a burglar, had picked up one of Barbara's handkerchiefs, stuffed
it inside his pocket, and when threatened with exposure on being
held for the grand jury, had, in desperation, crushed the amyl
nitrite capsules in Barbara's handkerchief and killed himself.

Kent drew a long, long sigh. His faith in Jimmie's honesty was
shaken at last by the accumulative evidence, and he was convinced
that he had found the solution to the problem, but how impart it to
the weeping girl? To prove her lover a thief, forger, and suicide
was indeed a task he shrank from.

A ring at the telephone caused Kent to move hastily to the
instrument; when he hung up the receiver Helen was adjusting her
veil before a mirror over the mantel.

"Colonel McIntyre is in the next room," he said, keeping his voice
lowered.

"My father!" Helen's eyes were hard and dry. "Does he know that
I am here?"

"I don't know; Sylvester simply said he had called to see me and
is waiting in the outer office." Observing her indecision, Kent
opened the door leading directly into the corridor. "You can leave
this way without encountering Colonel McIntyre."

Helen hurried through the door and paused in the corridor to whisper
feverishly in Kent's ear, "Promise me you will remain faithful to
Barbara whatever develops."