"Yes," she gasped, trying to take it.

But the officer gave it to the captain instead.

"It must have slipped from her as she fell," remarked the latter,
after a cursory examination of the glittering trinket. "The pin by
which she attached it to her dress must have been insecurely
fastened." Then quickly and with a sharp look at Miss Tuttle: "Do
you know if this was considered an accurate timepiece?"

"Yes. Why do you ask? Is it -"

"Look!" He held it up with the face toward us. The hands stood at
thirteen minutes past seven. "The hour and the moment when it struck
the floor," he declared. "And consequently the hour and the moment
when Mrs. Jeffrey fell," finished Durbin.

Miss Tuttle said nothing, only gasped.

"Valuable evidence," quoth the captain, putting the watch in his
pocket. Then, with a kind look at her, called forth by the sight
of her misery:

"Does this hour agree with the time of her leaving the house?"

"I can not say. I think so. It was some time before or after seven.
I don't remember the exact minute."

"It would take fifteen for her to walk here. Did she walk?"