I know you acted in self-defense; you couldn't help doing as you did.
"Gary Warden forced me to sign that statement, Lawler--he threatened to kill me if I didn't! He found out, some way, that I had been in the cabin with you.

And he made me sign.
"He told me that he didn't intend to charge you with the murder; he said he merely wanted to threaten you--to keep you out of politics.

Please believe me, Lawler!" Lawler laughed coldly, incredulously.

"A minute ago you told me----" "I did that to frighten you," she declared.

"I--I thought that--perhaps--when you saw that I would testify against you--you would--" She paused and tried to get closer to him, but he held her off and watched her keenly, suspiciously.
"Lawler," she urged; "don't you see?
I thought you would agree to marry me if--if I told you that.