LITMIR.BIZ

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card bore the name of J. Henry Carruthers, of London. He gave his present address as the Arlington House."

      "You noticed nothing unusual in his appearance?"

      "The only thing that struck me as rather peculiar was that Mr. Carruthers seemed well informed regarding events expected to take place here, while his name was wholly unfamiliar to Mr. Mainwaring."

      At this point a pencilled note was handed by the coroner to Mr. Whitney, who immediately summoned George Hardy and hastily despatched him on some errand.

      "Mr. Scott," resumed the coroner, "were you in Mr. Mainwaring's private library at any time during last evening?"

      "I was not. I spent the entire evening in my own room."

      "When did you again see Mr. Mainwaring?"

      "Not until after eleven o'clock. I had come down for a smoke in the grounds outside and met Mr. Mainwaring in the lower hall on the way to his rooms. He asked me to come to his library before retiring, as he wished to give some final directions for the next day. About half an hour later I went to the library door, but hearing loud and angry talk within, I waited in the hall some fifteen or twenty minutes until I knew Mr. Mainwaring was alone. I then entered, received his instructions, and went directly to my room for the night."

      "Were you able to recognize the voices or hear any of the conversation?"

      "I was. I recognized the voice of the housekeeper, Mrs. LaGrange; but feeling that I was hearing what was not intended for me, I walked back into the main hall and remained there until Mrs. LaGrange came out."

      "You saw her leave the library?"

      "Yes, sir; I passed her in the corridor."

      "She saw you, of course?"

      "She seemed scarcely conscious of my presence until we had passed; she then turned and watched me as I entered the library."

      "What was the nature of the conversation which you heard?"

      "I only heard what Mrs. LaGrange said. She evidently was very angry with Mr. Mainwaring."

      "Can you repeat her words as you heard them?"

      "Not entirely. She accused Mr. Mainwaring of dishonesty, saying that he had defrauded his only brother, and had ignored and robbed his own son to put a stranger in his place. The last words I heard were, 'You are in my power, and you know it only too well; and I will make you and your high-born, purse-proud family rue this day's work.'"

      Harry Scott, with the proof of his employer's crimes in his possession, repeated these words with an indifference and impassiveness that seemed unnatural, while the smouldering fire in his eyes gleamed fitfully, as though he knew some secret of which the others little dreamed.

      But, if spoken indifferently, the words were not received with indifference. The reporters bent to their task with renewed ardor, since it promised developments so rich and racy. Ralph Mainwaring's face was dark with suppressed wrath; Mr. Thornton seemed hardly able to restrain himself; while the attorney grew pale with excitement and anger. Mrs. LaGrange alone remained unmoved, as much so as the witness himself, her eyes half closed and a cynical smile playing about her lips as she listened to the repetition of her own words.

      "Did Mr. Mainwaring make no reply?" inquired the coroner.

      "He did, but it was inaudible to me."

      "You went into the library as soon as he was alone?"

      "I did."

      "At what hour was this?"

      "A few minutes past twelve."

      "Was that the last time you saw Mr. Mainwaring living?"

      "It was."

      "Can you state whether any one was in his rooms after you left?"

      "I cannot."

      "Mr. Scott, by your own statement, you must have been in Mr. Mainwaring's library within an hour preceding his death; consequently, I would like you to give every detail of that interview."

      "I am perfectly willing, sir, but there are few to give. The interview occupied possibly ten minutes. Mr. Mainwaring appeared very weary, and, after giving directions regarding any personal mail or telegrams which might be received, stated that he wished me to consider myself his guest on the following day and join in the festivities of the occasion. I thanked him, and, wishing him good-night, withdrew."

      "In which room were you?"

      "We were both in the library. When I first entered, Mr. Mainwaring was walking back and forth, his hands folded behind him, as was usually his habit when thinking deeply, but he immediately seated himself and gave me my instructions. The tower-room was dimly lighted and the curtains were drawn quite closely together at the entrance."

      "Did you hear any unusual sound after reaching your room?"

      "Not at that time. I was aroused about three o'clock this morning by what I thought was a stealthy step in the grounds in the rear of the house, but I listened for a moment and heard nothing more."

      "That will do for the present, Mr. Scott. You will probably be recalled later," said the coroner, watching the secretary rather curiously. Then he added, in a different tone, —

      "The next witness is Mrs. LaGrange."

      There was a perceptible stir throughout the crowd as, with a movement of inimitable grace, Mrs. LaGrange stepped forward, darting a swift glance of such venomous hatred towards Scott, as he again seated himself beside Miss Carleton, that the latter, with a woman's quick intuition, instantly grasped the situation and watched the proceedings with new interest and closer attention. As Mrs. LaGrange took her place and began answering the questions addressed to her, the eager listeners pressed still more closely in their efforts to catch every word, feeling instinctively that some startling developments would be forthcoming; but no one was prepared for the shock that followed when, in response to the request to state her full name, the reply came, in clear tones, with unequivocal distinctness, —

      "Eleanor Houghton Mainwaring."

      For an instant an almost painful silence ensued, until Dr. Westlake said, —

      "Will you state your relation to the deceased?"

      "I was the lawfully wedded, but unacknowledged, wife of Hugh Mainwaring," was the calm reply.

      "Please state when and where your marriage took place," said the coroner, watching the witness narrowly.

      "We were married privately in London, about three months before Mr. Mainwaring came to this country."

      "How long ago was that?"

      "A little more than twenty-three years."

      "You say that you were privately married, and that in all these years Mr. Mainwaring never acknowledged you as his wife?"

      "Yes. I was at that time a widow, and, owing to certain unpleasant circumstances attending the last months of my former husband's life, Mr. Mainwaring insisted that our marriage be strictly private. I acceded to his wishes, and we were married as quietly as possible. At the end of three months he deserted me, and for four years I did not even know where he had gone. During that time, however, I learned that my husband, who had been fearful of soiling his proud name by having it publicly joined with mine, was, in the sight of the law, a common criminal. I finally traced him to America, and five years after he deserted me I had the pleasure of confronting him with the facts which I had obtained. With passionate protestations of renewed love and fair promises of an honorable married life, he sought to purchase my silence, and, fool that I was! I yielded. He claimed that he could not at once acknowledge me as his wife, because he was already known as an unmarried man, but in the near future we would repeat the marriage ceremony and I should be the honored mistress of his heart and home. I believed him and waited. Meantime, our child was born, and then a new role had to be adopted. Had he not known that he was in my power, I would then have been thrust out homeless with my babe, but he dared not do that. Instead, I was brought to Fair Oaks

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