e on the same floor with her
could have caused her to strike the blow which terminated her life.
Why should I? No woman sacrifices her life out of mere regret for the
disdain she has shown a man she has taken no pains to understand."

His tone and his attitude seemed to invite the concurrence of Dr. Heath
in this statement. But the richness of the one and the grace of the
other showed the handsome speaker off to such advantage that the coroner
was rather inclined to consider how a woman, even of Miss Challoner's
fine taste and careful breeding, might see in such a situation much
for regret, if not for active despair and the suicidal act. He gave no
evidence of his thought, however, but followed up the one admission
made by Mr. Brotherson which he and others must naturally view as of the
first importance.

"You saw Miss Challoner lift her hand, you say. Which hand, and what was
in it? Anything?"

"She lifted her right hand, but it would be impossible for me to tell
you whether there was anything in it or not. I simply saw the movement
before I turned away. It looked like one of alarm to me. I felt that she
had some reason for this. She could not know that it was in repentance I
came rather than in fulfilment of my threat."

A sigh from the adjoining room. Mr. Brotherson rose, as he heard it,
and in doing so met the clear eye of Sweetwater fixed upon his own. Its
language was, no doubt, peculiar and it seemed to fascinate him for a
moment, for he started as if to approach the detective, but forsook
this intention almost immediately, and addressing the coroner, gravely
remarked:

"Her death following so quickly upon this abortive attempt of mine at an
interview startled me by its coincidence as much as it does you. If in
the weakness of her woman's nature, it was more than this--if the scorn
she had previously shown me was a cloak she instinctively assumed to
hide what she was not ready to disclose, my remorse will be as great as
any one here could wish. But the proof of all this will have to be very
convincing before my present convictions will yield to it. Some other
and more poignant source will have to be found for that instant's
impulsive act than is supplied by this story of my unfortunate
attachment."

Dr. Heath was convinced, but he was willing to concede something to
the secret demand made upon him by Sweetwater, who was bundling up his
papers with much clatter.

Looking up with a smile which had elements