Were I to force the issue they could not make out a case sufficient to justify my being held for the grand jury.

I am staying here because I want to, because it is best that they should direct their efforts toward trying to prove me the murderer." Britz, in the darkness of his cell, indulged in an amused smile.

So this man was endeavoring to draw the fire of the police in order to save the guilty person! Here was a pretty drama of cross-purposes.

Had Beard been sufficiently shrewd to see through the purpose of his detention, he would have submitted to his imprisonment with less complacency.
"You mean that you are offering yourself as a target in order to shield the guilty person ?" she inquired incredulously.
"Precisely." "But why ?" she demanded.
"Because I conceive it to be Mr.Whitmore's wish." "Mr.Whitmore!" exclaimed she, obviously puzzled.

"You mean he asked you to ?" "No," acknowledged he.