r.
Mansell?"

As Byrd only answered by a toss of his head, Hickory put his elbows on
the table, and checking off every sentence with the forefinger of his
right hand, which he pointed at Mr. Ferris' shirt-stud, as if to instil
from its point conviction into that gentleman's bosom, he proceeded with
the utmost composure as follows:

"To commence, then, with the scene in the woods. He meets her. She is as
angry at his aunt as he is. What does she do? She strikes the tree with
her hand, and tells him to wait till to-morrow, since a night has been
known to change the whole current of a person's affairs. Now tell me
what does that mean? Murder? If so, she was the one to originate it. He
can't forget that. It has stamped itself upon Mansell's memory, and
when, after the assassination of Mrs. Clemmens, he recalls those words,
he is convinced that she has slain Mrs. Clemmens to help him."

"But, Mr. Hickory," objected Mr. Ferris, "this assumes that Mr. Mansell
is innocent, whereas we have exceedingly cogent proof that he is the
guilty party. There is the circumstance of his leaving Widow Clemmens'
house at five minutes to twelve."

To which Hickory, with a twinkle in his eye, replied:

"I won't discuss that; it hasn't been proved, you know. Miss Dare told
you she saw him do this, but she wouldn't swear to it. Nothing is to be
taken for granted against my man."

"Then you think Miss Dare spoke falsely?"

"I don't say that. I believe that whatever he did could be explained if
we knew as much about it as he does. But I'm not called upon to explain
any thing which has not appeared in the evidence against him."

"Well, then, we'll take the evidence. There is his ring, found on the
scene of murder."

"Exactly," rejoined Hickory. "Dropped there, as he must suppose, by Miss
Dare, because he didn't know she had secretly restored it to his
pocket."

Mr. Ferris smiled.

"You don't see the force of the evidence," said he. "As she _had_
restored it to his pocket, he must have been the one to drop it there."

"I am willing to admit he dropped it there, not that he killed Mrs.
Clemmens. I am now speaking of his suspicions as to the assassin. When
the betrothal ring was found there, he suspects Miss Dare of the crime,
and nothing has occurred to change his suspicions."

"But," said the District Attorney, "how does your client, Mr. Mansell,
get over this difficulty; that Miss Dare, who has committed a murder to
put five thousan