“In the name of the law I arrest you for the murder of Paul Abbott”—Trenholm’s voice died away at sight of the distorted, ghastly face confronting him, then rose in horror—“Doctor Roberts.”
CHAPTER XX
THE RULING PASSION
Betty Carter, too unhappy to keep to her room, where she had found bed intolerable after recovering from her faint, was the first to hear Roberts’ frantic cries for mercy as Trenholm got him upon his feet and half dragged, half lifted his prisoner into a chair. She stood aghast in the doorway of Mrs. Nash’s bedroom until pushed further inside by Alan Mason and Doctor Nash, who had paused to pick up a lighted lamp and carried it with him. Mrs. Nash, leaning heavily on Miriam’s arm, was likewise not slow in reaching her room, while Martha was only restrained from racing upstairs also by a terrified Anna, whose detaining clutch she could not loosen.
“Good God!” Alan dashed to Trenholm’s side as Roberts, his paroxysm over, sank weakly back in his chair and covered his face with his manacled hands. “What is the meaning of this, Guy?”
“Doctor Roberts murdered Paul Abbott,” stated Trenholm, and his announcement created a profound sensation.
Mrs. Nash dropped into the nearest seat, for once bereft of speech, while Alan, his face transfigured, stumbled over to Betty, and kneeling, pressed her hand to his lips.
“Betty, my darling!” he exclaimed incoherently. “I knew that you were here on Monday night, and then you denied your visit. Corbin told me that you had bribed him into giving up your bloodstained scarf. God forgive me! I was afraid that you had killed Paul.”
“Do not reproach yourself too much,” she said, and her soft, clear voice held its old accustomed thrill. Unmindful of the presence of the others, she drew him to his feet and his arms encircled her. “I did you a greater wrong, Alan, when I married Paul, while my heart was given to you.”
“But you did not marry Paul—you married me,” declared Alan, and but for his supporting arm Betty would have fallen.
“You—she married you!” Mrs. Nash was getting her fill of excitement. With eyes half starting from her head, she gazed at her niece and Alan. “You—Alan”—while her husband feebly echoed her words.