that a cold-blooded murder had been committed; human hands had raised
the weapon that had crushed out the life of the old merchant, human
intelligence had made choice of the day and hour and moment for that
brutal deed; the possibility of escape had been nicely calculated,
nothing had been left to chance. He would venture the assertion that if
the murderer were ever found he would prove to be no ordinary criminal.

All this Moxlow said with judicial deliberation and with the lawyer's
careful qualifying of word and phrase.

Shrimplin was the first witness. He described in his own fashion the
finding of Archibald McBride's body. Then a few skilful questions by
Moxlow brought out the fact of his having met John North on the Square
immediately before his own gruesome discovery. The little lamplighter
was excused, and Colonel Harbison took his: place. He, in his turn,
quickly made way for Andy Gilmore. Moxlow next interrogated Atkinson,
Langham's client, who explained the nature of his business relations
with McBride which had terminated in the payment of three thousand
dollars to him on Thanksgiving afternoon, the twenty-seventh of
November.

"You are excused, Mr. Atkinson," said Moxlow.

For an instant his eyes roved over the room; they settled on Marshall
Langham, who stood near the door leading into the hall. By a gesture he
motioned him to the chair Atkinson had vacated.

Langham's testimony was identical with that which he had already given
in the informal talk at Moxlow's office; he told of having called on
Archibald McBride with his client and, urged on by Moxlow, described
his subsequent conversation with North.

Up to this point John North had felt only an impersonal interest in the
proceedings, but now it flashed across him that Moxlow was seeking to
direct suspicion toward him. How well the prosecuting attorney was
succeeding was apparent. North realized that he had suddenly become the
most conspicuous person in the room; whichever way he turned he met the
curious gaze of his townsmen, and each pair of eyes seemed to hold some
portentous question. As if oblivious of this he bent forward in his
chair and followed Moxlow's questions and Langham's replies with the
closest attention. And as he watched Langham, so Gilmore watched him.

"That will do, Mr. Langham. Thank you," said Moxlow at last.

North felt sure he would be the next witness, and he was not mistaken.
Moxlow's examination, however, was along l