rder, could stand before the proof that he left the region of
Mrs. Clemmens' house before the moment of assault; yet, while evincing
interest in the argument, and some confidence in it, too, as one that
would be likely to satisfy the jury, she gave no tokens of being
surprised by it into a reconsideration of her own conclusions, as must
have happened if she told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, when she was on the stand to-day."

"I see," remarked Byrd, "that you are presuming to understand Miss Dare
after all."

Hickory smiled.

"You call this woman a mystery," proceeded Byrd; "hint at great
possibilities of acting on her part, and yet in a moment, as it were,
profess yourself the reader of her inmost thoughts, and the interpreter
of looks and expressions she has manifestly assumed to hide those
thoughts."

Hickory's smile broadened into a laugh.

"Just so," he cried. "One's imbecility has to stop somewhere." Then, as
he saw Byrd look grave, added: "I haven't a single fact at my command
that isn't shared by you. My conclusions are different, that is all."

Horace Byrd did not answer. Perhaps if Hickory could have sounded his
thoughts he would have discovered that their conclusions were not so far
apart as he imagined.

"Hickory," Byrd at last demanded, "what do you propose to do with your
conclusions?"

"I propose to wait and see if Mr. Orcutt proves his case. If he don't, I
have nothing more to say; but if he does, I think I shall call the
attention of Mr. Ferris to one question he has omitted to ask Miss
Dare."

"And what is that?"

"Where she was on the morning of Mrs. Clemmens' murder. You remember you
took some interest in that question yourself a while ago."

"But----"

"Not that I think any thing will come of it, only my conscience will be
set at rest."

"Hickory,"--Byrd's face had quite altered now--"where do you think Miss
Dare was at that time?"

"Where do I think she was?" repeated Hickory.

"Well, I will tell you. I think she was _not_ in Professor Darling's
observatory."

"Do you think she was in the glade back of Widow Clemmens' house?"

"Now you ask me conundrums."

"Hickory!" Byrd spoke almost violently, "Mr. Orcutt shall not prove his
case."

"No?"

"I will make the run over the ground supposed to have been taken by
Mansell in his flight, and show in my own proper person that it can be
done in the time specified."

Hickory's eye, which had taken a ra