Intense rain floods the Forrester place at the end of July. Ben Keezer rides out to help the Forresters with chores and to deliver their mail, but one day Niel stops him as he leaves the post office. Niel asks if Ben is taking the Denver newspaper to the Forresters, and Ben replies that he is, that Mrs. Forrester likes to read the newspapers in the evenings, since she appears to be lonely.

Niel has already seen the Denver paper that day, which announced the marriage of Frank Ellinger to Constance Ogden. Niel tries to go to the Forresters’ that night, but the footbridge is washed out, and he cannot cross the river on foot. He returns to his uncle’s law office, which is a mess due to rain causing a chimney leak.

After midnight Niel hears footsteps, and Mrs. Forrester knocks on the door. She is drenched and agitated, and smells strongly of alcohol. She desperately asks to use the telephone to call Colorado, where Frank and Constance are staying. Niel warns that the telephone operator will hear her conversation and gossip about it. Mrs. Forrester insists that he place the call for her. Niel tells the operator that Judge Pommeroy’s office wishes to speak to Frank Ellinger, and he and Mrs.