hing which it was
farthest from his purpose to do. Caution had been his life-long habit.
It had deserted him for the instant, but only for the instant. The next
moment it had returned, to abide with him throughout the rest of the
examination.

"This Mr. Collins--can you explain how he got in here without being
observed by the clerks?" asked the coroner.

"No," snapped the secretary.

"What motive had he for killing Mr. Whitmore?" the coroner fired at him.

"None that I know of," declared Beard.

"Well, tell us in your own way what connection Mr. Collins had with this
crime," the coroner said persuasively.

"I have nothing to tell."

It was manifest that the secretary regretted his first outburst against
Collins and was now prepared to counter every effort of his questioner.
The coroner, however, was not to be easily repulsed.

"This, sir, is a solemn inquest into the death of Herbert Whitmore," he
informed the other. "I am now holding court, as authorized by the
statute. You will regard yourself as a duly summoned witness. Raise your
right hand!"

Beard lifted a trembling hand above his head.

"You do solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth!" intoned the official. Producing pencil and paper he
prepared to record the answers of the witness.

"You have accused one George Collins of the crime of murder," he
pursued. "Are you prepared to substantiate that accusation with proof?"

"I do not accuse anyone of murder and I have no proof," asserted Beard.

The coroner decided to try a new tack.

"Where did Mr. Whitmore spend the past six weeks?"

"I decline to tell," Beard answered firmly.

"On what ground do you refuse to answer?"

The secretary shifted uneasily from one position to another. His eyes
roved about the room, finally studying the ceiling as if trying to
discover written thereon some means out of his dilemma.

"I decline to answer--on the ground that my reply might tend to
incriminate or degrade me. I'm sorry, but I must invoke my
constitutional privilege."

Had a tongue of flame shot from the witness's mouth it could not have
produced greater amazement. The coroner and the detectives regarded each
other as if uncertain whether they had heard aright. The changed
attitude of the witness could only denote that he feared to involve
himself. He, who had been so quick to accuse another, now appeared
intent only on shielding himself.

"You have found the custo