y he asked it,
but he is my employer, and I complied with his request. Mrs. Gentry saw
me as I was coming down the hall with the Bible under my arm. I didn't
tell you about it because he asked me not to."

"It was your Bible, then, that we found in his room?"

"Of course."

"Mr. Nealman was given to reading the Bible at various times?"

"On the contrary I don't think he ever read it. He didn't have a copy.
He was not, outwardly, according to the usual manifestations, a highly
religious man."

"Yet you say he was intrinsically religious? At least, that he had
religious instincts?"

"He had very fine instincts. He had a great deal of natural religion."

"You often brought him books, you say. Yet you must have thought it
peculiar--that he would ask for the Bible--in the dead of night."

"Yes." Her voice dropped a tone. "Of course it was peculiar."

"Then why didn't you notify some one about it?"

"Because he told me not to."

The coroner seemed baffled--but only for an instant. "Did it occur to
you that he was perhaps trying to get some religious consolation--just
before he took some important or tragic step? Did the thought
of--suicide ever occur to you?"

"No. It didn't occur to me. My uncle didn't commit suicide."

"You have only your beliefs as to that?"

"Yes, but they are enough. I know him too well. I'm sure he didn't
commit suicide."

"How did he appear when you talked to him--excited, frenzied? Did he
seem changed at all?"

"I think he was somewhat excited. His eyes were very bright. I wouldn't
call him desperate, however. He was dressed in the flannels he had worn
when he went to his room. Of course he looked dreadfully worn and
tired--he had been through a great deal that day. As you know he had
just heard about his frightful losses on the stock exchange, wiping out
his entire fortune and even leaving some few debts."

"You went away quietly--at once? Leaving him to read the Bible?"

"Very soon. We talked a few minutes, perhaps."

Then the coroner began upon a series of questions that were abhorrent to
every man in the room. There was nothing to do, however, but to listen
to them in silence. The man was within his rights.

"You say that Nealman was your uncle?" he asked.

The girl's eyes fastened on his, and narrowed as we watched her. "Of
course. My father's brother."

"A blood relative, eh?" The coroner spoke more slowly, carefully. "I
suppose you could prove that point to the satis