ly undeceived, when, after a few minutes'
absence, Mr. Byrd returned with her to his presence. Though her physical
strength was nearly exhausted, and she looked quite pale and worn, there
was a steady gleam in her eye, which spoke of an unshaken purpose.

Seeing it, and noting the forced humility with which she awaited his
bidding at the threshold, the District Attorney, for the first time
perhaps, realized the power of this great, if perverted, nature, and
advancing with real kindness to the door, he greeted her with as much
deference as he ever showed to ladies, and gravely pushed toward her a
chair.

She did not take it. On the contrary, she drew back a step, and looked
at him in some doubt, but a sudden glimpse of Hickory's sturdy figure in
the corner seemed to reassure her, and merely stopping to acknowledge
Mr. Ferris' courtesy by a bow, she glided forward and took her stand by
the chair he had provided.

A short and, on his part, somewhat embarrassing pause followed. It was
broken by her.

"You sent for me," she suggested. "You perhaps want some explanation of
my conduct, or some assurance that the confession I made before the
court to-day was true?"

If Mr. Ferris had needed any further proof than he had already received
that Imogene Dare, in presenting herself before the world as a criminal,
had been actuated by a spirit of devotion to the prisoner, he would have
found it in the fervor and unconscious dignity with which she uttered
these few words. But he needed no such proof. Giving her, therefore, a
look full of grave significance, he replied:

"No, Miss Dare. After my experience of the ease with which you can
contradict yourself in matters of the most serious import, you will
pardon me if I say that the truth or falsehood of your words must be
arrived at by some other means than any you yourself can offer. My
business with you at this time is of an entirely different nature.
Instead of listening to further confessions from you, it has become my
duty to offer one myself. Not on my own behalf," he made haste to
explain, as she looked up, startled, "but on account of these men, who,
in their anxiety to find out who murdered Mrs. Clemmens, made use of
means and resorted to deceptions which, if their superiors had been
consulted, would not have been countenanced for a moment."

"I do not understand," she murmured, looking at the two detectives with
a wonder that suddenly merged into alarm as she noticed t