“Then I don't know, I'm afraid.”
“I suppose you would stake your life on the fact that Beverly Carlysle knows nothing of what happened that night at the ranch?”
Dick's face twitched, but he returned Bassett's gaze steadily.
“She has no criminal knowledge, if that is what you mean.”
“I am not so sure of it.”
“I think you'd better explain that.”
At the cold anger in Dick's voice Bassett stared at him. So that was how the wind lay. Poor devil! And out of the smug complacence of his bachelor peace Bassett thanked his stars for no women in his life.
“I'm afraid you misunderstand me, Livingstone,” he said easily. “I don't think that she shot Lucas. But I don't think she has ever told all she knows. I've got the coroner's inquest here, and we'll go over it later. I'll tell you how I got onto your trail. Do you remember taking Elizabeth Wheeler to see 'The Valley?'”
“I had forgotten it. I remember now.”
“Well, Gregory, the brother, saw you and recognized you. I was with him. He tried to deny you later, but I was on. Of course he told her, and I think she sent him to warn David Livingstone. They knew I was on the trail of a big story. Then I think Gregory stayed here to watch me when the company made its next jump. He knew I'd started, for he sent David Livingstone the letter you got. By the way, that letter nearly got me jailed in Norada.”