me. This woman lived in the Fifty-eighth
street flat, where Corbut was murdered.

"Jones divided his time between them. He really loved this one and
wished to be rid of the other.

"His true wife surprised his secret at last, and it led her to her
death.

"That night after the murder the plan was formed by which this woman was
to personate the other. The striking similarity in the hair, which was
the most conspicuous beauty of each, suggested the plot.

"Perhaps Jones had thought of such a thing long before. That may have
led him to keep his real wife practically unknown in this city, while he
was frequently seen with this woman.

"As to the dresses, this woman, who is a very clever dressmaker, as I am
told, doubtless had time to copy the other's costume in the night and
the day following the crime.

"She did most of the work in Albany, where she went as soon as possible.
Then wearing the duplicate dress, she went to her friends in Maysville,
and afterward came here.

"Is it all plain now?"

"It is clear as a bell, Mr. Carter," said the superintendent.

"Wait a moment!"

It was the woman's voice. She spoke calmly, and looked straight into
Nick's face.

"You have made one grave error," she said. "It was not John who killed
that woman; it was I.

"She tried to shoot him, and I wrenched the pistol from her hand. I shot
her dead.

"The plot was all mine. It was I who bribed Corbut. It was I who killed
him.

"John brought him to our flat. I sent my husband away, and when he
returned a few minutes later, Corbut was dead. John had no guilty hand
in either crime.

"He fainted at the sight of Corbut's body. When he came to himself, the
body was no longer to be seen. I had put it into the trunks. It was I
who afterward sent them to Gaspard.

"These crimes I committed for love of this man. I had been his wife for
five years, and for three of them I did not know he had another.

"And when I found it out, I did not do as this woman did. I simply loved
him more.

"I love him still, and because I love him I tell the truth to save him.
Yes, more, because I love him, I will shed more blood. He shall not see
me imprisoned or condemned to death. I will spare him that pain."

As she spoke, she drew a little ornamental dagger from her dress. It
was a mere toy. Nobody would have supposed it to be a deadly weapon.

However, Nick sprang forward to prevent her from doing herself an
injury.

He was too late. She pl