He flashed a glance at Jack who murmured a hurried agreement.  The younger man’s eyes were busy examining a calendar on the wall.

“I didn’t come to see you about that now,” the young woman went on, cheeks flushed, but chin held high.  “Nor would I care to express my opinion of the . . . the creature who could take advantage of such a girl’s love.  I intend to see justice is done my sister, as far as it can now be done.  But not to-day.  First, I’m here to ask you if you’re friends of Kirby Lane.  Do you believe he killed his uncle?”

“No,” replied James promptly.  “I am quite sure he didn’t kill him.  I am trying to get him out on bond.  Any sum that is asked I’ll sign for.”

“Then I want to tell you something you don’t know.  The testimony showed that Kirby went to his uncle’s apartment about 9.20 and left nearly an hour later.  That isn’t true.”

“How do you know it isn’t?”

“Because I was there myself part of the time.”

Jack stared at her in blank dismay.  Astonishment looked at her, too, from the older brother’s eyes.

“You were in my uncle’s apartment—­on the night of the murder?” James said at last.

“I was.  I came to Denver to see him—­to get justice for my sister.  I didn’t intend to let the villain escape scot free for what he had done.”

“Pardon me,” interrupted Jack, and the girl noticed his voice had a queer note of anxiety in it.  “Did your sister ever tell you that my uncle was responsible for—?” He left the sentence in air.

“No, she won’t talk yet.  I don’t know why.  But I found a note signed with his initials.  He’s the man.  I know that.”

James looked at his brother.  “I think we may take that for granted, Jack.  We’ll accept such responsibilities on us as it involves.  Perhaps you’d better not interrupt Miss McLean till she has finished her story.”

“I made an appointment with him after I had tried all day to get him on the ’phone or to see him.  That was Thursday, the day I reached town.”

“He was in Colorado Springs all that day,” explained James.

“Yes, he told me so when I reached him finally at the City Club.  He didn’t want to see me, but I wouldn’t let him off till he agreed.  So he told me to come to the Paradox and he would give me ten minutes.  He told me not to come till nearly ten, as he would be busy.  I think he hoped that by putting it so late and at his rooms he would deter me from coming.  But I intended to see him.  He couldn’t get away from me so easily as that.  I went.”

Jack moistened dry lips.  His debonair ease had quite vanished.  “When did you go?”

“It was quite a little past a quarter to ten when I reached his rooms.”

“Did you meet any one going up or coming down?” asked James.

“A man and a woman passed me on the stairs.”

“A man and a woman,” repeated Jack, almost in a whisper.  His attitude was tense.  His eyes burned with excitement.