the river road. He answered--or the men
behind him answered, I cannot now remember which--'The main road.'"

"Ay, that's what we said, and what we thought," interjected the miller.

"It was thus my impression, gained first at the forge," continued the
witness, "that Mr. Cary was before me upon the main road. Until then,
knowing him to have left Richmond several days before me, I had supposed
him at Greenwood. I was not averse to a word with him on certain
matters, and I rode rapidly, hoping to overtake him--"

"Upon the main road, sir?"

"The main road, of course. As I did not do so, I concluded that the
approaching storm had caused him to hasten. It was very threatening, and
the few that my boy and I passed were hurrying to shelter. At Red Fields
I paused for a moment"--He looked toward a well-known planter, standing
near. "Certainly, Mr. Rand," said the latter promptly. "We tried to make
you stay out the storm, but you would be getting home."

"From Red Fields my boy and I rode on into town. I stopped at my
partner's house to tell his sister when to expect him home from
Richmond, and at the Eagle I drew rein for a moment and exchanged
greetings with two or three gentlemen upon the porch. The rain was close
at hand, and my boy and I pushed on to Roselands--where, next morning, a
neighbour brought the news of this murder. I corroborate, sir, as I have
been called to do, the statements of Mr. Forrest and Mr. Bates that it
was the impression of all who greeted him as he passed that Mr. Cary was
riding home by the usual road--the main road. I have nothing further to
offer, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Rand," said the coroner, and the witness left the stand.

He was followed by the keeper of a small ordinary upon the main road,
halfway between the ford and Red Fields. "No, sir, Mr. Ludwell Cary
didn't travel by the main road. I sat in my door with my glass and my
pipe almost the whole day--until after the storm broke, anyhow. There
wasn't any custom--folk seemed to know it was going to rain like Noah's
flood. There was hardly anybody on the road after about ten. Yes, I
might have shut my eyes now and then, though I don't doze over my pipe
and glass half as much as some people say I do. Anyhow, Mr. Ludwell Cary
didn't ride that way--events prove that, don't they, sir? Yes, I
remember well enough when Mr. Rand passed. I wasn't dozing then, for the
negro boy spoke to me, said there was going to be a big storm. It must
have b