it was so--so pretty."

"Mrs. Watkins," Mr. Gryce from that moment ignored the daughter,
"did you see it there?"

"Yes; but I didn't know where it came from. I had not seen my
daughter stoop. I didn't know where she got it till I read that
bulletin."

"Never mind that. The question agitating me is whether any stain
was left under that pillow. We want to be sure of the connection
between this possible weapon and the death by stabbing which we
all deplore--if there is a connection."

"I didn't see any stain, but you can look for yourself. The bed
has been made up, but there was no change of linen. We expected
to remain here; I see no good to be gained by hiding any of the
facts now."

"None whatever, Madam."

"Come, then. Caroline, sit down and stop crying. Mr. Gryce
believes that your only fault was in not taking this object at once
to the desk."

"Yes, that's all," acquiesced the detective after a short study
of the shaking figure and distorted features of the girl. "You had
no idea, I'm sure, where this weapon came from, or for what it had
been used. That's evident."