ng out of the building, the reporters at
Police Headquarters appeared to know that something of the utmost
importance was about to transpire.

That it concerned the Whitmore case became evident when Mrs. Collins was
escorted to the building and ushered into Britz's office. She was
followed in a few minutes by Collins, Ward and Beard, all of whom had
been summoned by Britz.

Next, Luckstone was seen to jump out of an automobile and tear up the
steps as if afraid that his ultimate fate depended on the moments
required to reach his clients. Finally Coroner Hart entered the
building, and was immediately accosted by the reporters.

"What's coming off?" they inquired.

"I don't know myself," he said truthfully. "Britz seems to think
something's going to happen."

It was ten o'clock precisely when Britz, Manning, Greig and the coroner
passed from the chief's office into the room in which the suspects in
the Whitmore mystery were gathered. They found Luckstone in command of
the situation.

"What does this mean?" he demanded, advancing toward Britz's desk.

"It means that the coroner is about to resume his preliminary inquiry
into the death of Herbert Whitmore," the detective informed him.

"And have I been summoned here as a witness or as counsel to the
accused?"

"As counsel, of course," said Britz.

"Then as the attorney for Mrs. Collins and as the legal adviser of the
other witnesses I wish to inform you that this proposed examination is
utterly useless. I have instructed my clients not to answer any
questions."

Britz's eyes swept the faces of the witnesses in a look of sharp
scrutiny. He found Mrs. Collins outwardly composed. The dark rings about
her eyes betrayed a night of sleeplessness, but otherwise she looked as
fresh as if she had just stepped out of her private boudoir, instead of
a narrow, stuffy cell in the woman's wing of the Tombs. Evidently she
had prepared herself for a great test and had summoned all the stubborn
courage of one resigned to suffering, yet who meant to hide her agony
from the eyes of the world.

Of the others, Collins appeared to be the most uneasy. He looked almost
frightened. From time to time his gaze fixed itself on the face of his
wife, but she kept her eyes averted. Only a slight constraint of manner
exposed Ward and Beard's diminishing self-control.

"Since the witnesses have been cautioned to remain silent," said Britz,
addressing the coroner, "and as they appear resolv