She turned to the piano with an effort, winking back her tears; but she began to play, softly at first, with one little discord, then firmly, with a sure touch, as her heart grew more calm and she seemed to feel the reassurance of his friendship and understanding. She was still playing when the telephone-bell rang sharply, its strident alarm shattering the last sweet cadences. Startled in spite of herself, Virginia rose hastily and went to the cabinet where the instrument stood. “It’s some one inquiring if you are here, Dan,” she said in surprise. “Some one--your father, I think it is--wants to speak to you.” Daniel rose slowly--with unusual effort, she thought--and took the receiver from her hand. Virginia returned to the piano, busying herself there, turning over the leaves of her music, and trying not to listen; but she heard him ask a quick question. Then he uttered a sharp exclamation, and involuntarily she looked up. Daniel hung up the receiver and turned. “Oh, Dan, what is it? What has happened?” she cried. His white lips moved soundlessly at first. “It’s my young brother,” he said at last. “Leigh has shot and killed that man--Corwin, Caraffi’s manager.” XVIII IT was after dark, and the lights at the station-house were shining across a street still crowded with the curious and the idle, when Daniel finally reached the little cell where Leigh had been lodged since the shooting. He found the boy lying face downward on the bare cot in the corner, his head on his arms. Daniel had to touch his shoulder before he roused himself and looked up. His white, drawn face and his disheveled hair shocked his brother. He looked as if he had aged two years in five hours. “I’ve come to help you, Leigh,” said Daniel simply. Leigh raised himself to a sitting posture, dropping his feet heavily to the floor. Daniel saw the traces of tears on his blurred face, but he pulled himself together, though his lips shook. “Are they going to keep me here all night?” he asked sullenly. Daniel sat down beside him on the cot. “I’m afraid so, Leigh. Father offered bail, and so did Judge Jessup, but I don’t think you’ll get out to-night.” He laid his hand kindly on his brother’s shoulder. “Tell me about it.” Leigh’s face worked convulsively, and he set his teeth hard on his lower lip. Daniel waited, his hand still on the boy’s shoulder, his eyes immeasurably kind. He did not blame Leigh, and he was shocked at the change in him. It was a subtle thing, but it was there--that shot had killed Leigh’s boyhood. Daniel saw it. It seemed a long time before Leigh could speak. “I--I never saw any one die before, Dan!” he said at last, swallowing hard. “It’s a mighty tragic thing, Leigh,” agreed Daniel. “I never saw any one die like that myself.” “Oh, Lord--he looked so terrible!” cried Leigh, covering his face with his slender, shaking, boyish hands. “I’ll--I’ll never forget it!”