ly to the coroner's questions, he testified as to the finding of
the body, the nature of the scream we had heard and gave a similar
report as to the appearance of the wound. He had observed no suspicious
actions on the part of any one.

"You led the search, I believe, through the gardens?"

"Yes."

"You were the one man that was armed. May I ask how you happened to have
a pistol in the pocket of dinner clothes?"

"I was held up, once," Marten replied straightforwardly. "Several years
ago. I've carried a pistol ever since."

The coroner nodded. "Did your party stay together in searching the
gardens, or did they scatter out?" he asked.

"We scattered out. We couldn't have hoped to find any one if we had
stayed together. We called back and forth, however."

"You kept track of one another all the time?"

"I can't say that. The gardens and grounds are large and full of
shrubbery."

"The search lasted--how long?"

"Only a few minutes."

The coroner dismissed him at this point, calling on Mr. Van Hope. The
latter told of his long acquaintance with Nealman, and verified in every
detail the story that his friend had told.

"And where were you, Mr. Dell, when the scream was heard?" the coroner
asked.

"In the library," was the reply. Major Dell spoke evenly, but his keen,
flushed face showed that he was taking the most keen and lively interest
in the proceedings.

"Why weren't you with the others in the party?"

"We were all running all over the house. I was trying to find Mr.
Nealman's copy of Jordan's work on fish. Fargo and I had got into an
argument about black bass."

"Mr. Fargo was not with you at the time?"

"I was alone. I had left Mr. Fargo at the billiard table."

Weldon's voice changed in tone. "And how did the argument come out, may
I ask."

Major Dell smiled dryly. "It isn't concluded yet," he said.

The coroner paused, then took a new tack. "You heard the sound
distinctly?"

"Distinctly, but probably not so clearly as Mr. Nealman heard it. The
library is back of the lounging-room."

"Then what did you do?"

"I ran outside. I joined Nealman and some of the other guests on the
grounds, and went down with them to investigate."

"You took part in the hunt through the grounds?"

"Yes. I beat back and forth with the rest."

"And saw or heard nothing suspicious?"

"Something moved in the shrubbery, but we couldn't locate it. Nealman
thought afterward it was a raccoon or some other small