"Long, you have been a mystery to me from the first, and I do not read your riddle even now, but I believe you are a man to be trusted. Give me your hand, and depend upon it you shall not rest long under a false accusation. Carl Bethel, living, shall not want a friend; Carl Bethel, dead, shall have an avenger. As for you, and myself—"
"We shall understand each other better," he broke in, "when the time comes for me to tell you my own story in my own way."
"Then," I said, "let us go back to Bethel. I want to take a look about the premises by the first streak of daylight."
"Ah!" ejaculated Jim, "that is what I wanted to hear you say."
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE TRAIL OF THE ASSASSIN.
During the night there was little change in Bethel's condition, and in the gray of dawn Miss Barnard went reluctantly home, having been assured by the doctor that the patient was in no immediate danger, and, by Jim and myself, converted to the belief that he might be safely trusted for a short time to our care.
A little later, with the first clear light of the dawn, I left Jim on guard at the bedside, and went to take a survey of the premises.