“There is great trouble here, and you must come as soon and fast as you possibly can.  Come at once to my cabin, and bring the best lawyer in the city.  I will explain everything then.”

That was the message, and in reply Mr. Westcote told him that he would leave immediately in his car, travel as fast as possible, and bring his own lawyer with him.

Jasper then crossed the room and paid the storekeeper the price of the message.  There was a dead silence while he did this, which Jasper was not slow to notice.  He spoke to none of the men gathered there, in fact did not even look at them, but left the store as soon as possible.

From the time the blow had fallen and he realised that he was a man suspected of murder, he seemed to be dazed.

He had gone to his own cabin and had tried to reason the whole thing out.  But the more he thought the more puzzled he became.  There was no doubt that David had been murdered, but who had done the deed, and for what purpose?  Only one person came to his mind, and he recalled what Betty had told him about the old man’s narrow escape from the rolling log.  Though he felt that Sydney Bramshaw had something to do with the affair, he had no definite proof.  He naturally connected him with the murder.  But what object would the man have for doing such a dastardly deed?  He wondered much about the envelope, and how it got there.  He had never been to that spot before, and he was quite certain that David did not have it with him.  Somebody, then, must have obtained possession of the envelope and dropped it near the body in order to cast suspicion upon him.  But why should any one wish to involve him in such a serious crime?

Long and carefully Jasper considered the matter in an effort to solve the problem.  But the more he thought the greater was he puzzled.  He realised that he must have assistance as that envelope and the fact that he was on the road with David the night of the murder would tell strongly against him.  He naturally turned to Robert Westcote as the one man who could help him and would stand by him in his time of need.

He felt very lonely and wretched as he left the store and walked slowly up the road.  He did not wish to go back to the silence of his own cabin.  If he could only speak to some one and feel that all were not against him it would be some comfort.  He thought of Lois, and wondered if she were at the Haven.  He was certain that she would not believe him guilty of such a cowardly deed, but would stand by him to the last.  Yes, she was the very one, and he would go to her at once.  His step quickened as this impulse possessed him and he hurried rapidly along the road, with swinging strides.

“Hello, you seem to be in a great hurry.”

Jasper started at these words, stopped short and looked in the direction from whence the voice came.  As he did so his face darkened, for there, sitting before his easel not far from the road, was Sydney Bramshaw.