The four filed from the room, and Burdon spoke in a low tone, but excitedly:
“Come quickly! There goes Miss Maida across the lawn. We will take her next. The maid, Rachel, can wait.”
Inwardly rebelling, but urged on by the others, Jeff Allen went along, and as Burdon stopped Maida, on her quick walk across the lawn, Jeff put his arm through that of the girl, and said: “Do as they tell you, dear. It’s best to have this matter settled at once.”
Again the party grouped themselves under the old sycamore, and this time Maida was the target for their queries.
“Tell me all you know of the case,” she said, peremptorily; “then I’ll tell you what I know.”
“We know that the murder was committed by one of you three Wheelers,” said Burdon, brutally. “Now, both your parents have confessed to being the criminal——”
“What?” Maida cried, her face white and her eyes big and frightened.
“Yes, ma’am, just that! Now, what have you to say? Are you going to confess also?”
“Of course I am! For I am the real criminal! Can’t you see that my father and mother are both trying to shield me? I did it, because of that awful man’s hold on my father! Take my confession, and do with me what you will!”
“Here’s a state of things!” cried Burdon, truly surprised at this new development.