er to my eyes, sir. A gentleman who was standing
near, picked it up and offered it to me, supposing it was mine. As he
held it out in his open palm I saw it plainly."

"Miss Dare, will you tell us what you did when you first saw this ring
lying on the floor?"

"I covered it with my foot."

"Was that before you recognized it?"

"I cannot say. I placed my foot upon it instinctively."

"How long did you keep it there?"

"Some few minutes."

"What caused you to move at last?"

"I was surprised."

"What surprised you?"

"A man came to the door."

"What man."

"I don't know. A stranger to me. Some one who had been sent on an errand
connected with this affair."

"What did he say or do to surprise you?"

"Nothing. It was what you said yourself after the man had gone."

"And what did I say, Miss Dare?"

She cast him a look of the faintest appeal, but answered quietly:

"Something about its not being the tramp who had committed this crime."

"That surprised you?"

"That made me start."

"Miss Dare, were you present in the house when the dying woman spoke the
one or two exclamations which have been testified to in this trial?"

"Yes, sir."

"What was the burden of the first speech you heard?"

"The words _Hand_, sir, and _Ring_. She repeated the two half a dozen
times."

"Miss Dare, what did you say to the gentleman who showed you the ring
and asked if it were yours?"

"I told him it was mine, and took it and placed it on my finger."

"But the ring was not yours?"

"My acceptance of it made it mine. In all but that regard it had been
mine ever since Mr. Mansell offered it to me the day before."

Mr. Ferris surveyed the witness for a moment before saying:

"Then you considered it damaging to your lover to have this ring found
in that apartment?"

Mr. Orcutt instantly rose to object.

"I won't press the question," said the District Attorney, with a wave of
his hand and a slight look at the jury.

"You ought never to have asked it?" exclaimed Mr. Orcutt, with the first
appearance of heat he had shown.

"You are right," Mr. Ferris coolly responded. "The jury could see the
point without any assistance from you or me."

"And the jury," returned Mr. Orcutt, with equal coolness, "is scarcely
obliged to you for the suggestion."

"Well, we won't quarrel about it," declared Mr. Ferris.

"We won't quarrel about any thing," retorted Mr. Orcutt. "We will try
the case in a legal manner."

"Have