Leaving the artist, Jasper regained the highway with a bound, and hurried onward.  It did not take him long now to reach the road leading to the Haven, and his angry mood passed like a cloud from the face of the sun when he saw Lois standing there beneath the shade of a large tree.  Her eyes brightened when she saw him, and without a word she held out her hand.  For a few heartbeats neither spoke, but their eyes met, and Jasper knew by the look that Lois gave him that she at least was true and believed in him.

“You know all?” he stammered.

“No, not all,” was the quiet reply.  “But I know enough to make me certain that the people in this place are wrong in their suspicions.”

“Whom do they suspect?” Jasper eagerly asked, thinking that perhaps he might learn something new.

“Don’t you know?”

“Yes, I’m afraid I do,” Jasper bitterly replied.  “But I can endure it if I know that you believe me to be innocent.”

“I certainly do, no matter what others think.”

“What proof have you?”

“Your life; isn’t that proof enough?”

“It may be to you, but I’m afraid it will count but little at the trial.”

“At the trial!” Lois repeated in amazement.   “Surely you’ll not be-----”

“Arrested?” Jasper assisted, as Lois’ voice faltered.

“Yes, that’s what I mean.”

“I’d like to know what’s to prevent it.  Wasn’t I with David the night he was murdered, and wasn’t that envelope with my name on it found by his body?  Do you for one moment imagine that I can hope to escape a severe grilling and perhaps conviction with such evidence against me?”

“But it isn’t right,” and Lois stamped her foot impatiently.  “It’s only circumstantial evidence, and that shouldn’t count.”

“But it does.  It has convicted many men before this.  But tell me, did you learn what is troubling Betty?”

“It’s about Mr. David, you know.  She grieves very much over his death.  She loved the old man dearly, almost as if he were her own father.”

“I know she feels badly.  But isn’t there something else troubling her as well?  Didn’t you notice it?”

“I did, but Betty would tell me nothing.  I believe she has been frightened in some way, for at times she started up in terror, and her whole body trembled.  I wonder what it can be!”

Before Jasper could reply, an auto swung up the road and stopped near them.  There were two men in the car and almost intuitively Jasper knew that they were detectives.  They looked keenly at the two standing beneath the tree, and then asked the way to Captain Peterson’s.  Jasper told them, and without another word they turned to the left and sped up to the house.

“Who are they, do you suppose?” Lois asked.

“They must be detectives,” Jasper slowly replied.

“Oh!” It was all that Lois could say as she stood watching the car until it drew up before the Haven.