"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.
CHAPTER XIV
IS THIS MADNESS?
Instantly there was wild confusion, and half a dozen persons sprang forward to assist Raymond with his burden. But he waved them back.
"Let her have air," he said. "Don't crowd so close. She must have air," and he moved towards a window. The crowd separated to let him pass and allowed him the use of an entire bench, while more water was brought and the bottle of smelling salts was again produced. In the meantime the coroner whispered to the chief of police, who in turn whispered to a policeman, and the two minions of the law followed Raymond.
Margaret lay like one dead, every particle of color having forsaken her cheeks. Raymond waited anxiously, and then applied his ear to her heart.
"A doctor!" he cried hoarsely. "A doctor, for Heaven's sake! She is dying!"