stimony was practically identical, and I did not attempt to question
its truth.

"What time did Radnor Gaylord come back to the hotel?" the coroner asked
of "old man Tompkins," the landlord.

"I reckon it must 'a' been 'long about three in the afternoon."

"Please describe exactly what occurred."

"Well, we was sittin' on the veranda talkin' about one thing and another
when we see young Gaylord comin' across the lot, his head down and his
hands in his pockets walkin' fast. He yelled to Jake, who was washin'
off a buggy at the pump, to saddle his horse and be quick about it. Then
he come up the steps and into the bar-room and called for brandy. He
drunk two glasses straight off without blinkin'."

"Had he ordered anything to drink in the morning when they left their
horses?" the coroner interrupted at this point.

"No, he didn't go into the bar-room--and it wasn't usually his custom to
slight us either."

A titter ran around the room and the coroner rapped for order. "This is
not the place for any cheap witticisms; you will kindly confine yourself
to answering my questions.--Did Mr. Gaylord appear to have been drinking
when he returned from the cave?"

The landlord closed his right eye speculatively. "No, I can't say as he
exactly appeared like he'd been drinking," he said with the air of a
connoisseur, "but he did seem to be considerably upset about something.
He looked mad enough to bite; his face was pale, and his hand trembled
when he raised his glass. Three or four noticed it and wondered--"

"Very well," interrupted the coroner, "what did he do next?"

"He went out to the stable yard and swore at the boy for being slow.
And he tightened the surcingle himself with such a jerk that the mare
plunged and he struck her. He is usually pretty cranky about the way
horses is treated, and we wondered--"

He was stopped again and invited to go on without wondering.

"Well, let me see," said the witness, imperturbably. "He jumped into the
saddle and slashing the mare across the flanks, started off in a cloud
o' dust, without so much as looking back. We was all surprised at this
'cause he's usually pretty friendly, and we talked about it after; but
we didn't think nothing particular till the news o' the murder come that
evening, when we naturally commenced to put two and two together."

At this point I protested and the landlord was excused. "Jake" Henley,
the stable boy, was called. His testimony practically cove