Crawford from changing his will."

"But before we consider the fortune or the will, we must proceed with
our task of bringing to light the murderer, and avenging Mr. Crawford's
death."

"I trust you will do so, Mr. Coroner, and that speedily. But I may
say, if allowable, that you are on the wrong track when you allow your
suspicions to tend towards Florence Lloyd."

"As your opinion, Mr. Randolph, of course that sentiment has some
weight, but as a man of law, yourself, you must know that such an
opinion must be proved before it can be really conclusive."

"Yes, of course," said Mr. Randolph, with a deep sigh. "But let me beg
of you to look further in search of other indications before you press
too hard upon Miss Lloyd with the seeming clues you now have."

I liked Mr. Randolph very much. Indeed it seemed to me that the men of
West Sedgwick were of a fine class as to both intellect and judgment,
and though Coroner Monroe was not a brilliant man, I began to realize
that he had some sterling qualities and was distinctly just and fair in
his decisions.

As for Gregory Hall, he seemed like a man free from a great anxiety.
Though still calm and reserved in appearance, he was less nervous,
and quietly awaited further developments. His attitude was not hard to
understand. Mr. Crawford had objected to his secretary's engagement to
his niece, and now Mr. Crawford's objections could no longer matter.
Again, it was not surprising that Mr. Hall should be glad to learn that
his fiancee was the heiress she had supposed herself to he. Even though
he were marrying the girl simply for love of her, a large fortune in
addition was by no means to be despised. At any rate, I concluded that
Gregory Hall thought so.

As often happened, Parmalee read my thoughts. "A fortune-hunter," he
murmured, with a meaning glance at Hall.

I remembered that Mr. Carstairs, at the inn had said the same thing, and
I thoroughly believed it myself.

"Has he any means of his own?"

"No," said Parmalee, "except his salary, which was a good one from Mr.
Crawford, but of course he's lost that now."

"I don't feel drawn toward him. I suppose one would call him a gentleman
and yet he isn't manly."

"He's a cad," declared Parmalee; "any fortune hunter is a cad, and I
despise him."

Although I tried to hold my mind impartially open regarding Mr. Hall,
I was conscious of an inclination to despise him myself. But I was also
honest enough to realize tha