“I didn’t think of that!”
“Of course you didn’t. But that would make it unlikely that those detectives would believe your tale for a moment. No, it’s ridiculous for any more people to confess to this murder. Three avowed criminals are quite enough for the crime!”
“But none of them really did it.”
“How you harp on that string! Now, look here, Allen, I’m as loath to believe it as you are, but we must face facts. Those three people had motive and opportunity. Moreover, they’re a most united family, and if any one thought either of the other two guilty, that one is quite capable of falsely avowing the crime.”
“Yes—I see that”—Allen spoke impatiently. “What I want to know is, what we’re going to do about it?”
“There I can’t advise you. I have to get away now, but, as I said, I’ll return. I’ve more than a little taste for investigation myself, and when I come back, I’ve no doubt I can hel——”
“But—Keefe—I don’t want you to help—to investigate—if it’s going to prove anything on any of the Wheelers.”
“But you believe them innocent!”
“Yes; but crime has been fastened on the innocent.”
“Look here, Allen, you do believe them innocent—but you fear your belief is a mistaken one!”