m an attack of tonsillitis,
which I knew to be a fact, and they did not want him to over-tax his
strength."

There was a moment's pause as the coroner, his attention diverted by
a whispered word or two from the morgue master, referred to his notes
before resuming his examination.

"Did you know James Turnbull?" he asked a second later.

"Yes, slightly."

"Did you recognize him in his burglar's disguise?"

"I did not"

"Had you any suspicion that the burglar was other than he seemed?"

"No."

Penfield picked up a memorandum handed him by Dr. Mayo and referred
to it. "I understand, doctor, that you were the first to go to the
burglar's aid when he became ill," he said. "Is that true?"

"Yes," Stone spoke with more animation. "Happening to glance inside the
cage where the prisoner sat, I saw he was struggling convulsively for
breath. With Mr. Clymer's assistance I carried him into an ante-room off
the court, but before I had crossed its threshold Turnbull expired in my
arms."

"Was he conscious before he died?"

At the question Kent bent eagerly forward. What would be the reply?

"I am not prepared to answer that with certainty," replied Dr. Stone
cautiously. "As I picked him up I heard him stammer faintly: 'B-b-b.'"

Kent started so violently that the man next to him turned and regarded
him for a moment, then, more interested in what was transpiring on the
platform, promptly forgot his agitated neighbor.

"Was Turnbull delirious, doctor?" asked the coroner.

Stone shook his head in denial. "No," he stated. "I take it that he
started to say 'Barbara,' and his breath failed him; at any rate I only
caught the stuttered 'B-b-b.'"

Penfield did not immediately continue his examination, but when he did
so his manner was stern.

"Doctor, what in your opinion caused Mr. Turnbull's death?"

"Judging superficially--I made no thorough examination," Stone explained
parenthetically, "I should say that Mr. Rochester was right when he
stated that Turnbull died from an acute attack of angina pectoris."

"How did Mr. Rochester come to make that assertion and where?"

"Immediately after Turnbull's death," replied Stone. "Mr. Rochester,
who shared his apartment, defended him in court. Mr. Rochester was
aware that Turnbull suffered from the disease, and Mr. Clymer, who was
present, also knew it."

"And what is your opinion, doctor?" questioned Penfield.

Stone hesitated. "There was a distinct odor of amyl nitrite