n the back of my
ivory hair-brush, "I would give a lot to tell you the whole thing.
But--I can't, for a day or so, anyhow. But one thing I might have told
you a long time ago. If you had known it, you would not have suspected
me for a moment of--of having anything to do with the attack on Arnold
Armstrong. Goodness knows what I might do to a fellow like that, if
there was enough provocation, and I had a gun in my hand--under
ordinary circumstances. But--I care a great deal about Louise
Armstrong, Aunt Ray. I hope to marry her some day. Is it likely I
would kill her brother?"

"Her stepbrother," I corrected. "No, of course, it isn't likely, or
possible. Why didn't you tell me, Halsey?"

"Well, there were two reasons," he said slowly.

"One was that you had a girl already picked out for me--"

"Nonsense," I broke in, and felt myself growing red. I had, indeed,
one of the--but no matter.

"And the second reason," he pursued, "was that the Armstrongs would
have none of me."

I sat bolt upright at that and gasped.

"The Armstrongs!" I repeated. "With old Peter Armstrong driving a
stage across the mountains while your grandfather was war governor--"

"Well, of course, the war governor's dead, and out of the matrimonial
market," Halsey interrupted. "And the present Innes admits himself he
isn't good enough for--for Louise."

"Exactly," I said despairingly, "and, of course, you are taken at your
own valuation. The Inneses are not always so self-depreciatory."

"Not always, no," he said, looking at me with his boyish smile.
"Fortunately, Louise doesn't agree with her family. She's willing to
take me, war governor or no, provided her mother consents. She isn't
overly-fond of her stepfather, but she adores her mother. And now,
can't you see where this thing puts me? Down and out, with all of
them."

"But the whole thing is absurd," I argued. "And besides, Gertrude's
sworn statement that you left before Arnold Armstrong came would clear
you at once."

Halsey got up and began to pace the room, and the air of cheerfulness
dropped like a mask.

"She can't swear it," he said finally. "Gertrude's story was true as
far as it went, but she didn't tell everything. Arnold Armstrong came
here at two-thirty--came into the billiard-room and left in five
minutes. He came to bring--something."

"Halsey," I cried, "you MUST tell me the whole truth. Every time I see
a way for you to escape you block it yours