hed by detectives,
who were accompanied by Dr. Meredith."

The insinuation deftly concealed in this statement, that either Dr.
Meredith had taken the paper, or that the District Attorney had
suppressed it, had a visible effect upon the jury, who looked from one
to the other significantly. Mr. Munson was chagrined to find what he
had thought a good point in his favor, thus turned against him so
quickly. He attempted to repair the damage.

"You say you think this. Do you not know, that what a man thinks is
not admissible in evidence?"

"I did the best that I could to answer your question." This reply, in
the humblest of tones, caused a smile.

"You have no positive knowledge that it was stolen, have you?"

"I know that it was locked in my desk, that during my absence the desk
was forced open, and that upon my return the paper was gone. Whether
it was stolen, or whether it forced its way out of my desk, you may
decide for yourself."

"You have no evidence, beyond your own word, that Dr. Meredith acted
as you have charged?"

"None!"

"You never told any friend, before the death of this girl, that Dr.
Meredith had persecuted her?"

"No. I had no confidants."

"Not even when you found that he had been called in to attend Miss
Sloane? You did not explain this to Dr. Fisher?"

"No. Dr. Fisher was comparatively a stranger to me. I knew him by
association in societies only."

"You could have spoken to him however, and so have had Dr. Meredith
dismissed from the case."

"I considered the matter, and decided not to do so."

"Why did you come to so singular a conclusion?"

"Because, as I have already testified, despite my animosity, I
concurred with Dr. Fisher's estimate of his skill. I thought him the
most valuable consulting physician to be had, and, in a case of life
and death, I believed that personal antagonisms should be forgotten."

"You say Dr. Meredith was the most valuable consulting physician to be
had. Do you mean that he is the most skilled expert that you know?"

"No. But he is skilful and his office is very near to the house where
the patient was. That fact was of importance in deciding whether to
retain him or not."

Mr. Munson seemed to strive almost in vain to outwit the witness who
adroitly parried every attack.

"You have claimed," continued the lawyer, "that Miss Sloane
administered morphine to herself?"

"I assert it."

"Then at least you admit that a dose, a large dose, was taken b