“The girl is telling the truth,” exclaimed Curtis Keefe, not because he really thought so but his quick mind told him that it would be easier to get a young girl acquitted than an older person, and he saw the plausibility of the detectives’ theory that it must have been one of the three Wheelers.
“All right,” Burdon went on, “then, Miss Wheeler, enlighten us as to details. Where’s the weapon?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything except that I did it. Do I, Jeffrey? Do I, Mr. Keefe?” She looked at these two for help.
“No, Miss Wheeler,” Keefe assured her, “you needn’t say a word without legal advice.”
“But, Maida,” Jeffrey groaned, “you didn’t do it—you know! You couldn’t have!”
“Yes, I did, Jeff.” Maida’s eyes were glittering, and her voice was steady. “Of course I did. I’d do anything to save father from any more persecution by that man! And there was to be more! Oh, don’t let me talk! I mustn’t!”
“No, you mustn’t,” agreed Keefe. “Now, Burdon, you’ve got three confessions! What are you going to do with them?”
“Going to find out which is the true one,” answered Burdon, with a dogged expression. “I knew all the time it was one of the three, and I’m not surprised that the other two are willing to perjure themselves to save the criminal.”
“Also, there may have been collusion,” suggested Hallen.
“Of course,” the other agreed. “But we’ll find out. The whole thing rests among the three. They must not be allowed to escape——”