Something suddenly caught at his heart--his first feeling of fear, of uncertainty; but even this was mingled with a rage at fate, which could be so cruelly unjust to him. And always, in spite of himself, he felt his eyes turning to look, awed, terrified, upon the long thing which lay upon the couch. And always the eyes of these six men saw what he did, saw what he saw. "This is Dewdonny Lane," said the Sheriff briefly, and himself sat down to await the progress of events. The formalities were few. "You may be sworn," said the coroner to him--"it's just as well." Then the oath administered, Blackman began the regular questions, and Don answered steadily. "My name is Dieudonne Lane. I am twenty-two years of age. I have no residence as yet. I am a graduate in engineering. I'm going to Wyoming some time this month to take up my work there." There was a little silence in the room, and then the coroner began again: "Where were you just now?" he asked. "We sent for you at your home." "I was at the station--I went to meet a friend." "What friend was it?" Don Lane flushed red. "What difference is it? Oh, if I must answer, it was Miss Anne Oglesby, of Columbus. I went down to the train to meet her." Sheriff Cowles nodded. "That's true," said he. "I took her up to Judge Henderson's office myself." "What relations have you with this young lady?" asked Blackman. "That's not the business of anyone," said Don Lane hotly. "Do you want counsel to protect you now?" "No, why should I? I am perfectly willing to tell all I know about the case, and that's all I can do. There's no lawyer I'd send for anyhow." "Where were you last night at about midnight?" "I was at the library meeting with my mother." "When did you leave there?" "It must have been midnight or later--oh, yes, I remember seeing the town clock as we passed through the square. That was just before one o'clock--perhaps ten or fifteen minutes. We were out late--every one was." "Who was with you when you were going home?" "My mother, and for a time Mr. Rawlins here--one of you gentlemen of the jury. He will know. Just as we left the library we were joined by Mr. Horace Brooks." "Where did you go?" "We three walked on together. It was at the second corner of the square, where Mulberry Street turns off, that Mr. Brooks left me." Nels Jorgens, one of the jury, now spoke up. "That's true," said he. "I saw the three of them walking along the front of the square, and saw them turn in at Mulberry Street. Across from where I live I saw two people at the gate. It was a man--a tall man--and her--Aurora Lane." "You yourself were not at the gate then?" "No," said Don, "I had left just at the corner of the square." "Why did you leave them?" "Well, I wanted to have a little run before I went to bed. I'm used to taking exercise every night--I always did at college, to keep up my training." "Where did you go when you were running?"