Craige looked at him with admiring approval. "I like your loyalty," he exclaimed. "As for Potter--" he struck his desk with his clenched fist. "Potter has grown insufferable. Matrimony doesn't appear to agree with him." He stepped back to his desk and picked up his brief case. When he turned again to Rodgers, who stood waiting by the door, the gravity of his manner struck the younger man. "There is no use blinding ourselves to the situation, Rodgers," he said. "It is up to us to solve the mystery of Susan Baird's death. If we don't," he paused, "Kitty may find herself in a most unpleasant predicament." "The mystery is going to be solved--and quickly," Rodgers checked his hasty speech. "Are you on your way to the Court House, Mr. Craige?" "Yes." Craige followed Rodgers through the outer office, pausing only long enough to be assisted into his overcoat by an attentive office boy, and joined him at the elevator. "Don't let Potter worry you, Rodgers; give him time to cool off. I imagine the news that Susan Baird was a wealthy woman, and that she never left him a red cent is responsible for his irritability. You know Ben is rather inclined to love money." "Hm, yes. I can well believe that he is blood-kin in that respect to Miss Susan Baird," and Rodgers, his temper somewhat restored, waved a friendly hand to Craige as they left the elevator and went their several ways. Once in the street Rodgers moved with dragging footsteps toward his car, his thought elsewhere. Suddenly he became conscious that, as deliberately as he walked, some one just ahead of him was moving even more slowly. Stepping to one side, he moved forward at a more rapid gait and was about to pass the limping figure when a hand touched his arm and looking down he found old Oscar by his side. "I'se sorry, Sah, I couldn't get out o' your way," he said apologetically. "This hyar rheumatics am mighty bad dis mawnin', Mister Rodgers." "That is too bad, Oscar." Rodgers, observing the old man's weary air, spoke with impulsive sympathy. "You are pretty far from home." "Yessir. I started to do an errand fo' Mandy, and then I stopped to see a parade, an' I jes' naturally has ter follow a band, an' hyar I be!" The old darky heaved a heavy sigh. "I 'spects a street cyar'll be along bimeby an' carry me over to Georgetown." "Get in my car and I will take you to 'Rose Hill.'" At Rodgers' suggestion a pleased smile lighted Oscar's face and he showed his big white teeth to their fullest extent. "'Deed, Sah, that's mighty nice ob you'," he exclaimed, moving with greater speed to the curb. "I kin get in, thank yo' kindly." It took Oscar a few minutes to get comfortably settled in the roadster, and it was with a sigh of genuine satisfaction that he leaned back and watched Rodgers start his engine. His smile, which had never quite departed since Rogers first suggested taking him home, broadened expansively as they slipped through traffic and swung into a quieter side street.