"Yet these things are true, are they not? No money, no will was found.
There is but one reason possible, unless others entered after the
murder and stole these things. My belief is that Fred returned to his
apartments, took what money he required, packed his valise, and
departed without a word to any one. He often did things like
that--hastily, on the spur of the moment."

"But what happened afterward?"

"The rest is all theory. I do not know, but I'll make a guess. In
some way the conspirators learned what had occurred, but not in time to
intercept his departure; yet they had everything ready for action, and
realised this was the opportunity. Frederick had disappeared leaving
no trace behind; they could attend to him later, intercept him,
perhaps---- Wait! Keep still. There comes the carriage from the
train."

He drew her back into the denser undergrowth and they looked out
through the leaves to where the road circled in toward the bridge. The
hoof-beats of horses alone broke the silence.




CHAPTER XII: VIEWED FROM BOTH SIDES

The team trotted on to the bridge, and then slowed down to a walk. Above
the dull reverberation of hoofs the listeners below could hear the sound
of voices, and an echo of rather forced laughter. Then the carriage
emerged into full view. Beside the driver it contained three