ead the letter. The
detective did so amidst an astonished hush. It struck everyone as a
proof of guilt, and no one could understand why I had forced it to the
front.

"Now Mr. Clancy," said I, "please tell the jury Mr. Gaylord's
explanation of this letter."

Clancy with a somewhat sheepish air gave the gist of what Radnor had
said.

"Did you believe that story when you first heard it?" I asked.

"No," said he, "I did not, because--"

"Very well! But you later went to the office of Jacoby, Haight & Co.,
and looked over the files of their correspondence with Radnor Gaylord
and verified his statement in every particular, did you not?"

"Yes, I did, but still--"

"That is all I wish to ask, Mr. Clancy. I think the reason is evident,"
I added, turning to the jury, "why I was willing to pay in order to get
rid of him. Nobody's character, nobody's correspondence, was safe while
he was in the house."

The detective retired amidst general laughter and I could see that
feeling had veered again in Radnor's favor. The total effect of the
evidence respecting the ha'nt and the robbery was good rather than bad,
and I more than fancied that I was indebted to the sheriff for it.

Radnor was not called again and that was the end of the testimony in
regard to him. The rest of the time was taken up with a consideration of
Cat-Eye Mose and some further questioning of the negroes in regard to
the ha'nt. Old Nancy created considerable diversion with her account of
the spirited roast chicken. It had changed materially since I heard it
last. She was emphatic in her statement that "Marse Rad didn't have
nuffen to do wif him. He was a sho' nuff ha'nt an' his gahments smelt o'
de graveyard."

The evidence respecting Mose brought out nothing of any consequence, and
with that the hearing was brought to a close. The coroner instructed the
jury on two or three points of law and ended with the brief formula:

"You have heard the testimony given by these witnesses. It remains for
you to do your duty."

After an interminable half hour the jury-men filed back to their seats
and the clerk read the verdict:

"We find that the said Richard Gaylord came to his death in Luray Cavern
on the 19th day of May, by cerebral hemorrhage, the result of a wound
inflicted by some blunt weapon in the hands of a person or persons
unknown. We recommend that Radnor Fanshaw Gaylord be held for trial
before the Grand Jury."

Rad appeared dazed at the verdict