n.

CHAPTER XII

FOR AND AGAINST

There was a moment of intense silence throughout the courtroom. Every
eye was turned on Mary Billings, who pursed up her lips more closely
than ever.

"You'll not answer?" thundered Coroner Busby.

"Mr. Coroner," began Raymond, rising, "is it legally necessary that she
answer? Remember, she is here without proper legal council."

"Silence! I--ahem--yes, she must answer, or I shall have to commit
her, as a witness if for nothing else. Girl, are you going to answer
or not?"

"Sure, an' Oi--"

"Chief, will you call a policeman?" went on the coroner, turning to the
chief of police.

He was a fairly good judge of human character. At the sight of the
bluecoat the domestic wilted and began to sob.

"Ohone! Ohone! don't take me to prison!" she wailed.

"You prefer to answer?"

"Yis, if Oi must. But Oi think Miss Margaret the swatest little
lady--"

"Never mind that. When did the girl and her stepmother quarrel last?
Come now, tell me the plain truth," and the coroner put as much of
sternness as possible in his voice.

"Well, thin, if yez has got to know, it was on the marnin' av the
murders, sur," sniffled the servant girl.

"When was this?"

"Right afther breakfast. They had some words at the table, too."

"What was said? Repeat the exact words if you can," and the coroner
leaned forward expectantly, while many in the courtroom held their
breath.

"Mrs. Langmore said she wished Miss Margaret was off the face of the
earth, an' that she'd be afther seein' that the dear girrul wasn't in
the house much longer. 'Twas a very bitter scene, an' me heart wint
out to the dear girrul--"

"And what did Miss Margaret reply to that?"

"She said it was her father's house, an' she would stay as long as her
father wished her to. An' it was her father's house, too."

"And after that?"

"A whole lot more followed, which Oi didn't catch, fer Oi am no
avesdropper. But Oi did hear Mrs. Langmore, in a perfect rage, cry out
that she'd kill Miss Margaret if the girrul didn't moind her."

"And then?"

"Miss Margaret said she would do as she pl'ased--that she was her own
mistress--an' Oi was glad to hear her say it. Mrs. Langmore went on
wid her quarrel--sure, an' she had the divil's own tongue, so she had.
Thin she must have caught hould av Miss Margaret, fer Oi heard the
girrul cry out to lit go or she'd stroike her down. Thin there was
more wurruds, hotter an' ho