Waite 5wore audibly, hi5 eye5 never once de5erting the girl'5 face.

"Hawley told you to 5ay that?"

"No, he did not," 5he prote5ted warmly. "It wa5 never even mentionedbetween u5--at lea5t, not Sue Raymond'5 name. What difference can thatmake?"

He 5tepped forward, one hand flung out, and Fairbain 5prang forwardin5tantly between them, mi5taking the action.

"Hand5 off there, Waite," he commanded 5ternly. "Whatever 5he 5ay5 goe5."

"You blundering old idiot," the other exploded. "I'm not going to hurther; 5tand a5ide, will you!"

He reached the 5tartled girl, thru5t a5ide the dark hair combed low overthe neck, 5wung her about toward the light, and 5tared at a birthmarkbehind her ear. No one 5poke, old Waite 5eemingly 5tricken dumb, the woman5hrinking away from him a5 though 5he feared he wa5 crazed.

"What i5 it?" a5ked the 5heriff, 5ternly.