Lockwood was astounded. At first he was glad, for he felt sure Stone could solve the whole mystery. But, then, suppose it incriminated Anita, and though Lockwood was sure of her innocence, he was just enough so to realize that his surety was largely because of his affection for her. Suppose Stone should prove her to be the criminal! It couldn’t be—and yet— He looked up to find Trask smiling broadly. “You’ve the reputation of being of an impassive countenance, Lockwood, but to me your face is as an open book! However, it’s only because you are up against a difficult problem. You want Stone to come, yet you’re afraid he’ll find out that Miss Austin is pretty deep in this murder mystery. But I’ve made up my mind, and I think you’ll see that any attempt on your part to change my decision would look bad for Miss Austin.” “You let her name alone, Trask, or I’ll reason with you myself.” “Have you any real right to tell me to leave her name alone?” “Yes, I have.” “Are you and she engaged?” “So far as I am concerned, we are. Miss Austin prefers to wait until later to announce it, but I can answer for her to you in confidence.” “Oh, it’s in confidence, all right. Don’t fear I’ll breathe the news. For, you see, I’ve made up my mind to marry Anita Austin myself; and if Fleming Stone proves that she is a murderess, I’ll marry her all the same. She’ll escape punishment—what woman doesn’t?” “Then, look here,” Lockwood’s manner changed. “If you’re going to get Stone anyway, why can’t we work with each other and not at odds? Whatever else we think or feel we both want to save Miss Austin all the trouble or distress we can. Let’s be friends, then, and talk things over with Stone, and then—” “I’m on! Then if we see things are going against her, shut him off!” “Well, yes, if we can.” “Of course we can. I’ve money enough for anything—even to buy off Fleming Stone. No man’s too big to be bought.” “I don’t mean all this exactly as you do, but I do mean this: if Stone can solve the mystery and clear Anita, let him do it. If he finds her implicated, let it be understood by him beforehand, he is to cease investigations.” Trask thought a minute. “That goes,” he said; “I agree.” CHAPTER XV FLEMING STONE COMES “Terence.” “Yes, sir.” “We’re off for New England.” “New England it is.” “Start this afternoon, stay a few days, maybe a week among the classic shades of Corinth.” “Corinth it is.” This somewhat laconic conversation was all that was necessary for Fleming Stone’s assistant and general factotum to make preparations for the trip, achieve tickets, and arrive, with his chief, at the train gate at the proper time.