oner Busby had picked men he knew
would agree with him.

The recess had lasted but a few minutes, when Doctor Bardon reappeared.
His face wore a knowing look that was almost triumphant.

"You will please take the stand again, doctor," was the request. "I
wish to ask you if a person could be smothered by chloroform."

"Certainly, under certain conditions."

"Do you think it possible that Mr. and Mrs. Langmore could have been
smothered in that way?"

"Possibly, yes, although I did not see any traces."

"Would there have been traces?"

"Yes and no--it would depend on circumstances."

"Hum. Now about the diamond ring belonging to Miss Langmore, which I
gave you a short while ago to examine? Have you--ahem--examined it?"

"I have, and so has Doctor Soper. We used a magnifying glass and made
several tests."

"Did you find anything unusual?"

"We did. In the first place two of the prongs which hold the diamond
in place are bent out and up in such a fashion that each forms a sharp
point. We next looked under the stone and found there a substance
which both of us are convinced is a bit of dried-up blood."

"You are sure it is blood?"

"Yes. I can illustrate it scientifically, if you desire."

"It will not be necessary just now. When you say blood do you mean
human blood?"

At this the young physician shrugged his shoulders.

"I am not prepared to go as far as that. We should have to make
another test. The amount was so very small."

"Might be blood from a mosquito," muttered Raymond. "There are enough
around here."

"You may think as you please," said the young doctor. "I am only
stating the facts."

"Have you anything else to say, doctor?" came from the coroner.

"Nothing more. Here is the ring. We have kept what we found under the
stone."

"Very well. Miss Langmore, you may have the ring back." It was passed
out and Raymond took it and slipped it back on Margaret's hand, which
was cold and nerveless. The girl was sitting as motionless as a marble
statue.

There was another pause and then, one after another, several minor
witnesses were brought up and examined. At four o'clock the coroner
began to sum up the evidence, to which the jury listened with close
attention. Then the jurors filed out into a side room, the door to
which was tightly closed.

"Is--is it over?" faltered Margaret. "Wha--what will they do next?"

"We must wait for the finding of the jury, Margaret."

"How