"Certainly."
"We did not think seriously, Mr. Preston," the girl protested quickly," that they had really been watching and suspecting you upon the evidence of which you spoke yesterday. But they wished us to sign the papers, containing our statement as they made it out, upon which they were to arrest you."
"Were to?"
"For we refused, of course."
"Thank you," the young American acknowledged. "So you sent this," he indicated the note in his fingers, "to give me an opportunity to settle it with you privately, before the officers would have to arrest me—"
"Mr. Preston," the girl's tone came now as a rebuke, "we sent for you so that when they consult and advise with you as our friend, you will understand what we think of the matter and how you can best help us."
"As your friend, Miss Varris? Best help you?" he repeated.
"Yes; when they asked us to sign the
94
