Rita hung her head and began to weep convulsively.
"Rita and I," answered Dic, "were walking home down the river path. We had been sitting near the step-off. Doug Hill and Patsy Clark came up behind us, and Doug tried to kiss Rita. I interfered, and we fought. He was about to kill me with Patsy's hunting-knife when—when—when I shot him. Then Rita fainted, and I feared she was dead, so I brought her home and left Doug lying on his face, with Patsy Clark standing over him."
Rita so far recovered herself as to be able to say:—
"No, mother, I killed him."
"You," shrieked Mrs. Bays, "you?"
"Yes," replied Dic to Mrs. Bays's incredulous look, "that was the way of it, but I was the cause, and I shall take the blame. You had better not speak of this matter to any one till we have consulted Billy Little. I can bear the blame much better than Rita can. When the trial comes, you and Rita say nothing. I will plead guilty to having killed Doug Hill, and no questions will be asked."
"If you will do it, Dic, if you will do it," wailed Mrs. Bays.
"I certainly will," returned Dic.
"No, you shall not," said Rita.