had stood before him as rigid and
inscrutable as a statue in bronze, "Mr. Mansell would probably like to
go to the hotel, unless, indeed, he desires to return immediately to
Buffalo."

Craik Mansell at once started forward.

"Do you intend to allow me to return to Buffalo?" he asked.

"Yes," was the District Attorney's reply.

"You are a good man," broke involuntarily from the other's lips, and he
impulsively reached out his hand, but as quickly drew it back with a
flush of pride that greatly became him.

"I do not say," quoth Mr. Ferris, "that I exempt you from surveillance.
As prosecuting attorney of this district, my duty is to seek out and
discover the man who murdered Mrs. Clemmens, and your explanations have
not been as full or as satisfactory as I could wish."

"Your men will always find me at my desk in the mill," said Mr. Mansell,
coldly. And, with another short bow, he left the attorney's side and
went quickly out.

"That man is innocent," declared Mr. Ferris, as Horace Byrd leaned above
him in expectation of instructions to keep watch over the departing
visitor.

"The way in which he held out his hand to me spoke volumes."

The detective cast a sad glance at Craik Mansell's retreating figure.

"You could not convince Hickory of that fact," said he.

XXIII.

MR. ORCUTT.

What is it she does now?--MACBETH.

My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
Of woman in me. Now, from head to foot
I am marble--constant.--ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

THESE words rang in the ears of Mr. Ferris. For he felt himself
disturbed by them. Hickory did not believe Mr. Mansell innocent.

At last he sent for that detective.

"Hickory," he asked, "why do you think Mansell, rather than Hildreth,
committed this crime?"

Now this query, on the part of the District Attorney, put Hickory into a
quandary. He wished to keep his promise to Horace Byrd, and yet he
greatly desired to answer his employer's question truthfully. Without
any special sympathies of his own, he yet had an undeniable leaning
toward justice, and justice certainly demanded the indictment of
Mansell. He ended by compromising matters.

"Mr. Ferris," said he, "when you went to see Miss Dare the other day,
what did you think of her state of mind?"

"That it was a very unhappy one."

"Didn't you think more than that, sir? Didn't you think she believed Mr.
Mansell guilty of this crime?"

"Yes," admitted