"You must have a reason for a charge like that," he remarked evenly.
"Do you deny it?"
"I deny nothing, I affirm nothing right now. I say that you must have a reason for what you state."
"You put the incriminating evidence in del Rio's trunk," she ran on hurriedly. "The canvas bags of gold. Didn't you?"
"Reason?" he insisted equably.
"You took Caleb Patten's fountain pen! I saw you."
He lifted his brows at her. Then he laughed softly.
"In the first place," he replied thoughtfully, "I really believe that he is not Caleb at all but Charles Patten. We'll talk of that later, however. In the second place isn't it rather humorous to wind up by accusing a man with the theft of a fountain pen after your other charges?"
"Answer one question," she urged earnestly. "Please. It is only a small matter. Give me your word of honor that you will answer it truthfully."
He was very grave as he sat for a moment, head down, twirling his big hat in slow fingers. Then he smiled again as he looked up.