ctators become mute with
expectation at seeing Mr. Ferris and Mr. Orcutt, summoned by a sign from
the Judge, advance to the front of the bench and engage in an earnest
conference with the Court. A few minutes afterward the Judge turned to
the jury and announced that the disclosures of the morning demanded a
careful consideration by the prosecution, that an adjournment was
undoubtedly indispensable, and that the jury should refrain from any
discussion of the case, even among themselves, until it was finally
given them under the charge of the Court. The jury expressed their
concurrence by an almost unanimous gesture of assent, and the crier
proclaimed an adjournment until the next day at ten o'clock.

Imogene, still sitting in the witness chair, saw the prisoner led forth
by the jailer without being able to gather, in the whirl of the moment,
any indication that her dreadful sacrifice--for she had made wreck of
her life in the eyes of the world whether her confession were true or
false--had accomplished any thing save to drive the man she loved to the
verge of that doom from which she had sought to deliver him.

XXXV.

PRO AND CON.

_Hamlet._--Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel?
_Polonius._--By the mass, and 'tis like a camel indeed.
_Hamlet._--Methinks it is like a weasel.
_Polonius._--It is back'd like a weasel. --HAMLET.

SHORTLY after the adjournment of court, Mr. Ferris summoned the two
detectives to his office.

"We have a serious question before us to decide," said he. "Are we to go
on with the prosecution or are we to stop? I should like to hear your
views on the subject."

Hickory was, as usual, the first to speak.

"I should say, stop," he cried. "This fresh applicant for the honor of
having slain the Widow Clemmens deserves a hearing at least."

"But," hurriedly interposed Byrd, "you don't give any credit to her
story now, even if you did before the prisoner spoke? You know she did
not commit the crime herself, whatever she may choose to declare in her
anxiety to shield the prisoner. I hope, sir," he proceeded, glancing at
the District Attorney, "that _you_ have no doubts as to Miss Dare's
innocence?"

But Mr. Ferris, instead of answering, turned to Hickory and said:

"Miss Dare, in summoning you to confirm her statement, relied, I
suppose, upon the fact of your having been told by Professor Darling's
servant-maid that she--that is, Miss Dare--was gone f