“What transpired then?” asked the coroner, as Norcross paused.
“Mr. Patterson persuaded Miss Ogden not to enter the house, and then disappeared inside,” answered Norcross. “After seeing Miss Ogden join her cousin, I also went into the house, hoping to be of some assistance to Mr. Ogden.”
“And that was the last you saw of Mr. Patterson?” persisted the coroner.
“Yes. Mr. Takasaki, the Japanese attaché, stopped me on the staircase to ask for his wife, and when I reached the second story Mr. Patterson was nowhere in sight.”
“You are excused, Professor,” said Penfield, and Norcross departed.
CHAPTER XVII
THE CORONER ASKS QUESTIONS
The next to occupy the witness chair was the fire chief. He answered briefly the questions put to him, and Lois McLane, beginning to feel the closeness of the atmosphere, longed for his departure. She had promised Ethel to stay and take her home, and the Morgue Master had assured her that Ethel would probably be called to the stand after the fire chief had given his testimony.
“You think then, that the fire was started by defective electric wires?” asked Penfield.
“I do.”
“Was much damage done?”