“You are sure it is blood?”

“Yes.  I can illustrate it scientifically, if you desire.”

“It will not be necessary just now.  When you say blood do you mean human blood?”

At this the young physician shrugged his shoulders.

“I am not prepared to go as far as that.  We should have to make another test.  The amount was so very small.”

“Might be blood from a mosquito,” muttered Raymond.  “There are enough around here.”

“You may think as you please,” said the young doctor.  “I am only stating the facts.”

“Have you anything else to say, doctor?” came from the coroner.

“Nothing more.  Here is the ring.  We have kept what we found under the stone.”

“Very well.  Miss Langmore, you may have the ring back.”  It was passed out and Raymond took it and slipped it back on Margaret’s hand, which was cold and nerveless.  The girl was sitting as motionless as a marble statue.

There was another pause and then, one after another, several minor witnesses were brought up and examined.  At four o’clock the coroner began to sum up the evidence, to which the jury listened with close attention.  Then the jurors filed out into a side room, the door to which was tightly closed.

“Is—­is it over?” faltered Margaret.  “Wha—­what will they do next?”

“We must wait for the finding of the jury, Margaret.”

“How long will that take?”

“I don’t know.”

“Mr. Adams did not show himself.  I thought he would help us in some way.”

“He must have a good reason for staying away.”

“What do you think the jury will do?”

At this direct question, the young man gave an inward groan.  “I don’t know,” he answered in an unnatural voice.  “We must hope for the best.”

In less than an hour it was announced that the jury had arrived at a verdict.  Those who had left the courtroom returned and the jurymen filed in.  The excitement was subdued, but plainly at a white heat.  The coroner took his place at the desk.

“Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict?” was the question put.

“We have,” was the unanimous answer.

“Who will speak for you?”

“Mr. Blackwell, our foreman.”

“Very well.  Ahem!  Mr. Blackwell, what is the verdict?”

Mr. Blackwell, a well-known citizen of the town, stood up.  The courtroom became intensely silent.

“We find that Mr. and Mrs. Barry Langmore came to their deaths either by being smothered, chloroformed, poisoned, or in some similar fashion, the direct means not yet being brought to light, and we find that the evidence points to Margaret Langmore as the one who committed the murders.”

Hardly was the verdict rendered than a wild cry rang out through the courtroom.  Margaret staggered to her feet, put out her hands in an uncertain fashion, and then dropped senseless into Raymond’s arms.