llar--"by the testimony of reputable witnesses?

"Captain Lloyd, a gallant soldier, was foully murdered in the
performance of his duty. You, his brother officers, have been told how
the murderess crept down stairs, crept into his bedroom, stole the
pocketbook containing the incriminating paper; then, fearing that he
might still be able to prove her guilt, she leaned over the sleeping
man--and silenced him forever. I tell you," he struck the table with no
uncertain hand, "this has been proved. Let the counsel for the defence
deny it if they can."

"We deny nothing." With set, stern face Warren, who had entered
unnoticed some moments before, pushed his way through the crowded room.
He passed Nancy, without look or word, and stopped midway between her
chair and the seated officers. "We admit the truth of the judge
advocate's statement."

A thunderbolt could not have created a greater sensation. The officers,
as well as the spectators, sat dumb, bereft of speech. Nancy, grown
deadly white, gazed at Warren with agonized, helpless eyes as his
powerful, relentless voice rang out:

"The judge advocate has described to you how she stole step by step
into that room with murder in her heart, the guilt of former days
lending courage to a desperate act. With stealthy tread she crept up to
the bed, her hand fumbled for a moment in the folds of her dress, then
drew out a syringe. Deftly, and with practiced hand, she thrust the
hypodermic needle into the brawny arm which, once so valiant in the
fight, lay helpless on the pillow.

"Calmly she watched the poison flow into Lloyd's veins; then stepped
back and dropped the syringe between the head-board and the mattress of
the other empty bed. As her hands closed over Lloyd's coat the hall
door was pushed open--admitting only a friendly dog.

"Quickly she resumed her search, but another interruption stopped her.
The sitting-room door opened. She started violently and stood with
fast-beating heart. A hesitating step crossed the threshold. Gradually
her breath came back and her guilty heart beat more slowly. A blind man
could not harm her. She removed the pocket-book just as Goddard tripped
over the dog. The sound of his fall aroused the stupefied figure on the
bed. Faintly he whispered a name--a familiar name--the name of----"

[Illustration: "Another interruption stopped her.... A hesitating step
crossed the threshold."]

A shriek rang out--the cry of a soul in torture! The spell-b