“You ought to, I know, but you wouldn’t. Oh, it isn’t your fault—it isn’t that you don’t love her enough—not that she doesn’t love you enough—in fact, that’s just the trouble. Try to see it, Jeff. Maida is in the clutch of circumstances. I don’t know the facts, you don’t; but it is true that the kindest thing we can do for her just now is to leave her alone. She will do right——”
“As she sees it, yes! But she sees wrong, I know she does! The child has always been overconscientious—and I’m positive that whatever she is up to, it’s something to save her father!”
“Why, Mrs. Wheeler, don’t _you_ know whether your husband killed Mr. Appleby or not?”
“I don’t know! Heaven help me—how can I know? The two of them, shielding each other——”
“Wait a minute, if they are shielding each other—they’re both innocent!”
“But it isn’t that way. Mr. Wheeler said to me, at first: ‘Of course, either Maida or I did it. We both know which one did it, but if we don’t tell, no one else can know.’”
“I see that point; but I should think, knowing both so closely as you do, you could discern the truth—and”—he gazed at her steadily—“you have.”
“Yes—I have. Of course, as you say, in such intimacy as we three are, it would be impossible for me not to know.”
“Then, I’m glad you told me. I’m going to marry her at once, and have all rights of her protection through the trial—if it comes to that. Nothing else could have convinced me of her act! Poor, dear little Maida. I’ve known her capability for sudden, impulsive action but—oh, well, if Mr. Wheeler saw her—that’s all there is to be said. Now, dear Mrs. Wheeler, you must let me go to my Maida!”
“But, Jeffrey, I only told you that to persuade you to let her alone. Let her have her own way. She says that to marry Curtis Keefe will save her from prosecution—even from suspicion. She says he can free her from all implication in the matter.”
“I won’t have it! If Maida did that shooting she had ample excuse—motive, rather. Not a man on a jury would convict her. And I’d rather she’d stand trial and——”
“Oh, no, Jeffrey, don’t talk like that! I’d consent to anything to save that girl from a trial—oh, you can’t mean you want her tried!”
“Rather than to see her married to any man but me, I’d——”