"Daddy's address? Surely you can't think—but he wasn't here last night!" she cried in terror.
"I know. It is merely a formality," replied the coroner, in a soothing voice.
"Shall I tell him, Carlton?" she asked me, ignoring her counsel.
"Yes, I suppose you had better," I returned.
"He is staying with Mrs. Bailey at Tarrytown."
"Thank you, Mrs. Darwin. If you will remain where you are, please, we will now hear from Mr. Ames," said the coroner.
The finger-print expert stepped forward. "My evidence is of the briefest," he said. "I have examined the pistol and have taken an impression of the finger-prints upon the handle. I have the enlargements with me and I should like to compare them with a set made by Mrs. Darwin. If you please."
He extended an inked pad toward Ruth and showed her how to make the impressions that he desired. Then followed silence while he compared them with the enlargements. Then with a brisk nod he passed the plates to the jury.
"Well, Mr. Ames?" asked the coroner.
"Finger-prints, as you know, are infallible evidence," said the expert. "The finger-prints on the handle of the pistol are the same as those made by Mrs. Darwin here in your presence and there are no other prints of any kind upon the pistol. Therefore I do not hesitate to say that the only person who handled that revolver last night was Mrs. Darwin."