me--never wrote such a note--" she
gasped, and then sank back and would have fallen had not Raymond
supported her.

"A glass of water, quick!" cried the young man, and it was handed to
him, and also a bottle of smelling salts. In a moment more Margaret
revived.

"Take me away," she moaned.

"I am sorry, but that cannot be allowed," replied the coroner. "You
will have to remain until this session is over."

"It's an outrage!" exclaimed Raymond, his eyes flashing. "You are all
against her, and you are going to prove her guilty if you possibly can.
The whole proceedings is a farce."

"Silence, young man, or I'll have you removed by an officer. You have
interrupted the proceedings several times. I do not know what interest
you have--"

"I am not ashamed to tell you of my interest, sir. I am engaged to
this young lady. I know she is innocent. It is preposterous to
imagine that she would kill her own father. They loved each other too
much."

"Yes, but this note--" piped in Mrs. Gaspard. She was a strong
believer in Margaret's guilt.

"I know nothing about that. It may be a forgery. I know Miss Langmore
is innocent."

"To merely say a thing does not prove it," came from the coroner. "We
want facts, nothing else--and we are bound to have 'em." He began to
warm up also. "I'm here to do my duty, regardless of you or anybody
else. I ain't going to shield anybody, rich or poor, high or low,
known or unknown! Now, you sit down, and let the inquest proceed."
And Raymond sat down, but with a great and growing bitterness filling
his heart. He looked at Margaret and saw that she was trembling from
head to foot.

There was an awkward pause.

"Mrs. Gaspard, did Mr. Pickerell say he thought Mr. Langmore had
written this note?" questioned the coroner.

"He said the two handwritings were exactly alike. Here is a letter
written and signed by Mr. Langmore. You can compare the two, if you
wish."

The letter was passed over and not only the coroner, but also his jury,
looked at both documents carefully.

"Pretty much the same thing," whispered one man.

"Exactly the same," added another, and the rest nodded.

The coroner looked around the courtroom and then at the jury.

"Have any of you any questions to ask?" he queried of the men. "If not
we'll take a brief recess until Doctor Bardon returns."

One after another the jurors shook their heads. Whatever the coroner
did was sufficient for them. Cor