Red，however，suddenlystraightenedfromthedeskandstoodmotionless，listening。Hemadeaslighthissingnoisethatarrestedtheattentionoftheothersandheldtheminmovelesssilence。
\"Ihearsomething，\"hewhispered。Hewenttothekeyholeofthedoorleadingintothepassage。Thenhewhisperedagain，\"Andit\'scomingthisway。\"
Atthewords，Garsonsnappedhisfingers。Theroomwasplungedindarkness。
CHAPTERXVIII。THENOISELESSDEATH。
Therewasabsolutesilenceinthelibraryaftertheturningoftheswitchthatbroughtthepallofdarkness。Longsecondspassed，thenalittlenoise——theknobofthepassagedoorturning。Asthedoorswungopen，therecameagaspingbreathfromMary，forshesawframedinthefaintlightthatcamefromthesingleburnerinthecorridortheslenderformofherhusband，DickGilder。Inthenextinstanthehadsteppedwithintheroomandpulledtothedoorbehindhim。AndinthatsameinstantChicagoRedhadpouncedonhisvictim，thehugehandclappedtightovertheyoungman\'smouth。Evenashispowerfularmheldthenewcomerinaninescapableembrace，therecameasoundofscufflingfeetandthatwasall。Finallythebigman\'svoicecametriumphantly。
\"I\'vegothim。\"
\"It\'sDick!\"Thecrycameasawailofdespairfromthegirl。
Atthesamemoment，Garsonflashedhistorch，andthelightfellswiftlyonyoungGilder，bowedtoakneelingposturebeforethecouch，half-throttledbythestrengthofChicagoRed。Closebesidehim，Marylookeddowninwordlessdespairoverthisfinaldisasterofthenight。Therewassilenceamongthemen，allofwhomsavethecaptorhimselfweregatherednearthefireplace。
Garsonretiredastepfartherbeforehespokehiscommand，sothat，thoughheheldthetorchstill，heliketheotherswasinshadow。OnlyMarywasrevealedclearlyasshebentinalarmtowardthemanshehadmarried。Itwasborneinontheforger\'sconsciousnessthatthefaceofthewomanleaningovertheintruderwasstrongertoholdtheprisonerandtopreventanyoutcrythanthemightofChicagoRedhimself，andsohegavetheorder。
\"Getaway，Red。\"
Thefellowletgohisgripobedientlyenough，thoughwithatrifleofregret，sincehegloriedinhisphysicalprowess。
Thusfreedofthatstranglingembrace，Dickstumbledblindlytohisfeet。Then，mechanically，hishandwenttothelamponthetablebackofthecouch。InthesamemomentGarsonsnappedhistorchtodarkness。When，afteralittlefutilesearching，Dickfinallyfoundthecatch，andthemellowstreamedforth，heutteredanejaculationofstarkamazement，forhisgazewasrivetedonthefaceofthewomanheloved。
\"GoodGod!\"Itwasacryoftorturewrungfromhissoulofsouls。
Maryswayedtowardhimalittle，palpitantwithfear——fearforherself，forallofthem，mostofallforhim。
\"Hush!hush!\"shepantedwarningly。\"Oh，Dick，youdon\'tunderstand。\"
Dick\'shandwasathisthroat。Itwasnoteasyforhimtospeakyet。Hehadsufferedseverelyintheprocessofbeingthrottled，and，too，hewasintheclutchofafrightfulemotion。Tofindher，hiswife，inthisplace，insuchcompany——her，thewomanwhomheloved，whom，inspiteofeverything，hehadhonored，thewomantowhomhehadgivenhisname!Maryhere!Andthus!
\"Iunderstandthis，\"hesaidbrokenlyatlast。\"Whetheryoueverdiditbeforeornot，thistimeyouhavebrokenthelaw。\"A
suddeninspirationonhisownbehalfcametohim。Forhislove\'ssake，hemustseizeonthisopportunitygivenoffatetohimformastery。Hewentonwithanewvehemenceofboldnessthatbecamehimwell。
\"You\'reinmyhandsnow。Soarethesemenaswell。UnlessyoudoasIsay，Mary，I\'lljaileveryoneofthem。\"
Mary\'susualquicknesswasnotlackingevennow，inthisperiodofextremity。Herretortwasgivenwithoutaparticleofhesitation。
\"Youcan\'t，\"sheobjectedwithconviction。\"I\'mtheonlyoneyou\'veseen。\"
\"That\'ssoonremedied，\"Dickdeclared。Heturnedtowardthehalldoorasifwiththeintentionoflightingthechandelier。
ButMarycaughthisarmpleadingly。
\"Don\'t，Dick，\"shebegged。\"It\'s——it\'snotsafe。\"
\"I\'mnotafraid，\"washisindignantanswer。Hewouldhavegoneon，butsheclungthecloser。Hewasreluctanttouseover-muchforceagainsttheonewhomhecherishedsofondly。
Therecameadiversionfromthemanwhohadmadethecapture，whowasmightilywonderingoverthecourseofevents，whichwaswhollyunlikeanythinginthewholeofhisownratherextensivehousebreakingexperience。
\"Who\'sthis，anyhow？\"ChicagoReddemanded。
Therewasaprimitivepetulanceinhisdrawlingtones。
Dickansweredwithconcisenessenough。
\"I\'mherhusband。Whoareyou？\"
Marycalledasoftadmonition。
\"Don\'tspeak，anyofyou，\"shedirected。\"Youmustn\'tlethimhearyourvoices。\"
Dickwasexasperatedbythispersistentidentificationofherselfwiththesecriminalsinhisfather\'shouse。
\"You\'refightingmelikeacoward，\"hesaidhotly。Hisvoicewasbitter。Theeyesthathadalwaysbeenwarmintheirglancesonherwerechillnow。Heturnedalittlewayfromher，asifininstinctiverepugnance。\"Youaretakingadvantageofmylove。
YouthinkthatbecauseofitIcan\'tmakeamoveagainstthesemen。Now，listentome，I——\"
\"Iwon\'t!\"Marycried。Herwordswereshrillwithmingledemotions。\"There\'snothingtotalkabout，\"shewentonwildly。
\"Therenevercanbebetweenyouandme。\"
Theyoungman\'svoicecamewithasonorousfirmnessthatwasnewtoit。Inthesemoments，thestrengthofhim，nourishedbysuffering，wasputtingforthitsflower。Hismannerwasmasterful。
\"Therecanbeandtherewillbe，\"hecontradicted。Heraisedhisvoicealittle，speakingintotheshadowswherewasthegroupofsilentmen。
\"Youmenbackthere!\"hecried。\"IfIgiveyoumywordtoleteveryoneofyougofreeandpledgemyselfnevertorecognizeoneofyouagain，willyoumakeMaryherelistentome？That\'sallI
ask。Iwantafewminutestostatemycase。Givemethat。
WhetherIwinorlose，youmengofree，andI\'llforgeteverythingthathashappenedhereto-night。\"TherecameamuffledguffawoflaughterfromthebigchestofChicagoRedatthisextraordinarilyingenuousproposal，whileDaceychuckledmorequietly。
Dickmadeagestureofimpatienceatthisopenderision。
\"TellthemIcanbetrusted，\"hebadeMarycurtly。
ItwasGarsonwhoanswered。
\"Iknowthatyoucanbetrusted，\"hesaid，\"becauseIknowyoulo——\"Hecheckedhimselfwithashiver，andoutofthedarknesshisfaceshowedwhite。
\"Youmustlisten，\"Dickwenton，facingagaintowardthegirl，whowastremblingbeforehim，hereyesbyturnssearchinghisexpressionordowncastinunfamiliarconfusion，whichsheherselfcouldhardlyunderstand。
\"Yoursafetydependsonme，\"theyoungmanwarned。\"SupposeI
shouldcallforhelp？\"
Garsonsteppedforwardthreateningly。
\"Youwouldonlycallonce，\"hesaidverygently，yetmostgrimly。
Hishandwenttothenoiselessweaponinhiscoat-pocket。
Buttheyoungman\'sanswerrevealedthefactthathe，too，wasdeterminedtotheutmost，thatheunderstoodperfectlythesituation。
\"Oncewouldbequiteenough，\"hesaidsimply。
Garsonnoddedinacceptanceofthedefeat。Itmaybe，too，thatinsomesubtlefashionheadmiredthisyouthsuddenlygrownresolute，competenttocontroladangerousevent。TherewaseventhepossibilitythatsomeinstinctoftendernesstowardMaryherselfmadehimdesirethatthisopportunityshouldbegivenforwipingouttheeffectsofmisfortunewhichfatehithertohadbroughtintoherlife。
\"Youwin，\"Garsonsaid，withahalf-laugh。Heturnedtotheothermenandspokeacommand。
\"Yougetoverbythehalldoor，Red。Andkeepyourearsopeneverysecond。Giveustheofficeifyouhearanything。Ifwe\'rerushed，andhavetomakeaquickget-away，seethatMaryhasthefirstchance。Getthat，allofyou？\"
AsChicagoRedtookuphisappointedstation，GarsonturnedtoDick。
\"Makeitquick，remember。\"
Hetouchedtheothertwoandmovedbacktothewallbythefireplace，asfaraspossiblefromthehusbandandwifebythecouch。
Dickspokeatonce，withahesitancythatbetrayedthedepthofhisemotion。
\"Don\'tyoucareformeatall？\"heaskedwistfully。
Thegirl\'sanswerwasutteredwithnervouseagernesswhichrevealedherownstressoffear。
\"No，no，no!\"sheexclaimed，rebelliously。
Now，however，theyoungmanhadregainedsomemeasureofreassurance。
\"Iknowyoudo，Mary，\"heasserted，confidently；\"alittle，anyway。Why，Mary，\"hewentonreproachfully，\"can\'tyouseethatyou\'rethrowingawayeverythingthatmakeslifeworthwhile？
Don\'tyouseethat？\"
Therewasnowordfromthegirl。Herbreastwasmovingconvulsively。Sheheldherfacesteadfastlyavertedfromthefaceofherhusband。
\"Whydon\'tyouanswerme？\"heinsisted。
Mary\'sreplycamewithallthecoldnessshecouldcommand。
\"Thatwasnotinthebargain，\"Marysaid，indifferently。
Theman\'svoicegrewtenderlywinning，persuasivewiththelongingofalover，persuasivewiththepityoftherighteousforthesinner。
\"Mary，Mary!\"hecried。\"You\'vegottochange。Don\'tbesohard。
Givethewomaninyouachance。\"
Thegirl\'sformbecamerigidasshefoughtforself-control。Thepleatouchedtothebottomofherheart，butshecouldnot，wouldnotyield。Herwordsrushedforthwithabitternessthatwasthecoverofherdistress。
\"IamwhatIam，\"shesaidsharply。\"Ican\'tchange。Keepyourpromise，now，andlet\'sgetoutofthis。\"
Herassertionwasdisregardedastotheinabilitytochange。
\"Youcanchange，\"Dickwentonimpetuously。\"Mary，haven\'tyoueverwantedthethingsthatotherwomenhave，shelter，andcare，andthebigthingsoflife，thethingsworthwhile？They\'reallreadyforyou，now，Mary……Andwhataboutme？\"Reproachleapedinhistone。\"Afterall，you\'vemarriedme。Nowit\'suptoyoutogivememychancetomakegood。I\'veneveramountedtomuch。
I\'venevertriedmuch。Ishall，now，ifyouwillhaveitso，Mary；ifyou\'llhelpme。Iwillcomeoutallright，Iknowthat——sodoyou，Mary。Only，youmusthelpme。\"
\"Ihelpyou!\"Theexclamationcamefromthegirlinanoteofincredulousastonishment。
\"Yes，\"Dicksaid，simply。\"Ineedyou，andyouneedme。Comeawaywithme。\"
\"No，no!\"wasthebrokenrefusal。Therewasagreatgriefclutchingatthesoulofthiswomanwhohadbroughtvengeancetoitsfullflower。Shewasgasping。\"No，no!Imarriedyou，notbecauseIlovedyou，buttorepayyourfatherthewronghehaddoneme。Iwouldn\'tletmyselfeventhinkofyou，andthen——I
realizedthatIhadspoiledyourlife。\"
\"No，notspoiledit，Mary!Blessedit!Wemustprovethatyet。\"
\"Yes，spoiledit，\"thewifewentonpassionately。\"IfIhadunderstood，ifIcouldhavedreamedthatIcouldevercare——
Oh，Dick，Iwouldneverhavemarriedyouforanythingintheworld。\"
\"Butnowyoudorealize，\"theyoungmansaidquietly。\"Thethingisdone。Ifwemadeamistake，itisforustobringhappinessoutofthaterror。\"
\"Oh，can\'tyousee？\"camethestrickenlament。\"I\'majail-bird!\"
\"Butyouloveme——youdoloveme，Iknow!\"Theyoungmanspokewithjoyouscertainty，forsomeinflectionofhervoicehadtoldthetruthtohisheart。Nothingelsemattered。\"Butnow，tocomebacktothisholewe\'reinhere。Don\'tyouunderstand，atlast，thatyoucan\'tbeatthelaw？Ifyou\'recaughthereto-night，wherewouldyougetoff——caughtherewithagangofburglars？
Tellme，dear，whydidyoudoit？Whydidn\'tyouprotectyourself？Whydidn\'tyougotoChicagoasyouplanned？\"
\"What？\"TherewasanewqualityinMary\'svoice。Asuddenthrobofshockmaskedinthesurfaceindifferenceofintonation。
Dickrepeatedhisquestion，unobservantofitsfirsteffect。
\"Whydidn\'tyougotoChicagoasyouhadplanned？\"
\"Planned？Withwhom？\"Theinterrogationcamewithanabruptforcethatcriedofnewsuspicions。
\"Why，withBurke。\"Theyoungmantriedtobepatientoverherdensityinthistimeofcrisis。
\"WhotoldyouthatIhadarrangedanysuchthing？\"Maryasked。
Nowthetensenessinhermannergotthehusband\'sattention，andherepliedwithasuddengravity，apprehensiveofheknewnotwhat。
\"Burkehimselfdid。\"
\"When？\"Marywasstandingrigidnow，andtherarecolorflamedinhercheeks。Hereyeswereblazing。
\"Lessthananhourago。\"Hehadcaughtthecontagionofhermoodandvaguealarmswepthim。
\"Where？\"camethenextquestion，stillwiththatvitalinsistence。
\"Inthisroom。\"
\"Burkewashere？\"Mary\'svoicewassuddenlycold，verydangerous。\"Whatwashedoinghere？\"
\"Talkingtomyfather。\"
Theseeminglysimpleanswerappearedthelaststrawtothegirl\'sburdenoffrenziedsuspicion。Hervoicecutfiercelyintothequietoftheroom，imperious，savage。
\"Joe，turnonthatlight!Iwanttoseethefaceofeverymaninthisroom。\"
SomethingfatallysignificantinhervoicesetGarsona-leaptotheswitch，and，inthesamesecond，theblazeofthechandelierflamedbrilliantlyoverall。Theothersstoodmotionless，blinkinginthesuddenradiance——allsaveGriggs，whomovedstealthilyinthatsamemoment，alittlenearerthedoorintothepassage，whichwasnearesttohim。
ButMary\'snextwordscamewhollyasasurprise，seeminglytotallyirrelevanttothisinstantofcrisis。Yettheyranga-throbwithanhystericalanxiety。
\"Dick，\"shecried，\"whatarethosetapestriesworth？\"Withthequestion，shepointedtowardthedraperiesthatshroudedthegreatoctagonalwindow。
Theyoungmanwasplainlyastonished，disconcertedaswellbytheobtrusionofasordiddetailintothetragedyofthetime。
\"Whyintheworlddoyou——？\"hebegan，impatiently。
Marystampedherfootangrilyinprotestagainstthedelay。
\"Tellme——quick!\"shecommanded。Theauthorityinhervoiceandmannerwasnottobegainsaid。
Dickyieldedsullenly。
\"Oh，twoorthreehundreddollars，Isuppose，\"heanswered。
\"Why？\"
\"Nevermindthat!\"Maryexclaimed，violently。Andnowthegirl\'svoicecamestinginglikeawhiplash。InGarson\'sface，too，wasgrowingfury，forinaninstantofilluminationheguessedsomethingofthetruth。Mary\'snextquestionconfirmedhisragingsuspicion。
\"Howlonghaveyouhadthem，Dick？\"
Bynow，theyoungmanhimselfsensedthefactthatsomethingmysteriouslybanefullaybehindthefranticquestioningonthisseeminglytrivialtheme。
\"EversinceIcanremember，\"hereplied，promptly。
Mary\'svoicecamethenwithanintonationthatbroughtenlightenmentnotonlytoGarson\'sshrewdperceptions，butalsototheheavierintelligencesofDaceyandofChicagoRed。
\"Andthey\'renotfamousmasterpieceswhichyourfatherboughtrecently，fromsomedealerwhosmuggledthemintothiscountry？\"
Sosimplewerethewordsofherinquiry，butunderthembeatsomethingevil，deadly。
Theyoungmanlaughedcontemptuously。
\"Ishouldsaynot!\"hedeclaredindignantly，forheresentedtheimplicationagainsthisfather\'shonesty。
\"It\'satrick!Burke\'sdoneit!\"Mary\'swordscamewithaccusingvehemence。
TherewasanothersinglestepmadebyGriggstowardthedoorintothepassage。
Mary\'seyecaughtthemovement，andherlipssoundlesslyformedthename:
\"Griggs!\"
Themanstrovetocarryoffthesituation，thoughheknewwellthathestoodinmortalperil。Hecamealittletowardthegirlwhohadaccusedhimoftreachery。Hewasverydapperinhiseveningclothes，withhisratherhandsome，well-groomedfacesetinlinesofinnocence。
\"He\'slyingtoyou!\"hecriedforcibly，withascornfulgesturetowardDickGilder。\"Itellyou，thosetapestriesareworthamillioncold。\"
Mary\'sanswerwasvirulentinitssuddenburstofhate。Foronce，themusicofhervoicewaslostinadiscordantcryofdetestation。
\"Youstool-pigeon!YoudidthisforBurke!\"
Griggssoughtstilltomaintainhisairofinnocence，andhestrovewell，sinceheknewthathefoughtforhislifeagainstthosewhomhehadoutraged。Ashespokeagain，histonesweretremulouswithsincerity——perhapsthattremulousnesswasbornchieflyoffear，yettotheearhiswordscamestoutlyenoughfortruth:
\"IswearIdidn\'t!Iswearit!\"
Maryregardedtheprotestingmanwithabhorrence。Theperjuredwretchshrankbeforetheloathinginhereyes。
\"Youcametomeyesterday，\"shesaid，withmoreofrestraintinhervoicenow，butstillwithinexorablerancor。\"Youcametometoexplainthisplan。Andyoucamefromhim——fromBurke!\"
\"IswearIwasonthelevel。Iwastippedofftothestorybyapal，\"Griggsdeclared，butatlasttheassurancewasgoneoutofhisvoice。Hefeltthehostilityofthoseabouthim。
Garsonbrokeinferociously。
\"It\'saframe-up!\"hesaid。Histonescameinadeadenedroarofwrath。
Ontheinstant，awarethatfurthersubterfugecouldbeofnoavail，Griggsswaggereddefiance。
\"Andwhatifitistrue？\"hedrawled，witharesumptionofhisaristocraticmanner，whilehiseyessweptthegroupbalefully。
Hepluckedthepolicewhistlefromhiswaistcoat-pocket，andraisedittohislips。
Hemovedtooslowly。Inthesamemomentofhisaction，Garsonhadpulledthepistolfromhispocket，hadpressedthetrigger。
Therecamenospurtofflame。Therewasnosound——saveperhapsafaintclickingnoise。Butthemanwiththewhistleathislipssuddenlyceasedmovement，stoodabsolutelystillforthespaceofabreath。Then，hetrembledhorribly，andinthenextinstantcrashedtothefloor，wherehelayrigid，dead。
\"Damnyou——I\'vegotyou!\"Garsonsneeredthroughclenchedteeth。
Hiseyeswerelikeballsoffire。Therewasafrightfulgrinoftriumphtwistinghismouthinthisminuteofpunishment。
Inthefirstsecondofthetragedy，Dickhadnotunderstood。
Indeed，hewasstilldazedbythesuddennessofitall。ButthefallingofGriggsbeforetheleveledweaponoftheotherman，theretolieinthatghastlyimmobility，madehimtounderstand。
HeleapedtowardGarson——wouldhavewrenchedthepistolfromtheother\'sgrasp。Inthestruggle，itfelltothefloor。
Beforeeithercouldpickitup，therecameaninterruption。Eveninthestressofthisscene，ChicagoRedhadneverrelaxedhisprofessionalcaution。Aslightnoisehadcaughthisear，hehadstooped，listening。Now，hestraightened，andcalledhiswarning。
\"Somebody\'sopeningthefrontdoor!\"
Garsonforgothisweaponinthisnewalarm。Hesprangtotheoctagonalwindow，evenasDicktookpossessionofthepistol。
\"Thestreet\'sempty!Wemustjumpforit!\"Hishatewasforgottennowinanemotionstilldeeper，andheturnedtoMary。Hisfacewasallgentlenessagain，wherejustbeforeithadbeenevilincarnate，aflamewiththelusttodestroy。\"Comeon，Mary，\"hecried。
AlreadyChicagoRedhadsnappedoffthelightsofthechandelier，hadsprungtothewindow，thrownopenapanelofit，andhadvanishedintothenight，withDaceyathisheels。AsGarsonwouldhavecalledouttothegirlagaininmadanxietyforhaste，hewasinterruptedbyDick:
\"Shecouldn\'tmakeit，Garson，\"hedeclaredcoollyandresolutely。\"Yougo。It\'llbeallright，youknow。I\'lltakecareofher!\"
\"Ifshe\'scaught——!\"Therewasanindescribablemenaceintheforger\'shalf-utteredthreat。
\"Shewon\'tbe。\"ThequalityofsincerityinDick\'svoicewasmoreconvincingthananyvowmighthavebeen。
\"Ifsheis，I\'llgetyou，that\'sall，\"Garsonsaidgravely，asonestatingasimplefactthatcouldnotbedisputed。
Thenheglanceddownatthebodyofthemanwhomhehaddonetodeath。
\"AndyoucantellthattoBurke!\"hesaidviciouslytothedead。
\"Youdamnedsquealer!\"Therewasasupremelymalevolentcontentinhissneer。
CHAPTERXIX。WITHINTHETOILS。
ThegoingofGarsonlefttheroomdeathlystill。Dickstaredforamomentatthespaceofwindowleftuncoveredbythedraperiesnow，sincethemanhadhurriedpastthem，withoutpausingtodrawthemafterhim。Then，presently，theyoungmanturnedagaintoMary，andtookherhandinhis。Theshockoftheeventhadsomehowsteadiedhim，sinceithaddrawnhisthoughtsfromthatothermoreengrossingmoodofconcernoverthecrisisinhisownlife。Afterall，whatmatteredthedeathofthiscrook？hisfancyran。Theonethingofrealworthinalltheworldwasthelifethatremainedtobelivedbetweenhimandher……Then，violently，theselfishnessofhismoodwasmadeplaintohim。
Forthehandheheldwasshakinglikesomeslender-stalkedlilyintheclutchofthesirocco。Evenashefirstperceivedthefact，hesawthegirlstagger。Hisarmsweptaboutherinavirileprotectingembrace——justintime，orshewouldhavefallen。
Awhispercamefromherquiveringlips。Herfacewasclosetohis，elsehecouldnothavecaughttheuncertainmurmuring。Thatfacenowwasbecomeghastlypale。Thevioleteyeswerewidenedanddull。Themusclesofherfacetwitched。Sherestedsupinelyagainsthim，asifbereftofanystrengthofbodyorofsoul。
Yet，intheintensityofherutterance，thefeeblewhisperstrucklikeashriekofhorror。
\"I——I——neversawanyonekilledbefore!\"
Thesimple，grislytruthofthewords——wordsthathemighthavespokenaswell——stirredthemantothedeepsofhisbeing。Heshuddered，asheturnedhiseyestoavoidseeingthethingthatlaysoverynear，mercifullymergedwithintheshadowsbeyondthegentleradiancefromthesinglelamp。Withapangofinfinitepityforthewomaninhisarms，heapprehendedinsomedegreethetorturethiseventmusthaveinflictedonher。Frightfultohim，itmustintruthbevastlyworsetoher。Therewasherwomanlysensitivenesstoenhancetheinnatehideousnessofthethingthathadbeendoneherebeforetheireyes。Therewas，too，thefactthatthemurdererhimselfhadbeenthemantowhomsheowedherlife。Yes，forhim，Dickrealizedwithpoignantsympathy，thehappeningthatnightwasterribleindeed:forher，asheguessednowatlast，thetorturemustbesomethingeasilytooverwhelmallherstrength。Histouchonhergrewtenderbeyondtheordinarytendernessoflove，madegentlerbyagreatunderlyingcompassionforhermisery。
DickdrewMarytowardthecouch，therelethersinkdowninahuddledattitudeofdespair。
\"Ineversawaman——killedbefore!\"shesaidagain。Therewasanoteofhalf-hysterical，almostchildishcomplaintinhervoice。
Shemovedherheadalittle，asiftolookintotheshadowswhere*ITlay，thencheckedherselfviolently，andlookedupatherhusbandwiththepatheticsimplicityofterror。
\"Youknow，Dick，\"sherepeateddully，\"Ineversawamankilledbefore。\"
Beforehecouldutterthesoothingwordsthatrosetohislips，Dickwasinterruptedbyaslightsoundatthedoor。Instantly，hewasallalerttomeettheexigenciesofthesituation。Hestoodbythecouch，bendingforwardalittle，asifinapostureofintimatefondness。Then，withanewthought，hegotouthiscigarette-caseandlightedacigarette，afterwhichheresumedhisformerleaningoverthewomanaswouldtheardentlover。Heheardthenoiseagainpresently，nowsonearthathemadesureofbeingoverheard，soatoncehespokewithaforcedcheerfulnessinhisinflection。
\"Itellyou，Mary，\"hedeclared，\"everything\'sgoingtobeallrightforyouandme。Itwasbullyofyoutocomeheretomelikethis。\"
Thegirlmadenoresponse。Shelivedstillinthenightmareofmurder——thatnightmarewhereinshehadseenGriggsfalldeadtothefloor。
Dick，innervousapprehensionastotheissue，soughttobringhertorealizationofthenewneedthathadcomeuponthem。
\"Talktome，\"hecommanded，verysoftly。\"They\'llbehereinaminute。Whentheycomein，pretendyoujustcamehereinordertomeetme。Try，Mary。Youmust，dearest!\"Then，again，hisvoicerosetoloudness，ashecontinued。\"Why，I\'vebeentryingalldaytoseeyou。And，now，herewearetogether，justasI
wasbeginningtogetreallydiscouraged……Iknowmyfatherwilleventually——\"
Hewasinterruptedbytheswiftswingingopenofthehallwaydoor。Burkestoodjustwithinthelibrary，arevolverpointedmenacingly。
\"Handsup!——allofyou!\"TheInspector\'svoicefairlyroaredthecommand。
Thebelligerentexpressionofhisfacevanishedabruptly，ashiseyesfellonDickstandingbythecouchandMaryrecliningthereinlimphelplessness。Hissurprisewouldhavebeenludicrousbutfortheseriousnessofthesituationtoallconcerned。Burke\'sglancerovedtheroomsharply，andhewasquicklyconvincedthatthesetwowereinfacttheonlypresentspoilofhiscarefulplotting。Hisfacesetgrimly，forthedisappointmentofthisminutesurgedfiercelywithinhim。Hestartedtospeak，hiseyesloweringasheregardedthetwobeforehim。
ButDickforestalledhim。Hespokeinavoicecoldlyrepellent。
\"Whatareyoudoinginthishouseatthistimeofnight？\"hedemanded。Hismannerwasoneofsterndisapproval。\"Irecognizeyou，InspectorBurke。Butyoumustunderstandthattherearelimitseventowhatyoucando。Itseemstome，sir，thatyouexceedyourauthoritybysuchanintrusionasthis。\"
Burke，however，wasnotawhitdismayedbytherebukeandtheairofrathercontemptuousdisdainwithwhichitwasuttered。HewavedhisrevolvertowardMary，merelyasagestureofinquisitiveness，withoutanythreat。
\"What\'sshedoinghere？\"heasked。Therewaswrathinhisroughvoice，forhecouldnotavoidthesurmisethathisshrewdlyconcoctedschemetoentrapthiswomanhadsomehowbeensetawry。
\"What\'sshedoinghere，Isay？\"herepeatedheavily。Hiskeeneyesweredartingoncemoreabouttheroom，questingsomecluetothisdisturbingmystery，sohatefultohispride。
Dick\'smannerbecamethatofthedevotedhusbandoffendedbyimpertinentobtrusion。
\"Youforgetyourself，Inspector，\"hesaid，icily。\"Thisismywife。Shehastherighttobewithme——herhusband!\"
TheInspectorgrinnedsceptically。HewasmovednomoreeffectivelybyMary\'salmosthystericalefforttorespondtoherhusband\'sleading。
\"Whyshouldn\'tIbehere？Why？Why？I——\"
Burkebrokeinonthegirl\'spitifulhistrionicsruthlessly。Hewasnotintheleastdeceived。Hewasawarethatsomethinguntoward，ashedeemedit，hadoccurred。Itseemedtohim，infact，thathisfinicalmechanismsfortheundoingofMaryTurnerwereinafairwaytobethwarted。Buthewouldnotgiveupthecausewithoutastruggle。Again，headdressedhimselftoDick，disregardingcompletelythealoofmanneroftheyoungman。
\"Where\'syourfather？\"hequestionedroughly。
\"Inbed，naturally，\"wastheanswer。\"Iaskyouagain:Whatareyoudoinghereatthistimeofnight？\"
Burkeshookhisshouldersponderouslyinamovementofimpatienceoverthisprolongingofthefarce。
\"Oh，callyourfather，\"hedirecteddisgustedly。
Dickremonstratedwithanexcellentshowofdignity。
\"It\'slate，\"heobjected。\"I\'drathernotdisturbhim，ifyoudon\'tmind。Really，theideaisabsurd，youknow。\"Suddenly，hesmiledverywinningly，andspokewithagoodassumptionofingenuousness。
\"Inspector，\"hesaidbriskly，\"Isee，I\'llhavetotellyouthetruth。It\'sthis:I\'vepersuadedmywifetogoawaywithme。
She\'sgoingtogiveallthatothersortofthingup。Yes，we\'regoingawaytogether。\"Therewasgenuinetriumphinhisvoicenow。\"So，yousee，we\'vegottotalkitover。Now，then，Inspector，ifyou\'llcomebackinthemorning——\"
Theofficialgrinnedsardonically。Hecouldnotintheleastguessjustwhathadinverydeedhappened，buthewasfartoocleveramantobebamboozledbyDick\'smaunderings。
\"Oh，that\'sit!\"heexclaimed，withobviousincredulity。
\"Ofcourse，\"Dickrepliedbravely，thoughheknewthattheInspectordisbelievedhispretenses。Still，forhisownpart，hewasinclinedasyettobeangryratherthanalarmedbythisfailuretoimpresstheofficer。\"Yousee，Ididn\'tknow——\"
Andeveninthemomentofhissaying，thewhitebeamoftheflashingsearchlightfromtheTowerfellbetweentheundrawndraperiesoftheoctagonalwindow。ThelightstartledtheInspectoragain，asithaddoneoncebeforethatsamenight。Hisgazefolloweditinstinctively。So，withinthesecond，hesawthestillformlyingthereonthefloor——lyingwherehadbeenshadows，wherenow，forthepassingofaninstant，wasbrilliantradiance。
Therewasnomistakingthatawful，motionless，crumpledposture。
TheInspectorknewinthissingleinstantofviewthatmurderhadbeendonehere。EvenasthebeamoflightfromtheTowershiftedandvanishedfromtheroom，heleapedtotheswitchbythedoor，andturnedonthelightsofthechandelier。Inthenextmoment，hehadreachedthedoorofthepassageacrosstheroom，andhiswhistlesoundedshrill。Hisvoicebellowedreinforcementtotheblast。
\"Cassidy!Cassidy!\"
AsDickmadeasteptowardhiswife，fromwhomhehadwithdrawnalittleinhiscolloquywiththeofficial，Burkevoicedhiscommandviciously:
\"Staywhereyouare——bothofyou!\"
Cassidycamerushingin，withtheotherdetectives。Hewasplainlysurprisedtofindtheroomsonearlyempty，wherehehadexpectedtobeholdagangofrobbers。
\"Why，what\'sitallmean，Chief？\"hequestioned。HispeeringeyesfellonDick，standingbesideMary，andtheyroundedinamazement。
\"They\'vegotGriggs!\"Burkeanswered。Therewasexceedingrageinhisvoice，ashespokefromhiskneelingposturebesidethebody，towhichhehadhurriedafterthesummonstohisaides。Hegloweredupintothebewilderedfaceofthedetective。\"I\'llbreakyouforthis，Cassidy，\"hedeclaredfiercely。\"Whydidn\'tyougethereontherunwhenyouheardtheshot？\"
\"Buttherewasn\'tanyshot，\"theperplexedandalarmeddetectiveexpostulated。Hefairlystutteredintheearnestnessofhisself-defense。\"Itellyou，Chief，therehasn\'tbeenasound。\"
Burkerosetohisfeet。Hisheavyfacewassetinitssternestmold。
\"Youcoulddriveahearsethroughtheholethey\'vemadeinhim，\"
herumbled。HewheeledonMaryandDick。\"So!\"heshouted，\"nowit\'smurder!……Well，handitover。Where\'sthegun？\"
Followedamoment\'spause。ThentheInspectorspokeharshlytoCassidy。Hestillfelthimselfsomewhatdazedbythisextraordinaryevent，buthewasabletocopewiththesituation。
HenoddedtowardDickashegavehisorder:\"Searchhim!\"
Beforethedetectivecouldobeythedirection，Dicktooktherevolverfromhispocketwherehehadbestowedit，andhelditout。