denly. "The other is a diamond ring, as you
can see," and she held up her hand.

"Will you let me have the diamond ring?"

"Yes, sir." She took it off. "But please be careful of it, for it--it
is very precious to me."

The coroner nodded. "That is all just now," and as Margaret let fall
the veil again, he called Doctor Bardon to his side. A whispered
conversation ensued, and the young physician left with the precious
circlet--Margaret's engagement ring--in an envelope.

"Margaret, you should not have let him have that ring," whispered
Raymond.

"How could I help it?" was the low answer. "Oh, this is terrible! I
feel as if everybody was trying to look me through and through!"

"I can't understand why Mr. Adams is not here," went on the young man.
"Perhaps he has found some important clew and is following it up," he
added hopefully.

"They are bound to convict me, Raymond! Isn't it horrible?"

"They shall never do it, never!" cried the young man. And then a sharp
rapping on the desk terminated the brief conversation and restored
quietness to the little courtroom.

CHAPTER XIII

THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE

The next witness called was Mrs. Morse, who told briefly how she had
been placed in charge of the upper part of the Langmore mansion shortly
after the tragedy, and how she had been watching Margaret. She said
the girl had had only a few visitors, mentioning Raymond Case and a
stranger from New York.

"Who was the stranger?" asked Coroner Busby.

"A Mr. Adams. He's either a lawyer or a detective."

"Oh!"

"I brought Mr. Adams to see Miss Langmore," put in Raymond. "Wasn't
that all right?"

"Certainly--certainly," answered the coroner hastily.

"I have kept the best watch on Miss Langmore that I could," went on the
woman. "You told me to do it."

"Has Miss Langmore had anything to say about her father?"

"She seems to be very sorry that he is dead."

"What did she say about Mrs. Langmore?"

"She does not seem to care much about her stepmother."

"Have you discovered anything unusual, Mrs. Morse, that had to do with
this tragedy?"

"Well, I don't know. I have looked around a bit, and among other
things I found this. It was in Miss Langmore's dressing case."

As she spoke the woman held up a small bottle. It was marked
chloroform and was empty.

"Anything else?"

"With the empty bottle I found the half of a big silk handkerchief. It
was wrapped around the bottle and had