“Show him in, of course!” ordered Milmarsh, arousing himself and preparing to receive his caller smilingly.
“Hello, Carter!” was his warm greeting. “I’m very glad to see you. Did you just run up from New York?”
“No,” was the grave reply. “I’ve been at the Old Pike Inn most of the evening. I came up to speak to you about your son Howard!”
The millionaire jumped forward and held up a hand close to the detective’s face to silence him, while an expression of agonized terror appeared on his haggard, aristocratic face.
“Hush!”
CHAPTER III.
WHO KILLED JARVIS?
“You know that Howard had a fight in the Inn to-night?” asked Nick, in a low tone.
“Yes. He has told me. But—but it was an accident. He did not mean to do it. You know my son too well to believe anything else.”
“I know he is hot-tempered, and that he had been drinking to-night,” was the response. “But I want to tell you——”