"Yes. Ben Cameron's little finger of his left hand was missin'——. But of course, Mr. Nichols, I couldn't see nothin' in the dark."
"No, of course," said Peter with a gasp of relief. "But his voice——?"
"It was gruff—hoarse—whisperin'-like."
"Was the Ben Cameron you knew, your brother-in-law—was he tall?"
She hesitated, her brows puckering.
"That's what bothered me some. Beth's father wasn't over tall——"
"I see," Peter broke in eagerly, "and this man was tall—about my size—with a hook nose—black eyes and——"
"Oh, I—I couldn't see his face," she muttered helplessly. "The night was too dark."
"But you wouldn't swear it was Ben Cameron?"
She looked up at him in a new bewilderment. "But who else could it 'a' been—sayin' that name—givin' that message?"