f----"

"Of course you are," Julie said; "I suppose father will send him word.
Don't think about that, Mac, father will attend to everything."

"I know it," said Thorpe, "and I'm so relieved. Don't think me a
weakling, but death always unnerves me,--I can't help it,--and when I
found Gilbert,--like that----"

"There, there," Julie soothed him, "you did all you could. Now let me
make you one little piece more of brown toast----"

But Thorpe declined. To please the girl he had managed to eat one tiny
crisp bit, but another he could not accept. Nor could he take more than
a small part of the cup of coffee she gave him.

"I'm a fool," he said, "but--I'm all in!"

CHAPTER IX

Investigation

Nor did Thorpe's nerves grow calmer. Both Mrs. Crane and Julie tried to
soothe him, but he was jumpy and his mouth twitched spasmodically.

The women endeavored to change the subject and talked of other things,
whereupon Thorpe sat, brooding,--his dark, handsome face strained and
despairful.

"Now, McClellan," Julie said, at last, decidedly, "it's awful enough,
goodness knows, but I'll go crazy if you sit there like that any longer!
Let's think what's to be done. In the first place, there's Carly to be
considered. She's worse hit than you are. Oh, I know you and Gilbert
were great friends and all that,--but I think he and Carly were more
than friends."

"Julie," said her mother, "don't assume more than you know. Carly hasn't
forgotten Peter,--of that I'm sure."

"No; and I don't say there was anything definite between her and Gil
Blair, but I think it would have come in time. Gilbert was crazy over
her, even before they all went on that trip, and when Peter didn't come
back, I think Gilbert felt he had a right to win Carly if he could."

"Oh, he had right enough," Mrs. Crane conceded, "but--I suppose I'm a
bit jealous of my son's memory. However, I'm sorry for poor little
Carly, if she did care for Gilbert in that way."

And then Carlotta came in. Shelby was with her; he had heard the news
and had gone straight to Carlotta's home, and they had come over to the
Cranes' together.

Carlotta's eyes were red with weeping, but she was even more indignant
than sad.

"Who could have killed Gilbert?" she cried, "and why should any one do
so?"

"Killed him!" cried Julie, "what _do_ you mean?"

"Why, yes,--haven't you heard? Gilbert was poisoned."

"Oh, Carlotta! Who said so?"

"Kit told me;--tell them about it,--I