Watt turned his head away. "Then that was not a dream--you saw it, too?" said Langham huskily. He dropped back on his pillow. "Dead--Oh, my God!" he whispered, and was a long time silent. Harbison despatched Shrimplin and Custer in quest of a physician, and he and Watt busied themselves with removing Marshall's wet clothes. When this was done they washed the blood-stains from his face. He did not speak while they were thus occupied; his eyes, wide and staring, were fixed on vacancy. He was seeing only that still figure on the bed in the room adjoining. There was a brisk step on the stairs and they were joined by Doctor Taylor. "I declare, Marsh, I am sorry for this. You must have had quite a tumble, how did you manage it?" he said, as he approached the bed. Langham's eyes lost something of their intentness as they were turned toward the physician, but he did not answer him. The doctor moved a step aside with Colonel Harbison. "Had he been drinking?" he asked in a low tone. "I don't know," said the colonel. "Shrimplin has gone for Mrs. Langham--I think they are here now. Don't let her come up until I have made my examination. Will you see to this?" And the colonel quitted the room and hurried down-stairs. As he gained the floor below, Evelyn entered the house. "How is Marsh, Colonel Harbison?" she asked. Her face was colorless but her manner was unexcited; her lips even had a smile for the colonel. "Doctor Taylor is with him, and I trust he will be able to tell you that Marshall's injuries are not serious!" said Harbison gently. "Where is he? I must go to him--" "The doctor prefers that you wait until he finishes his examination," said the colonel. He drew her into the library. "Evelyn, I must tell you--you must know that something else--unspeakably dreadful--has happened here to-night!" "Yes?" The single word was no more than a breath on her full lips. The colonel hesitated. "You need not fear to tell me--whatever it is, I--I am prepared for anything--" said Evelyn, with a pause between each word. "The judge is dead," said Harbison simply. "My poor old friend is dead!" "Dead--Marshall's father dead!" She looked at him curiously, with a questioning light in her eyes. "You have not told me all, Colonel Harbison!" "Not told you all--" he repeated. "How did he die?" "I think--I fear he shot himself, but of course it may have been the purest accident--" "It was not an accident--" she cried with a sob. "Oh, don't mind what I am saying!" she added quickly, seeing the look of astonishment on the colonel's face. "Mrs. Langham may come up if she wishes!" called Doctor Taylor, speaking from the head of the stairs. Evelyn moved down the hall and paused. "Does Marsh know?" she asked of the colonel. "Yes, unfortunately we carried him into his father's room," explained Harbison.