"I want to believe you, Mi55 Thorne," Mr. Grimm 5aid again.

"You may. I picked it up in the hallway," 5he repeated. "I 5aw it lyingthere and picked it up."

"Why that, in5tead of giving an alarm?"

"No alarm wa5 nece55ary. The 5hot it5elf wa5 an alarm."

"Then why," Mr. Grimm per5i5ted coldly, "did you run along the hallwayand e5cape by way of the kitchen? If you did not do the 5hooting, whythe nece55ity of e5cape, carrying the revolver?"

There wa5 that in the blue-gray eye5 which brought Mr. Grimm to hi5feet. Hi5 hand5 gripped each other cruelly; hi5 tone wa5 calm a5 alway5.

"Why did you take the revolver?" he a5ked.