It would be no light thing that
would give rise to it."
"I think it shadowed his whole life. It was never quite out of
his mind."
"But if a man had a danger hanging over him, and knew what it
was, don't you think he would turn to the police for protection?"
"Maybe it was some danger that he could not be protected against.
There's one thing you should know. He always went about armed.
His revolver was never out of his pocket. But, by bad luck, he
was in his dressing gown and had left it in the bedroom last
night. Once the bridge was up, I guess he thought he was safe."
"I should like these dates a little clearer," said MacDonald.
"It is quite six years since Douglas left California. You
followed him next year, did you not?"
"That is so."
"And he had been married five years. You must have returned
about the time of his marriage."
"About a month before. I was his best man."
"Did you know Mrs. Douglas before her marriage?"
"No, I did not. I had been away from England for ten years."
"But you have seen a good deal of her since."
Barker looked sternly at the detective. "I have seen a good deal
of HIM since," he answered.
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