inquire,
but stopped; something in his memory of this beautiful woman made it
impossible for him to disturb the confidence of the coroner in her
behalf, at least while his own doubts were so vague and shadowy.

The coroner, however, observed the young detective's hesitation, and
smiled.

"Are you thinking of Miss Dare as having any thing to do with this
shocking affair?" he asked.

Mr. Byrd shook his head, but could not hide the flush that stole up over
his forehead.

The coroner actually laughed, a low, soft, decorous laugh, but none the
less one of decided amusement. "Your line is not in the direction of
spotting criminals, I must allow," said he. "Why, Miss Dare is not only
as irreproachable a young lady as we have in this town, but she is a
perfect stranger to this woman and all her concerns. I doubt if she even
knew her name till to-day."

A laugh is often more potent than argument. The face of the detective
lighted up, and he looked very manly and very handsome as he returned
the letter to the coroner, saying, with a sweep of his hand as if he
tossed an unworthy doubt away forever:

"Well, I do not wish to appear obstinate. If this woman dies, and the
inquest fails to reveal who her assailant is, I will apply to New York
for leave to work up the case; that is, if you continue to desire my
assistance. Meanwhile----"

"You will keep your eyes open," intimated the coroner, taking back the
letter and putting it carefully away in his breast-pocket. "And now,
mum!"

Mr. Byrd bowed, and they went together down the stairs.

It was by this time made certain that the dying woman was destined to
linger on for some hours. She was completely unconscious, and her breath
barely lifted the clothes that lay over the slowly laboring breast; but
such vitality as there was held its own with scarcely perceptible
change, and the doctor thought it might be midnight before the solemn
struggle would end. "In the meantime, expect nothing," he exclaimed;
"she has said her last word. What remains will be a mere sinking into
the eternal sleep."

This being so, Mr. Orcutt and Mr. Ferris decided to leave. Mr. Byrd saw
them safely out, and proceeded to take one or two private observations
of his own. They consisted mostly in noting the precise position of the
various doors in reference to the hearth where the stick was picked up,
and the clock where the victim was attacked. Or, so the coroner gathered
from the direction which Mr. B