The detective saw before him a beautiful young girl, not more than sixteen, dressed very plainly, but neatly, and looking every inch the lady. So far as appearance went it was in her favor, but the detective had learned in a hard school not to trust in the slightest degree to appearances, and from the fact of this girl’s coming here to claim relationship on the morning following the murder of Mr. Field, he set her down as being one of the conspirators against that gentleman, and would continue so to look upon her until the contrary was proved. Bowing to her very politely and thoroughly masking his real feelings, he said: “Will you please step into the parlor, miss?” Inclining her head she moved in the direction of the room indicated. The detective followed her in. When they were seated he purposely remained silent for some time. Were she guilty in the way he thought, the chances were greatly in favor of this silence embarrassing her and making her uneasy to a degree that would show. In the course of a few minutes she did begin to show restiveness, but it was not of the kind to indicate any guilty knowledge, such as the detective was determined she would give evidence of. She appeared to wait with all the patience possible until she became convinced that he would not open the conversation; and then she did so herself. She said: “I believe you asked me to step into this room?” “I did.” “Will you please explain the nature of your business?” “Do not be in a hurry. I heard you say to the butler that you were a daughter of Mr. Field?” “I did say so.” “On what do you base the claim?” “A letter received from him.” “You did not know of it before?” “I did not.” “Will you let me see this letter?” “No.” “Why not?” “Because, if Mr. Field is dead, the matter is settled so far as I am concerned. Even though his letter tells me I am his daughter, I shall not try to prove it so, now that he is not here.” “Why not?” “I do not choose to go into court and stand the fire of a lot of brutal ruffians who masquerade under the title of lawyers.” Mentally, the detective said: “That answer goes a good way toward proving her not innocent, since it shows that she has some familiarity with the interior of a courtroom.” Aloud, he said: “But, if you are his daughter, you have rights to maintain which you should not desert under any circumstances.” “I am the best judge of that. I understand that Mr. Field was very wealthy, but if I choose to sacrifice that wealth it is my own concern.” Nick was eying her keenly. He did not know what to make of her. It certainly did look suspicious to the last degree that she should put in an appearance with the claim of being the murdered man’s daughter on the morning following his death. But if she did not intend, and did not take advantage of the claim and endeavor to get the fortune, what was he to think?