"The shock of his friend's sudden death.He had been mentally unbalanced for some time previous—not quite mad，you understand，but showing by his actions at times that his brain was affected.""Can you explain what became of their money？"askedLouise，abruptly.
West gave a starta，but collected himself b in an instant and covered the action with another shrug.
"I cannot say what become of their money，"he answered.
It struck both Beth and Louise that his tone indicated he would not，rather than that he could not say.Before they had time to ask another questioned he continued：
"Will you take the saucepan with you，then，or shall I try to send it in a day or so？""We will take it，if you please，"answered Louise.But as he wrapped it into a neat parcel she made one more effort.
"What sort of a young man was Joseph Wegg？"
"Joe？A mere boy，untried and unsettled.A bright boy，in his way，and ambitious to have a part in the big world.He's there now，I believe."He spoke with an air of relief，and handed Louise the parcel.
"Thank you，young ladies.Pray call again if I can be ofservice to you，"he added，in a brisker tone.
They had no recourse but to walk out，which they did without further words.Indeed，they were all three silent until they had left the village far behind and were half way to thefarm.
Then Patsy said，inquiringly："Well，girls？""We have progressed，"announced Louise，seriously."In what way？""Several things are impressed upon my mind，"replied the girl."One is McNutt's absurd indignation when he thought we hinted that he was the murderer.""What do you make of that？"queried Patsy.
"It suggests that he knows something of the murder，even if he is himself wholly innocent.His alibia is another absurdity.""Then that exonerated Old Hucks，"said Patsy，relieved.
"Oh，not at all.Hucks may have committed the deed and McNutt knows about it.Or they might have been partners in the crime.""What else have you learned，Louise？"asked Beth.
"That the man West knows what became of the money.""He seems like a very respectable man，"asserted Patsy."Outwardly，yes；but I don't like the cold，calculatingexpression in his eyes.He is the rich man of this neighborhood.Do you suppose he acquired a fortune honestly in this forsaken district，where everyone else is poor as a church mouseb？""Seems to me，"said Patsy，discontentedly，"thatthe plot thickensa，as they say in novels.If we interview many more people we shall ？nd ourselves suspecting an army.""Not at all，my dear，"replied Louise，coldly."Fromour present knowledge the murder lies between the unknown avenger and Hucks，with the possibility that McNutt is implicated.This avenger may be the stranger who posed as a physician and said Captain Wegg died of heart disease，in order to prevent the simple people from suspecting a murder.His ？shing was all a blindb.Perhaps McNutt was his accomplice.That staring scarecrowc would do anything for money.And then we come to the robbery.If Hucks did the murder he took the money，and perhaps West，the hardware dealer，knows this.Or West may have arrived at the house after the mysterious stranger committed the deed，and robbed the two men himself.""And perhaps he didn't，"said Patsy，skeptically."Doyou know，girls，I'd like to ？nd Joe Wegg.He could put us right，I'm sure.""Joe！""Yes.Why don't we suspect him of something？Or Ethel；or old Nora？""Do be sensible，Patsy，"said Beth，impatiently.
But Louise walked on a way in silence.Presently she remarked：
"I'm glad you mentioned Joe Wegg.The boy gives me an idea that may reconcile many con？icting suspicions.""In what way，Louise？""I'll tell you when I've thought it out，"she replied.
