The Mystery of the Hidden Room

for at this moment loud voices were heard in the hal

" asked the coroner

ng man out here and a divil of a strong youn

does h

icks. An' shure by the looks of him I'd say he was one of thim fre

med a wrathful voice, as a y

er, the amazed jury, the dignified lawyer, sank into his con

red, but in a more subdued tone. "Mr. Cunni

im, he cried out suddenly, "My u

ot last night," an

n murdered?" in a

"I am glad you are here. There are seve

t your

vely. He was a tall, broad-shouldered, dark, young man, with a pair of snapping black eyes that roamed restlessly about the room during his entire examination. It was evident that he was laboring under s

th your uncle yesterday mornin

irection, as though he divined the source

swer, if you please,

harshly. "I'd call i

at was the subject

former brief manner, he said quickly: "I objected to the way my uncle treated his wife. He took umbra

ean by that la

at dagger's points wi

hat re

uncle held over Mr. Trenton. I have heard him say things that had I been Mr.

nton's attitude t

him, and never seemed to take

nd then resumed his questions. "What brought you ba

f my belongings. I left r

ou last see

I quarreled with him

as wearing a ring on the lit

fancy, or

ore any rings," L

fied that a ring had bee

st." How proudly, and it seemed

ou ever see that h

and with a quick indrawn breath he leaned closer to examine it.

t recognize

first held it up?" Again Coroner Gr

in's," stammered the young

hers?" persist

positive

a young man aft

hat fact?" went on th

I'm lying to you?" dema

epeated the coroner monotonously,

and his eyes smoldered as he glanced at the co

Lee was trying to protect her. I swore softly below my breath at the blunder young Darwin had committed in becoming angered, for though I knew he could possib

hear of Cora Manning?" sud

tighter until the knuckles showed white through the flesh. That action alone told me that he knew the woman whose name was on Philip Darwin's unfin

o not kn

ial capacity what made you think so

h, "I suppose it was because I was entering his house and the tho

n't because you knew befo

ome, but he rallied instantly and said, haughtily,

" responded the coroner. "I merely wished to learn, whether when you were st

oked at everyone else and then at Lee Darwin, who stood

estioned about an affair of which I know nothing!"

mportant. You can tell your story in court when you

it, I tell you!" cried

r-bed, outside the study window. What we

r with relief or hysteria I don't k

prints yesterday morning when I left the house through the study window. I turned ar

. Darwin. Mason,"

d you see Mr. Lee Darwin leave the house

fast but I did not notice whether he came out,"

do. Mr. Ort

ugh he had anticipated the question he said eagerly, "Mr.

ry favor with young Darwin by the

ve of this?" sa

o the study. I was waiting for Mr. Darwin in the hall, and after the quarrel, I entered the study at

ou will permit me to go to my apartments." The sneer that accompanied the words made Orton w

me to see my uncle's body?" inquired

to the undertaker's," responded the coron

and the coroner was human enough to enjoy his advant

ummon her? To my surprise he called Cunningham to him and after a whispered

the circumstances Mrs. Darwin is entitled to counsel," he said. "Mr.

e needed legal advice? Then, indeed I had nothing to hope