“Miss Wheeler,” he said, as he reached her, “will you please come now to see Mr. Stone? He wants you.”
“Certainly,” she replied, and turning, followed him.
Genevieve joined them, and the three went to Stone’s rooms.
“Miss Wheeler,” the detective said, without preamble, “I want you to tell me a few things, please. You’ll excuse me if my questions seem rather pointed, also, if they seem to be queries already answered. Did you kill Mr. Appleby?”
“Yes,” said Maida, speaking wearily, as if tired of making the assertion.
“You know no one believes that statement?”
“I can’t help that, Mr. Stone,” she said, with a listless manner.
“That is, no one but one person—your father. He believes it.”
“Father!” exclaimed the girl in evident amazement.
“Yes; he believes you for the best of all possible reasons: He saw you shoot.”