“I don't think we shall need them, fortunately,” Simpson replied. “Todd saw Woods last night. He's making a frantic effort to raise money and came to him, among others. He says that Woods can clear himself of all connection with the crime. Men who were with him that night can testify he didn't leave the club. By the way, Woods hasn't approached you, has he?”
“No,” I laughed, “he knows I have no money, and if I had I wouldn't give it to him.”
After they had left, I decided to go out to the Blandesville bridge and do a little preliminary scouting on my own. Eager for Mary's company, and wishing to tell her the glorious news that was to clear Helen, I drove to the hospital, only to find that Mary had not been there and Helen was asleep; so I drove on to Mary's, hoping to find her home.
“Miss Pendleton is just going out, but I will ask if she will see you,” the maid informed me.
I stepped into the living-room and picked up a magazine. As I took it in my hand it fell open to a story entitled, “Who Murdered Merryvale?” I looked at one of the illustrations and quickly laid the magazine down, conscious that I'd never again read a mystery story built around a tragic death. Then I heard Mary's light step pattering down the stairs and turned to greet her. She was dressed in a smart, semi-military costume which she had worn while a volunteer chauffeur during the war, and she looked simply radiant.
“Mary, we've made certain discoveries which absolutely clear Helen of suspicion,” I cried, taking her hands in mine. I told her of my find of the morning, and watched her eyes widen with joy and surprise. “So, while we haven't found out yet who murdered Jim, we know that Helen had no part in it.”
Mary was thinking hard about something, but she recalled herself quickly, and said:
“Oh! It's wonderful, Bupps, simply wonderful!”
“I'm going out to the Blandesville bridge to do a little sleuthing on my own hook. Can you come with me?”
“I'm sorry, but I can't, Warren. I have another engagement,” she answered.
“Some other man?” I asked, disappointed and a bit jealous.
“Yes.”
“Is it that young Davis?”
She shook her head.
“It's some one you don't like very well.”
“That's natural,” I replied. “I don't love any of my rivals. Who is it?”
“Promise you won't say anything if I tell you who it is?”
“Of course I won't say anything,” I said a little haughtily. “You have a perfect right to go with any one you care to.”
“It's Frank Woods.”
“Mary,” I gasped, “do you mean to say you'd be seen with that man, after what he did to Jim?”
“Now, Bupps, you promised not to say anything.”
“I know—but this is different. Do you think I'll stand quietly by and see that man make a fool of you as he did of Helen? Do you think I'll let that—that rake make love to you?”
“He's not going to make love to me!” Mary answered with some asperity.
“That's what you think. That's what Helen thought and Jim thought. That's what all of them think when he starts. Do you know what he wants to do? He asked you to go out with him so he could try to borrow money of you, to save his rotten hide.”
“But, Bupps, he didn't ask me to go riding with him. I asked him to take me.”
“You asked him to take you?” I cried.
“Don't talk so loud, Bupps! The people on the street will hear you.”
If there was anything she could have said that would have made me angrier than I already was, it was that.
“I'm not talking loud,” I shouted, “and what if I do? The people on the street may hear me, but they will see you with Frank Woods, which is a hundred times worse. Why, it is as much as a girl's reputation is worth to be seen alone with him.”
“I'll take care of my reputation,” she replied coldly.
“You think you will,” I said, flinging myself into a chair.
“Warren! Do you know that's insulting?” Mary exclaimed angrily. “You're acting like a schoolboy. I have good reasons for wanting to go out with Frank Woods.”
“Reasons!” I sneered.
She went into the hall and I followed.
“Mary, I don't know what your reasons are, and I don't care. I'm not going to have that man making love to you. Either you don't go out with him, or I quit.”
Mary turned and looked me straight in the eyes.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Any girl who is Frank Woods' friend, after the mess he stirred up in my family, isn't my friend.”
Mary's face was white, but her little chin was set determinedly.
“That's just as you wish,” she said, and ran up-stairs.
I picked up my hat and gloves and left the house.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN. THE ANSWER
The coroner and I drove out to the bridge that afternoon and I must admit I was mighty poor company. Mary's unreasonableness, her stupid obstinacy, when she knew she was wrong and I was right, her willingness to break our friendship at the first opportunity, gave me little room to think of anything else.
That she should risk her reputation to run after that man was inexplicable, but it was just like a woman. Show them a place they must not go or a man they must not see and they will sacrifice life, liberty and everybody else's happiness to satisfy their curiosity. It has been true from Pandora to Pankhurst.
Well, if she could get along without me, I could get along without her. I'm the easiest going person in the world, but when it comes to allowing the girl you are practically engaged to, to make a fool of herself over another man, I won't stand for it. I knew she would probably come to me afterward and say she was sorry and she didn't know, but I made up my mind that she would have to give me an awfully good reason for her sudden interest in Frank Woods before I would forgive her.
These thoughts held my attention all the way out. Now and again I would be recalled from my gloom by some question from the coroner. He was trying to solve the problem of who murdered Jim and I am sure he must have thought it strange that I was so preoccupied.
As we neared the bridge, I noticed again how scant the vegetation was on both sides of the road. Any one wishing to murder Jim would have been able to see him coming for at least a half-mile. On the left of the road was clay soil, sparsely covered with weeds and shrubs, while a half-mile away could be seen the thirteenth hole of the country-club golf links.