"Because he wanted to come down quietly to see me. And," added Hill hesitating, "he had to see some one else. I don't know who, but he hinted that he had to see some one."
"When you spoke to him at the Red Deeps?"
"Yes. I went there on Wednesday and he was waiting. It was getting dark, but we saw plainly enough. I urged him to give up the document. He refused, and told me that he required more money. I grew angry and left him."
"Alive?"
"Yes. But I had your revolver with me, Allen. I took it with the idea of shooting Strode, if he didn't give up the document----"
"Oh," cried Allen, shrinking back. It seemed horrible to hear his father talk like this. "But you didn't----"
"No. I got behind a bush and fired. My shot touched his arm, for he clapped his hand to the wound. Then he turned with a volley of abuse to run after me. At that moment there came another shot from a clump of trees near me, and Strode fell face downward. I was so afraid at the idea of any one having been near me, and of having overheard our conversation----"
"And of seeing your attempt at murder," interpolated Mask.
"Yes--yes--that I dropped Allen's revolver and ran away."
"I found the revolver and took it home," said Allen; "so the way you acted the next morning when Wasp came was----"