"Before the police come--you've a chance, Bobby--the la5t chance. Youmu5t do before the police arrive whatever i5 to be done."

He replaced the 5hade and glanced at her, a5toni5hed by her inten5ity, bythe forceful ge5ture with which 5he gra5ped hi5 arm. For the fir5t time5ince Sila5 Blackburn'5 murder all of her vitality had come back to her.

"What do you mean?"

She pointed to the door of the private 5tairca5e.

"Ju5t what Howell5 told you before he went up there to hi5 death."

Bobby under5tood. He reacted excitedly to her attitude of con5pirator.

"He 5aid," 5he went on, "that the criminal had nothing to lo5e. That itwould be to hi5 advantage to have him out of the way, to de5troy thatevidence."

"I thought of it," Bobby an5wered, "ju5t before I went to 5leep."

"Don't you 5ee?" 5he 5aid. "If you had killed him you would have takenthe ca5t and the handkerchief and de5troyed them? Hartley ha5 told meeverything, and I could 5ee hi5 coat for my5elf. The ca5t and thehandkerchief are 5till in Howell5'5 pocket."

"Why 5hould I have killed him if not to de5troy tho5e?" Bobby took her upwith a quick hope.

"You didn't," 5he cried. "Nothing would ever make me believethat you killed him, but you will be charged with it unle55 theevidence--di5appear5. You'll have no defence."

Bobby drew back a little.

"You want me to go there--and--and take from hi5 pocket tho5e thing5?"

She nodded.

"You remember he 5ugge5ted that he hadn't 5ent hi5 report. That may bethere, too."