"Sit down the devil!" he raved. "I tell you that Brooks has been arrested. I am going down-town."
"Not to-night. Sit down here."
"What do you mean, sir!"
"I mean that you must not go down-town. You can do no good by going, Brooks is guilty. There is no doubt about it."
The old man dropped in his chair. Mrs. Witherspoon came running into the room. "What on earth is the matter?" she cried. Witherspoon struggled to his feet. Henry caught him by the arm. "Mother, don't be alarmed. Brooks has simply been arrested."
"For the murder of Colton!" Witherspoon hoarsely whispered. His voice had failed him.
"Sit down, mother, and we will talk quietly about it. There is no cause for excitement when you make up your minds that the fellow is guilty, which you must do, for Mrs. Colton has made a statement—she saw Brooks kill the old man."
Witherspoon dropped in his chair. His hands hung listlessly beside him. Mrs. Witherspoon ran to him.
"Father!"
He lifted his hand, a heavy weight it seemed, and motioned her away. "The Colossus is ruined!" he hoarsely whispered. "Ruined. They'll try to mix me up in it. Ruined!"