A startled look came into Horatio Farman’s eyes. The old lawyer’s gasp proved that this statement came to him as an amazing theory. He stared at Humphrey as one might gaze at a madman.
“Murder!” exclaimed Farman. “I cannot believe it, Humphrey. It is totally incredible!”
“Not at all,” responded Humphrey shortly. “I suspected it that night, when I came in and found Winstead’s body. But I had no proof then, Farman. It was not until afterward that I began to form a theory.”
“But the coroner -“
“He declared it death by misadventure. I let the verdict pass. Since then, I feel more and more convinced that Winstead was slain by a man who visited this house that night.”
“You suspect someone? Whom?”
A gleam of malice appeared in Humphrey Delthern’s eyes as the new head of the Delthern house released the bomb that he had prepared for Horatio Farman.
“Warren Barringer,” announced Humphrey.
HORATIO FARMAN sprang to his feet. The old attorney flamed with indignation. His hands trembled in momentary anger.
“Absurd!” he cried. “Preposterous! You have no right to even consider such an allegation!”
“Warren Barringer visited Winstead that night,” retorted Humphrey. “He was in this very room. Winstead died shortly after Warren had gone.”
“Warren Barringer was here?”
“Yes; and he had words with Winstead. I have questioned Wellington. The servant has admitted it.”
“But you say that Warren was gone when -“
“Precisely. But that does not mean that he could not have returned.”
“That would have to be proven, Humphrey. You, yourself, know that Winstead had a quarrelsome disposition. I am not surprised that he should engage in argument with Warren Barringer. That fact means nothing. Particularly as you have only Wellington to state that Warren was here.”
“Marcia saw him also.”
“Saw Warren here?”
“Yes,” declared Humphrey, with an evil leer. “Warren called up Winstead and stated, through Wellington, that he would call. He came, and Wellington admitted him by the front door. Warren talked with Marcia in the lower hallway.
“After that, Wellington conducted Warren upstairs. Marcia went out; I was out. Only Wellington remained. He admits, since I have questioned him, that there was an altercation. In fact, Winstead summoned Wellington and told him to show Warren to the door.”
“Did Wellington do so?” inquired Farman.
“He claims to have done so,” stated Humphrey. “I questioned him very carefully upon that point. But it would have been an easy matter for Warren Barringer to return and resume his controversy with Winstead.”
“This is all mere conjecture,” asserted the lawyer. “I advise you to forget the matter.”
“Forget it?” echoed Humphrey. “Do you realize, Farman, that the young upstart must actually have threatened my brother Winstead? That Winstead died by violence shortly afterward? My own life may be in danger!
“Here” - Humphrey drew two papers from the desk drawer - “are sworn statements made by myself and Wellington. They state the facts that I have mentioned. I order you to take them and keep them. You are my attorney; I expect you to show an interest in this important matter.”
“I represent all the Delthern heirs,” returned Farman. “I cannot be concerned with this, Humphrey. It is a serious step to make unsubstantiated charges against another man.”
“You talk like Marcia,” challenged Humphrey. “She refused to sign a statement of her own. Refused, mind you, even though she could be forced to declare that she saw Warren here the night that Winstead died.
“Fortunately, Wellington could not refuse to make his declaration. I threatened him with dismissal unless he was willing to put the truth in writing. He accepted my ultimatum. I have warned Wellington that there may be danger. He is standing by, ready to aid me should any attempt be made upon my life.”
HORATIO FARMAN raised his hands in a gesture of complete neutrality. He turned toward the door, signifying that he was about to leave. Humphrey Delthern sprang from the desk and blocked the way.
“You are making a mistake, Farman!” he stormed. “You will regret this! A dangerous killer is at large; should I die, my blood will be on your hands!”
“Your animosity is speaking now, Humphrey,” returned the lawyer calmly. “You sought to disinherit Warren Barringer. Your present actions make it appear that you are attempting to accomplish what you failed to do before. Let me remind you, however, that Winstead’s decision in favor of Warren Barringer cannot be overruled now.”
“Do you think I care about Warren’s interest?” sneered Humphrey. “What does it matter now? I am the eldest of the heirs. My half portion is assured. I simply want to protect myself; to be safe from the menace which I believe exists. Warren Barringer is probably filled with animosity because of my previous attempt to protect my rights as they then existed.”
“Have you met Warren Barringer?” questioned Farman.
“No,” returned Humphrey. “I do not care to do so.”
“It might be well,” remarked Farman, “for you to speak with him. You will find him a man of very fair-minded principles.”
“If he comes here,” growled Humphrey, “I suppose I shall have to talk with him. I shall have Wellington at hand to protect me. I shall be wiser than Winstead!”
“You still persist in your strange theory?”
“Yes. I warn you, Farman, if you will not take measures to thwart this upstart, I shall employ an attorney who will get to the truth of Winstead’s death. Do you realize that Warren Barringer has profited by killing my brother? The second half of the estate will now be divided among three instead of four.”
A triumphant gleam kindled in Horatio Farman’s eyes. The old lawyer had found the opening he desired.
He was recalling his own conversation with Warren Barringer; he felt that the young heir could never have been so foolish as to commit a crime which Farman, himself, had suggested as a potential menace. That fact, alone, convinced Farman that Humphrey was in error; and it also gave the attorney a chance to curb Humphrey’s accusations.
“If personal profit,” mused Farman, “can be regarded as a reason for considering Winstead’s death a murder, you are not the one to suggest it, Humphrey!
“Consider my words well. Until Winstead died, you were heir to only one eighth of the estate. Now you are to inherit half. Yours is the great gain. It would be logical to suppose that your interest in accusing someone else of murdering Winstead might be a cover for a crime that you, yourself, committed!”
The words staggered Humphrey Delthern. With sagging arms, the thin-faced man groped for the desk. He reached his great chair and sat down suddenly.
“I think,” added Farman convincingly, “that you would do well to forget your charges against Warren Barringer - certainly until you have more tangible evidence than the fact that he was here on the night that Winstead died.”
HUMPHREY DELTHERN nodded slowly. His manner changed, and a hunted look appeared upon his face.
“This is terrible, Farman,” he gasped. “I never thought of my position. That makes it far worse. My fears are actual; I really believe that Winstead was murdered. Should I speak - now - I, myself, might be accused. I am helpless.”
“You are reasonable, now, Humphrey,” declared Farman quietly. “Forget your apprehensions; they are the result of overstrain. I can assure you that Warren Barringer would not have been so foolhardy as to attack Winstead. The coroner has declared the death an accident.”
“But my own life may be in danger!” pleaded Humphrey. “Don’t you understand, Farman? Perhaps I am overstressed -“
“That is all,” persisted the attorney. “Do not let your imagination saddle you with a mania. Keep Wellington here if you are apprehensive. Take my advice; be calm; and be careful that you do not act foolishly.”
