“Oh, yes, your father was in the den,” cried Jeffrey, imploringly. “No,” said Maida, not catching his meaning. But Hallen caught it. “Where was Mr. Wheeler?” he asked. “I—I don’t know,” Maida said. “Well, if he wasn’t in the den, and if he wasn’t upstairs, maybe he was in the big living-room, looking out at the fire.” “Yes—yes, I think he was!” Maida agreed. “Then,” Hallen went on, “then, Mr. Wheeler broke his parole—and is due for punishment.” “Oh, no,” Maida moaned, seeing where her statements had led. “I—I guess he was in the den—after all.” “And I guess you’re making up as you go along,” opined Mr. Hallen. CHAPTER IX COUNTER-CONFESSIONS Before Keefe went away, young Allen had a serious talk with him. “I want to ask your advice,” Allen said; “shall I confess to that crime?” “Man alive, what are you talking about?” Keefe cried, astounded at the suggestion. “Talking sense,” Jeffrey stoutly asserted. “I don’t believe any one of those three did it—they’re saying they did to shield one another—and so——” “And so, you want to get into the game!” Keefe smiled at him. “You’re very young, my boy, to think such crude methods would get over, even with such muffs as those two booby sleuths! No, Allen, don’t add another perjury that can be of no possible use. You didn’t do the killing, did you?” “Of course not! But neither did the Wheelers!” “No one of them?” “Certainly not.” “Who did, then?” “I don’t know; but you yourself insisted on some marauder.” “Only to get suspicion away from the family. But there’s no hope of finding any evidence of an outside job. You see, I’ve made some inquiries myself, and the servants’ tales make it pretty sure that no intruder could have been here. So, the Wheelers are the only suspects left.” “And am I not as good for a suspect as they are—if I make due confession?” “No, Allen, you’re not. You’re in love with Miss Maida——” “I’m engaged to her!” “All right; don’t you see, then, the absurdity of expecting any one to believe that you, a decent, law-abiding young citizen, would commit a murder which would positively render impossible a marriage with the girl you love?” “I didn’t think of that!” “Of course you didn’t. But that would make it unlikely that those detectives would believe your tale for a moment. No, it’s ridiculous for any more people to confess to this murder. Three avowed criminals are quite enough for the crime!” “But none of them really did it.” “How you harp on that string! Now, look here, Allen, I’m as loath to believe it as you are, but we must face facts. Those three people had motive and opportunity. Moreover, they’re a most united family, and if any one thought either of the other two guilty, that one is quite capable of falsely avowing the crime.” “Yes—I see that”—Allen spoke impatiently. “What I want to know is, what we’re going to do about it?”