Page:Keeban (IA keeban00balm).pdf/107

 directly, Steve; but there's many a way to shorten a man's life, indirectly. Father played he was young again. Well, all she'd have to do would be to over-encourage him with her eye on that half million. Anyway, Ken and I decided to stop paying the premiums on that insurance—save ourselves about thirty thousand a year and make father a little safer."

Of course, this told me why old Win's number had jumped to the top of the board just now; the sons were stopping his insurance. Fred continued:

"But since the insurance was still in force, I couldn't help thinking of that when Rowan called me; I couldn't help thinking Shirley was mixed up in that murder. Then Rowan told me it was Jerry Fanneal who'd shot father and I knew Shirley couldn't have anything to do with it."

Fred talked on; but I didn't pay much attention for a few minutes; for now I could see through the rest of Keeban's scheme; I could see not only why he had shot Win Scofield, but why he had done it himself and why he had shown himself in the doing, making no attempt to hide.

For he wanted to be seen; he wanted to be