She gasped for breath, scarcely able to articulate.
"You believe that? You think that of me?"
"I may have been deceived; I hope so; there was but little light, and I got merely a glimpse," he explained hastily.
"You were deceived," impetuously. "I was not out of the house that evening. I was in the parlor with my father when those shots were fired. You are sure you saw a woman there--hiding?"
"There is no doubt of that; her foot-prints were plainly to be seen in the morning. This discovery, together with the size of the weapon used, resulted in my immediate release. I saw her, and imagined her to be you. I cannot account for the mistake, unless you were in my mind, and--and possibly what I had heard of your connection with Gaskins. Then it must have been Mrs. Dupont. That looks reasonable. But she stays at your home, does she not?"
"She makes our house her headquarters, but is absent occasionally. Last night she was here at this hotel. Well, we are getting this straightened out a little--that is, if you believe me."
"Of course."
"Then I am going to question you. You spoke of overhearing a conversation?"
"Yes; it was after Mrs. Dupont had left. Captain Barrett came, and took her away. I was sitting here thinking when two men came into the parlor."
"Who were they? Do you know?"
"One was the soldier who drives you about--Connors; the other a black-bearded, burly fellow called 'Reb.'"
"Mr. Dupont."
"What? Is that Dupont? Lord! No wonder she 's gone bad. Why, I thought her husband was a ranchman down South somewhere! This fellow is a tin-horn."
"He did run cattle once, years ago. I think he was quite well off, but drank and gambled it away. Papa told me all about it, but I found out he was the man by accident. He--is the one I am really afraid of."
She stopped, her eyes deserting his face, and stared out into the darkness. He waited, feeling vaguely that he had not heard all she intended to say.
"What more do you know?" he asked. "What was it you expected of me?"
She turned again, aroused by the question.
"Yes, I must tell you as quickly as I can, before I am missed. I did not know about Mrs. Dupont and Lieutenant Gaskins. I realized there was something between them--a--a--slight flirtation, but scarcely gave that a thought. What brought me here was a much more serious matter, yet this new information helps me to comprehend the other--the motives, I mean. Mrs. Dupont's maiden name was Vera Carson?"