d the only other
person for whom she could possibly have such a feeling, her father, had
been in no way connected with the crime, and clearly could not have
committed it. The more I thought, the more I realized that logic pointed
its cold and inexorable fingers at her; yet the more strongly did the
love I felt for her tell me the impossibility of such a conclusion. I
cannot express the tenderness, the love, with which this girl, in our
few brief meetings, had inspired me. I longed to take her into my arms
and comfort her, and tell her that the whole thing was but a wretched,
miserable dream. Yet it needed but a glance at the stone walls about me,
the steel grating of my door, and the untasted food which stood upon the
cot at my side, to assure me that this was indeed no dream, but a very
cold and stern reality. It was close on to two o'clock when I was once
more taken back to the court-room, and, as I entered, I glanced about
with an eager and expectant look, hoping to see Miss Temple. She was
nowhere to be seen. I took my seat and waited patiently, watching the
court attendants as they performed their routine duties, or the
Magistrate, deep in the business of reading and signing a number of
papers--warrants, I presumed, for other unfortunates--which were handed
to him by a clerk. Major Temple sat in his former seat, so pale and
still that I felt he had not left it since the morning, yet I knew he
must have done so, if only to catch a glimpse of his daughter as she
arrived in the custody of the officers. Presently there was a stir in
the room, the Magistrate left off signing his papers, and, as I turned
toward the door leading from the witness room, I saw Muriel entering,
with Sergeant McQuade at her side, and Inspector Burns following them.
My heart sank, as I saw how terribly pale and distressed she looked and
with what shrinking she met the gaze of the many eyes now focused upon
her. Her own sought the face of her father. He half-rose, as though to
speak, then sank back into his seat and covered his eyes with his hand.
She did not see me at all--probably because I was so close to her.

The Magistrate rapped upon the desk to still the rising buzz of
conversation among the spectators, then, turning to the witness, for
whom McQuade had placed a chair, began his interrogations. After she had
taken the oath, and answered the usual formal questions as to her name,
age, etc., he began.

"Miss Temple, you have been arrested