the ground
of incriminating evidence, but that is the last stand I wish to take. We
must gain public opinion on our side and to that end you must testify
yourself. You must force every person present to believe that you are
incapable of telling a falsehood--I believe that already and so does
Polly Mathers."

Radnor's face flushed and a quick light sprang into his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

I repeated what Polly had said and I added my own interpretation. The
effect was electrical. He straightened his shoulders with an air of
trying to throw off his despondency.

"I'll do my best," he promised. "Heaven knows I'd like to know the truth
as well as you--this doubt is simply hell!"

A knock sounded on the door and a sheriff's officer informed us that the
hearing was about to begin.

"You haven't explained your actions on the day of the murder," I said
hurriedly. "I must have a reason."

"That's all right--it will come out. If you just keep 'em off the ha'nt,
I'll clear everything else."

"If you do that," said I, immeasurably relieved, "there'll be no danger
of your being held for trial." I rose and held out my hand. "Courage, my
boy; remember that you are going to prove your innocence, not only for
your own, but for Polly's sake."

CHAPTER XIII

THE INQUEST

The coroner's court was packed; and though here and there I caught a
face that I knew to be friendly to Radnor, the crowd was made up for the
most part of morbid sensation seekers, eager to hear and believe the
worst.

The District Attorney was present; indeed he and the coroner and Jim
Mattison were holding a whispered consultation when I entered the room,
and I did not doubt but that the three had been working up the case
together. The thought was not reassuring; a coroner, with every
appearance of fairness, may still bias a jury by the form his questions
take. And I myself was scarcely in a position to turn the trend of the
inquiry; I doubt if a lawyer ever went to an inquisition with less
command of the facts than I had.

The first witness called was the doctor who made the autopsy. After his
testimony had been dwelt upon with what seemed to me needless detail,
the facts relating to the finding of the body were brought forward. From
this, the investigation veered to the subject of Radnor's strange
behavior on the afternoon of the murder. The landlord, stable boy and
several hangers-on of the Luray Hotel were called to the stand; their
te