"My God, man!" he cried, "we're not trying to persuade the
District Attorney that he's seen a ghost. If your friends can
persuade Stephen Hallowell that he's seen one, the District
Attorney can go to the devil!"

"Well, he won't!" returned Rainey, "he'll go to law!"

"Let him!" cried Gaylor defiantly. "Get Hallowell to sign that
will, and I'll go into court with him."

His bravado was suddenly attacked from an unexpected source.

"You'll go into court with him, all right," declared Mrs. Vance,
"all of you! And if you don't want him to catch you," she cried,
"you'll clear out, now! He's coming here any minute."

"Who's coming here?" demanded her husband.

"Winthrop," returned his wife, "to see Vera."

"To see Vera!" cried Vance eagerly. "What about? About this
morning?"

"No," protested Mabel, "to call on her. He's an old friend -- "

In alarm Rainey pushed into the group of now thoroughly excited
people. "Don't you believe it!" he cried. "If he's coming here,
he's coming to give her the third degree -- "

The door from the hall suddenly opened, was as suddenly closed,