"You see, I couldn't even prove the contemplated elopement. Late that evening I had received an anonymous telephone call from a man telling me that if I wanted to save my sister a good deal of unpleasant gossip, I'd better meet that midnight train as Warren was eloping on it with some other woman. But the man who gave me this information cut off before telling me the name of the woman. I didn't know it then--and I don't know it now. "I knew I had to hide Warren's body; not that my killing was not justified on the grounds of self-defense, but because I would not bring my sister's name into it--and also because even if I did, there'd be no proof of the truth of what I said. "I dragged his body into the shadows between the two buildings. Atlantic Avenue was deserted. At the curb I saw a yellow taxicab and noticed that the driver was in the restaurant across the street. I conceived the idea of putting the body in the taxicab--I knew I wouldn't be seen doing it, and it would serve the purpose of causing the body to be discovered at some point other than that at which the shooting occurred. "I did it. Then I left. The next morning I read of the case in the papers and I have followed it closely since. I knew you were ostensibly on the wrong track and as a matter of self-preservation I determined to keep my mouth shut unless it happened that the wrong person was accused. Had you charged someone else with the killing I assure you I would have come forward. But meanwhile--not even knowing the identity of the woman in the taxi--there seemed no necessity for running the risk. There was nothing save my own word to prove self-defense, you see." "There is now," said Carroll. Hazel started eagerly and he smiled upon her. "The story of the woman who actually was in the taxicab substantiates yours, Gresham. She had followed Warren into the yards to talk to him. She saw the whole affair from a distance--and then went back through the waiting room of the station and called the taxi in which you had placed Warren's body." "Then Garry will be freed?" cried the girl hopefully: "His plea of self-defense will acquit him?" "Undoubtedly," retorted Carroll. "Don't you think so, Leverage?" "Surest thing you know," returned the chief heartily. "And I'm darned glad of it!" Garry faced his sister. "How did you know that I had killed him, Sis?" "I didn't," she answered quietly. "Not at first, anyway. But, if you remember, you came in the house a little after eleven o'clock that night and seemed excited. You came to my room--" "I was thinking then," explained Garry, "that maybe _you_ were eloping with Warren." "Then you came home again a little after one o'clock. You waked me then--and acted peculiarly." "I was reassuring myself," he said, "that you really hadn't left the house."