the exposures that must follow.

The course, therefore, of Mr. Ferris was determined upon. All the
evidence in his possession against both parties, together with the
verdict of the coroner's jury, should go at once before the Grand Jury;
Mansell, in the meantime, being so watched that a bench-warrant issuing
upon the indictment would have him safely in custody at any moment.

But this plan for saving Mr. Orcutt's feelings did not succeed as fully
as Mr. Ferris hoped. By some means or other the rumor got abroad that
another man than Hildreth had fallen under the suspicion of the
authorities, and one day Mr. Ferris found himself stopped on the street
by the very person he had for a week been endeavoring to avoid.

"Mr. Orcutt!" he cried, "how do you do? I did not recognize you at
first."

"No?" was the sharp rejoinder. "I'm not myself nowadays. I have a bad
cold." With which impatient explanation he seized Mr. Ferris by the arm
and said: "But what is this I hear? You have your eye on another party
suspected of being Mrs. Clemmens' murderer?"

The District Attorney bowed uneasily. He had hoped to escape the
discussion of this subject with Mr. Orcutt.

The lawyer observed the embarrassment his question had caused, and
instantly turned pale, notwithstanding the hardihood which a long career
at the bar had given him.

"Ferris," he pursued, in a voice he strove hard to keep steady, "we have
always been good friends, in spite of the many tilts we have had
together before the court. Will you be kind enough to inform me if your
suspicions are founded upon evidence collected by yourself, or at the
instigation of parties professing to know more about this murder than
they have hitherto revealed?"

Mr. Ferris could not fail to understand the true nature of this
question, and out of pure friendship answered quietly:

"I have allowed myself to look with suspicion upon this Mansell--for it
is Mrs. Clemmens' nephew who is at present occupying our
attention,--because the facts which have come to light in his regard are
as criminating in their nature as those which have transpired in
reference to Mr. Hildreth. The examination into this matter, which my
duty requires, has been any thing but pleasant to me, Mr. Orcutt. The
evidence of such witnesses as will have to be summoned before the Grand
Jury, is of a character to bring open humiliation, if not secret grief,
upon persons for whom I entertain the highest esteem."

The point