propose within the next few moments to lay the matter before Mr.
Garner, and to gain his sanction to compel her to throw off this
disguise before she leaves this room, to confront her with the evidence
of her crime, and to force her to make a full confession at the bedside
of her would-be victim."

"I quite agree with your plan," assented the other. "But there is one
precaution which we must not forget: the key must be turned in the lock
and removed, if you would have your bird securely caged. Delays are
dangerous. Let Mr. Garner be told the terrible truth without a moment's
delay, and we will rest the case wholly with him."

Without attracting attention, Doctor Crandall called Mr. Garner into the
recess of the bay-window, while Doctor Schimpf engaged Dorothy in
conversation to pass the time away.

To attempt to describe Jack Garner's astonishment, which gradually
deepened into the most intense horror as the terrible story was unfolded
to him, can better be imagined than described.

"Jessie suffering from the effects of poison?" he gasped, incredulously.
"Great Heaven! how can I believe such an uncanny tale? Miss Staples has
not an enemy in the whole world, I am sure. No one could have a motive
in attempting to put her out of the way."

"Will you answer one question?" said the doctor, looking earnestly at
the young man.

"Anything which you may ask," quickly returned the other.

"Did you ever have any other sweetheart than Miss Staples? Did any other
woman ever love you in the past?"

For a moment Jack hesitated, and his fair, handsome face flushed; then
he frankly raised his eyes and met the keen gaze fixed upon him.

"I have no hesitancy in acknowledging that I did have a romance in my
life before my betrothal to poor Jessie. But she knew about it from
beginning to end."

"Did you give this girl up for Miss Staples? Pardon me for asking such a
direct question, but your answer is vitally important."

The handsome face into which the old doctor gazed grew very white, and
the lines about the firm mouth deepened into an expression of pain.

"My little sweetheart disappeared one day with a handsomer man than I,"
he said, huskily, "and from that time to this I have never looked upon
her false but fair face."

"Did she love you in those days?" was the next query.

"I wonder that you can ask the question," said Jack, with a touch of
haughty bitterness. "Does it look very much as though she loved me when
she r