The spectator., 1921-03-18
Copyright. All Rights Reserved
CHAPTER xili-Continued.

still remember how frightened and yet how cool l was in that last moment. l held the gun to my shoulder and waited for It to thrust itself against the blanket. In another moment I am sure l should have fired. But before that moment I heard my name called. and I knew my husbands voice, and came out of the nightmare"
 Most extraordinary" the coroner repeated, after silence. Ut seems to account for the shooting of Riles. but It leaves us as much as ever more than ever should say-in the dark concerning the disappearance of the money, and the part which has i'm plicated the young man Travers in the affair.""
 The banker gave his evidence. It was not unusual, he said, for consd- erable sums in bank notes to be han died among speculators and land buy CTS. but the amount withdrawn by Harris was so great that 1t had left him somewhat III at ease. and as Ser geant Grey had happened his way he had mentioned the matter to him.
 During the hearing of the various witnesses Gardiner had attempted an air of impersonal interest. but with no great success His demeanor. studied though it was. betrayed certain anxiety and impatience. He was dressed just as he had dismounted from his horse. having removed only his hat. Hut he smiled confidently when asked for his evidence, and told his story calmly and collectedly.
 It is quite true that he was asso- ciated with Riles and Mir. Harris in the coal mine investment. He was acting for the owner of the property. but had seen that large profit was to be made from the turnover. and had been glad to place the opportunity in the way of two old friends.
 T feel a grave responsibility in this whole matter" Gardiner protested. with some emotion. .l feel that l am. at least indirectly. responsible for the serious loss that has befalIen Mir. Har- ris, and for the injury to his son. But when you have heard the whole circumstances you will agree that the situation was one I could not possibly have foreseen. Let me give them to you in some detail.
 The day before yesterday. in com pany with Riies, met Mir Harris and his son. and found that their money had arrived. The remittance was not as large as they expected, but l be- l.eved that l could raise some money privately, and that We would still b, able to put the deal through. l ad- vised against losing any time, as ] knew that if the owner should meet anyone else interested in proposition of similar nature we would find il much harder to make a bargain with him. IL was arranged that the two Mir. Harrises were 10 drive ahead, talk ing the money with them, and that Riles and l would follow. We were to overtake them at the old building where this unfortunate tragedy oc- cured. As it happened. l had sick horse at the ranch, and. as l was de- layed in getting some medicine for him, Rifles suggested that he would ride out to the ranch-that Is, where l,ve-and wait for me there. Up to that time l had no suspicious, and l agreed to that.
 Well, when l reached the ranch, l could find nothing of Riles, and, on further search. l could find nothing of Travers, who was working for me. Their riding horses were gone, and so were their saddles and brides. l found that Travers had taken his re- volver out of the house. l confess my suspicious were then somewhat aroused, but l found myself with the sick horse on my hands, and l could not very we'll leave the place. Of course. never thought of anything so pad as has happened, or l would not nave considered the horse. but l ad- nit was at a loss to understand their conduct. But when heard, early this morning. what had happened, 1t was all clear to me-
 During the latter part of this evi- fence Travers had fixed his eyes on Gardiner. but the witness had steadi-
  vinced that he was the victim, not of l coincidence, but a plot. Of course. he could give his evidence which would be directly contradictory to that ,f Gardiner, but he was already under suspicion, and anything he might say would be unconsciously discounted by the jurors. But he began calmly, quiet smile still playing about his thin l lips and clean teeth.
 "I am sorry cannot corroborate all he last witness has said." he com menced. 'l did not leave the ranch 1 with Rifles on the contrary, l was fish l Ing down by the river when l saw | Riles and Gardiner ride by. Gardiner | was talking and l heard him mention | Mir Harris name. worked for Mir. | Harris not long ago, but l did not know he was in this part of the coun- l