"She'll be here, coroner, don't worry."
"You have had her properly guarded?"
"Yes. I reckon she's coming now," and the chief of police nodded towards a side door of the courtroom.
There was a slight commotion, and Margaret entered, escorted by Raymond Case, and followed by one of the women and the policeman who had been on guard at the Langmore mansion. The crowd arose to gaze at the girl and to pass various comments.
"Mighty pale, ain't she?"
"Wouldn't think a girl like that could do such an awful thing!"
"Humph! you can't tell about these high-toned folks. They'd do anything. Didn't one of them millionaires run over two of my hens with his automobile an' never stop to settle the damage? Don't tell me!"
"Yes, and she detested her step-mother—the hired girl told Mrs. Brown so, an' she told me."
"Well, Coroner Busby will git to the bottom of it putty quick. He told
Lem Hansom he knew what he was doin'."
"He must know, if he's as slick at tryin' folks as he is in a hoss dicker," returned an old farmer who had made a trade of steeds which had proved unprofitable for him.