iate such a sacrifice as Miss Dare has made. This under
the supposition that our reasons for believing him guilty are well
founded. If our suppositions are false, and the crime was not committed
by him, his contempt needs no explanation."

"Just so!"

The peculiar tone in which this was uttered caused Mr. Byrd to flash
another quick look at his colleague. Hickory did not seem to observe it.

"What makes you think Miss Dare will be called to the witness stand
to-morrow?" he asked.

"Well I will tell you," returned Byrd, with the sudden vivacity of one
glad to turn the current of conversation into a fresh channel. "If you
have followed the method of the prosecution as I have done, you will
have noticed that it has advanced to its point by definite stages.
First, witnesses were produced to prove the existence of motive on the
part of the accused. Mr. Goodman was called to the witness stand, and,
after him, other business men of Buffalo, all of whom united in
unqualified assertions of the prisoner's frequently-expressed desire for
a sum of money sufficient to put his invention into practical use. Next,
the amount considered necessary for this purpose was ascertained and
found to be just covered by the legacy bequeathed him by his aunt; after
which, ample evidence was produced to show that he knew the extent of
her small fortune, and the fact that she had by her will made him her
heir. Motive for the crime being thus established, they now proceeded to
prove that he was not without actual opportunity for perpetrating it. He
was shown to have been in Sibley at the time of the murder. The
station-master at Monteith was confronted with the prisoner, also old
Sally Perkins. Then you and I came before the court with our testimony,
and whatever doubt may have remained as to his having been in a position
to effect his aunt's death, and afterward escape unnoticed by means of
the path leading over the hills to Monteith Quarry station, was swept
away. What remains? To connect him with the murder itself, by some,
strong link of circumstantial evidence, such as the ring provides. And
who is it that can give testimony regarding the ring?--Miss Dare."

"Hem! Well, she will do it," was the dry remark of Hickory.

"She will be obliged to do it," was the emphatic response of Byrd.

And again their glances crossed in a furtive way both seemed ready to
ignore.

"What do you think of Orcutt?" Hickory next inquired.

"He is very quiet."