THELETTERS
Beforeatablestrewnwithpapers，intheroomwehavealreadymentionedasgivenovertotheuseofthepolice，satDr。HeathinamoodtoothoughtfultonoticetheentranceofMr。GryceandSweetwaterfromthedining-roomwheretheyhadbeenhavingdinner。
Howeverastheformer’streadwassomewhatlumbering，thecoroner’sattentionwascaughtbeforetheyhadquitecrossedtheroom，andSweetwater，withhisquickeye，notedhowhisarmandhandimmediatelyfellsoastocoverupaportionofthepaperslyingnearesttohim。”Well，Gryce，thisisadarkcase，”heobserved，asathisbiddingthetwodetectivestooktheirseats。
Mr。Grycenodded；sodidSweetwater。”Thedarkestthathasevercometomyknowledge，”pursuedthecoroner。
Mr。Gryceagainnodded；butnotso，Sweetwater。Forsomereasonthissimpleexpressionofopinionseemedtohavegivenhimamentalstart。”Shewasnotshot。Shewasnotstruckbyanyotherhand；yetsheliesdeadfromamortalwoundinthebreast。Thoughthereisnotangibleproofofherhavinginflictedthiswounduponherself，thejurywillhavenoalternative，Ifear，thantopronouncethecaseoneofsuicide。””I’msorrythatI’vebeenabletodosolittle，”remarkedMr。Gryce。