Part 44 (1/2)

Burke seized on this opening.

”Did she kill Griggs?” he questioned, roughly.

For once, d.i.c.k was startled out of his calm.

”No, no!” he cried, desperately.

Burke followed up his advantage.

”Then, who did?” he demanded, sharply. ”Who did?”

Now, however, the young man had regained his self-control. He answered very quietly, but with an air of finality.

”I won't say any more until I've talked with a lawyer whom I can trust.”

He shot a vindictive glance toward Demarest.

The father intervened with a piteous eagerness.

”d.i.c.k, if you know who killed this man, you must speak to protect yourself.”

Burke's voice came viciously.

”The gun was found on you. Don't forget that.”

”You don't seem to realize the position you're in,” the father insisted, despairingly. ”Think of me, d.i.c.k, my boy. If you won't speak for your own sake, do it for mine.”

The face of the young man softened as he met his father's beseeching eyes.

”I'm sorry, Dad,” he said, very gently. ”But I--well, I can't!”

Again, Burke interposed. His busy brain was working out a new scheme for solving this irritating problem.

”I'm going to give him a little more time to think things over,”

he said, curtly. He went back to his chair. ”Perhaps he'll get to understand the importance of what we've been saying pretty soon.” He scowled at d.i.c.k. ”Now, young man,” he went on briskly, ”you want to do a lot of quick thinking, and a lot of honest thinking, and, when you're ready to tell the truth, let me know.”

He pressed the b.u.t.ton on his desk, and, as the doorman appeared, addressed that functionary.

”Dan, have one of the men take him back. You wait outside.”

d.i.c.k, however, did not move. His voice came with a note of determination.

”I want to know about my wife. Where is she?”

Burke disregarded the question as completely as if it had not been uttered, and went on speaking to the doorman with a suggestion in his words that was effective.

”He's not to speak to any one, you understand.” Then he condescended to give his attention to the prisoner. ”You'll know all about your wife, young man, when you make up your mind to tell me the truth.”

d.i.c.k gave no heed to the Inspector's statement. His eyes were fixed on his father, and there was a great tenderness in their depths. And he spoke very softly:

”Dad, I'm sorry!”