"
He turned toward me quickly, his face working.
"See here, Mr. Lester," he said, "don't misunderstand me. I'm awfully
grateful for all you're doing for me; but I don't mind going to
jail--not on my own account. I'm innocent, and I'll be able to prove
it in time. But Marjorie mustn't be left alone. I'd be ready to face
anything if I knew that she was safe. She mustn't be left in that
house--not a single night. Promise me that you'll take her with you as
soon as the inquest's over!"
"I'll promise that, Swain, gladly," I said, "provided, of course, the
doctor consents."
"We must get him," and Swain sprang to his feet. "We must explain to
him how important it is."
"Perhaps I can get him on the 'phone," I said; but the person who
answered told me that he had already started for the inquest. And, a
moment later, Mrs. Hargis tapped at the door of the study and said
that the doctor was outside. I told her to show him in at once.
"The truth is," said Hinman, shaking hands with both of us, "I thought
I'd drop in to find out if there was anything I could do. No
reasonable person," he went on, turning to Swain, "believes you killed
that defenceless old man; but those finger-prints certainly do puzzle
me.
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