coombs claims to be working under the orders of your husband. Is that
possible?"

"I cannot conceive clearly how it could be, and yet he might have
received notice of his father's death in time to assume control of the
estate by telegraph, or even by letter."

"I hardly think Coombs has been here so short a time."

"He might have been the old overseer, however, and retained."

"True; yet how could Philip Henley know that he had inherited the
property?"

She thought a moment seriously, a little crease in the center of her
forehead.

"Of course, I can only guess," she hazarded at length, "but it would
seem likely he was notified of his father's death by one of the
administrators, and doubtless told at the same time of his inheritance.
He was the only son, and there were no other near relatives. It would
be only natural for him to retain the old servants until he could come
here and select others."

"There is only one fact which opposes your theory," I acknowledged,
"otherwise I would accept it as my own also. Coombs plainly threatened
to confront you with Henley to test your claim to being his wife."

She pressed her hand to her temple in perplexity.

"Even that would not be impossible," she admitted reluctantly, "for he
must have known of the Judge's death even before--before I left. Only
I do not believe it probable, as he was in no condition to travel, and
had very little money. Besides," her voice strengthening with
conviction, "those men who sent you here--Neale and Vail--would never
have ventured such a scheme, had they been uncertain as to Philip
Henley's helplessness. I believe