"All you say is true," I answered, "and most of the arguments you have advanced occurred to me, and for that reason, as I have told you, I had Miles interrogate her closely, and you know the result; he believes she knows nothing of the murder." "I believe she does, nevertheless," he replied. "You are wrong, Van," Littell put in, "for, even admitting the force of your arguments, the woman must have been mad to have taken the ulster home with her after the deed; she would sooner have dropped it on the street than have left such tell-tale evidence on her own premises." Van Bult shrugged his shoulders as he replied: "You men overreach yourselves with your refinements of reasoning, and attribute to criminals red-handed from crime the same cleverness that you display yourselves when calmly analyzing their acts. A woman who has just committed a murder is apt to lose her mental balance and to do many irresponsible things. I do not mean to say, however," he continued, "that she is guilty, for it still looks to me as though Winters were, but if you and Dallas are right in your belief in his innocence, then you will find that it is through that woman you must trace the criminal. If White did not leave the ulster at her house, she did or knows who did!" and giving us no time to argue further with him, he left us. Littell and myself, without continuing the discussion, then took our way to the Tombs to see Winters. It was not a pleasant visit to make and I would willingly have escaped it, but I had to comply with Littell's wish. When we reached the building and had been admitted, I introduced my companion to the warden, explaining that he was to defend Winters. The warden looked him over with interest, saying as he shook hands: "Not an easy job of yours, I fear, sir"; and then addressing me: "You will not find the prisoner looking any better since your last visit." "Is he any worse than he was?" I inquired; "for I had expected to find him improved by his rest and confinement." "Yes," he replied; "he is in a bad way, I fear." When Winters made his appearance, I appreciated the meaning of the warden's statements. He had grown pale and thinner since his confinement and seemed weaker. Of course the immediate effects of dissipation had disappeared, but behind them they had left the evidence of a man really ill. He recognized me with evident pleasure, but showed little interest in Littell even after I had explained the occasion of his visit. "It is no use," he said, "I can see by the papers that everybody thinks I am guilty." "But I don't!" said Littell promptly. "I feel sure you are not guilty and that is why I am going to defend you." The strong confident tones of Littell acted like a tonic on the man. He braced up and seemed to shake off much of his despondency. "And you have read all about it too?" he asked. "Yes," Littell said, "and I am here now to hear the truth about it from you, so tell me everything."