"It was this, Mr. Busby," and the woman held out a sheet of note paper.
"I came across it on the stairs leading to Miss Langmore's room. Shall
I read it?" And as the coroner nodded, the woman read as follows:
"Since you refuse to open your room door to me, let me give you fair warning. You must either obey your mother that now is, and me, or leave this house. I have had enough of your willfulness and I shall not put up with it any longer."
As the woman finished reading she handed the paper to the coroner.
"Ahem! Mrs. Gaspard, do you know who wrote this note?" asked the latter.
"The handwriting is exactly like Mr. Langmore's. I have compared the two, and so have Mrs. Morse and Mr. Pickerell, the schoolmaster."
Again all eyes were bent upon Margaret. She had again arisen and was swaying from side to side.
"My father—never—never sent me—never wrote such a note—" she gasped, and then sank back and would have fallen had not Raymond supported her.
"A glass of water, quick!" cried the young man, and it was handed to him, and also a bottle of smelling salts. In a moment more Margaret revived.
"Take me away," she moaned.
"I am sorry, but that cannot be allowed," replied the coroner. "You will have to remain until this session is over."