“Yes—yes, I think he was!” Maida agreed.
“Then,” Hallen went on, “then, Mr. Wheeler broke his parole—and is due for punishment.”
“Oh, no,” Maida moaned, seeing where her statements had led. “I—I guess he was in the den—after all.”
“And I guess you’re making up as you go along,” opined Mr. Hallen.
CHAPTER IX
COUNTER-CONFESSIONS
Before Keefe went away, young Allen had a serious talk with him.
“I want to ask your advice,” Allen said; “shall I confess to that crime?”
“Man alive, what are you talking about?” Keefe cried, astounded at the suggestion.
“Talking sense,” Jeffrey stoutly asserted. “I don’t believe any one of those three did it—they’re saying they did to shield one another—and so——”
“And so, you want to get into the game!” Keefe smiled at him. “You’re very young, my boy, to think such crude methods would get over, even with such muffs as those two booby sleuths! No, Allen, don’t add another perjury that can be of no possible use. You didn’t do the killing, did you?”