"She knows more about the Fullerton murder than it would be agreeable for her to tell in court."
"You are mad," gasped Broughton.
"Why does she disappear, as soon as she knows that Bede has connected her with the affairs of that night?"
Broughton walked the floor. Then he stopped abruptly before Howell.
"I wish that you would call up the county jail and find out if she has been there to see Lawrence. You can find out hypothetically, without giving names, you know."
"That isn't a bad idea," said Howell. He went to the telephone and inquired whether anyone had been admitted to see Lawrence that afternoon. The answer, when he repeated it to the others, seemed significant.
"A woman tried to see him a little after five, but when she found that she would have to give her name and submit to search, she went away without disclosing her identity. She wore a heavy veil, a short sealskin coat, and a dark dress. General appearance of a lady."
Broughton dropped his eyes to the floor and a look of sullen anger displaced the anxiety that had racked his features.
"I shall have an account to settle with Mr. Lawrence when he is out of jail," he muttered, savagely.
"In the meantime, our efforts are all directed to getting him out," said Howell. "And since I cannot use Mrs. Broughton as a witness, I am as well content that she is out of Bede's reach, also. I will go down to see Lawrence at once, and if I can get any information from him that will interest you in this connection, I shall let you know. I think that is all that we can do to-night."