"But not with such a _personal_ interest." Mrs. Parsons' voice was honey sweet. "Edward Rodgers has promised to aid in tracing her murderer. Also, Colonel Holt was Kitty Baird's uncle." "What--then she is the other relative you alluded to--?" "Yes." She paused. "Colonel Holt died intestate and his property should have been divided equally between his nearest of kin, Kitty Baird, and her cousin, Leigh Wallace." "But the forged will gave the entire fortune to Wallace," Mitchell spoke slowly. "Which he has squandered," she added. "Leigh Wallace is cursed with an inherited vice--a craze for gambling." Inspector Mitchell raised his head and regarded Mrs. Parsons. The silence lasted fully a minute, then picking up the three papers he replaced them in the worn envelope and pocketed it. "You have given me valuable information," he said, rising. "It will not be necessary to call in a private detective. Good morning, Mrs. Parsons." CHAPTER X RUMORS The clerks in the outer office of "Craige and Lewis, Attorneys" looked up as the hall door opened with an unmistakable wrench and Ben Potter precipitated himself into the room. He brought up with some abruptness before the chief clerk's desk. "Take my card at once to Mr. Craige," he directed. "Tell him I'm in the devil's hurry--late for an appointment now. Thank you," as an office boy hurried forward with a chair. "I prefer to stand." The chief clerk, with one look at Potter's determined expression, decided it was best to swallow his dignity and execute Potter's peremptory request. He returned with unusual speed from the inner office. "Mr. Craige will see you at once, Sir," he announced, holding the door open for Potter and swinging it to behind him with a sharp bang, as a slight vent to his ruffled feelings. Potter had crossed the room before he realized that he and Craige, who had risen at his entrance, were not alone. His angry frown gave way to a smile when the third man turned more fully toward him and he recognized Edward Rodgers. "Hello, Ted, I'm glad you are here," he exclaimed as Craige pulled another chair for his guest before resuming his seat. Potter sat down heavily and tossed his hat and cane on the desk. "Say, Craige, what the deuce does this mean?" and unfolding a newspaper, which he had held tightly clenched in his left hand, he pointed to a column of news, under the heading: Miss Susan Baird Wills Fortune to Niece "It means what it says," explained Craige. "Miss Susan Baird left Kitty an heiress." Potter's prominent pale blue eyes were opened to their widest extent. "C-c-cousin S-s-susan!" he stuttered. "That forlorn old pauper left a fortune! Why, Craige, I fully expected to be called on to pay her funeral expenses. You mean to tell me, in all earnestness, that Cousin Susan had any money--" "She did not have 'any money,' she had a large fortune," declared Craige, laughing outright at Potter's ludicrous expression of bewilderment.