THE JUNIOR PARTNER’S STRANGE BEHAVIOR. Victor Redway entered the room of death looking pale and worried. He cast a glance at the body of the dead girl, and a perceptible shudder shook his frame. Nick lost no time in “doing business” with the junior member of the law firm. “Your name is Victor Redway?” began Nick. Redway nodded assent. “The junior member of this law firm?” “As Mr. Gay informed you, I presume.” There was a decided sneer in the reply. “Mr. Gay has told us a number of things. How many of them were truth remains to be seen.” As Nick said this, he did not fail to notice that Redway seemed pleased with the latter part of the sentence. “The two men are enemies, if not openly, then unavowed,” thought Nick. To Redway he said: “We have called you in here to get your version or story of the tragedy so far as you are willing to give it.” “Willing to give it? What do you mean?” “Why, this: I am a detective; this is the coroner; you are a lawyer. This is not an inquest, nor yet a preliminary hearing; you are not under oath. There may be circumstances about the death of that girl which you do not desire to tell. Indeed, it might be to your interest not to talk of it at all.” Redway looked at Nick long and steadily. At last he said: “I think I understand you. You believe I killed her?” “I have no belief one way or the other. It is my business to prove, to know, not to believe.” “But I am suspected?” “The law will undoubtedly look to you to make a satisfactory explanation of your knowledge of the crime, or your ignorance of it.” “Well, suppose you ask me your questions.” “You will answer?” “Some of them, perhaps. As a lawyer, I may choose to remain silent on some points--for the present, at least.” “Then I’ll begin at the beginning. Mr. Redway, did you kill that girl?” The answer came without hesitation, and accompanied by the faintest touch of a smile. “I certainly did not.” “Do you know who did?” The answer to this question was not given so spontaneously, and the smile gave way just an instant to the shadow of a frown. After only a moment of hesitation, Redway replied: “No, I do not.” “Do you believe she committed suicide?” “My belief on that score is not of any value.” “Do you know whether she had any cause to kill herself?” “No.” “Did you ever hear her threaten to kill herself?” “Not directly.” “Will you explain?” “Well, she once dropped the remark that if she ever married, and her husband deserted her for another woman she would, she believed, kill herself.” “Ah!” “But she would first kill the man who deceived her and the woman who robbed her of her rights?” “Oh! What called forth this declaration?” “The story of a client who had suffered somewhat in the same manner.” “How did she hear the story?” “I told it to her.” “She was not married?” “Not to my knowledge.” “Had she a lover?” “How should I know.” “Were you and she not on confidential terms?” “Why should we be?”