Mrs. Potter had almost reached the door when it opened to admit Major Leigh Wallace. He failed to see her in his hurry to secure a seat vacated by an elderly woman who was just leaving and brushed by without greeting. Nina's pretty color had vanished when she reached her motor parked near the Morgue. She did not start the engine, however, upon entering the car but sat waiting with untiring patience for the inquest to adjourn. Nina's exit from the court room had been closely watched by two pairs of eyes. When Rodgers turned to speak to Potter, he found him sitting well back in his chair, and his whole attention centered on Major Leigh Wallace. The latter, entirely oblivious of the identity of the men and women about him, sat regarding the coroner and the jury while his restless fingers rolled a swagger stick held upright between the palms of his hands. Coroner Penfield hardly allowed the old negro servant time to take his seat again in the witness chair, before addressing him. "What were Miss Baird and her niece, Miss Kitty, quarreling about on Sunday?" he asked. "W-w-what yo' ax?" Oscar's breath, such as he had left after his exertions in reaching the platform, deserted him, and he stared in dumb surprise at the coroner. "You have testified that you overheard Miss Baird and her niece quarreling," Penfield spoke slowly and with emphasis. "What were they quarreling about? Come," as the old man remained silent. "We are awaiting your answer." "Yessir." Oscar ducked his head, and the whites of his eyes showed plainly as he rolled them in fright, first toward the jury and then toward the coroner. "Yessir, 'twarn't much of a fuss; leastways, it might o' been wuss, but Miss Kitty, she done jes' walk upstairs." "What was it about?" insisted Penfield. "Well 'er," Oscar fingered his worn cap nervously. "Miss Susan, she didn't think much of some of Miss Kitty's beaux--jes' didn't want her to get married nohow--'specially that there Major Wallace. An' she ups an' tells Miss Kitty she mus' get rid o' him, or she would--" "Would what--?" "Git rid o' him," explained Oscar. "Miss Susan jes' despised him, even if he did lay himself out to please her." "Was Major Wallace there on Sunday?" inquired the coroner. "No, Sah." With vigorous emphasis. "The Major ain't been there for mos' two weeks. Miss Susan and him had words." "Ah, indeed. When?" "'Bout two weeks ago, p'r'aps longer. Major Wallace kep' callin', an' Miss Susan up an' tole him Miss Kitty couldn't be bothered with his company." Oscar came to a breathless pause. He had caught sight of a man leaving his seat and recognized Major Leigh Wallace. The next second the door had opened and closed behind Wallace's retreating figure. Penfield's stern voice recalled Oscar's wandering wits. "Did you do the marketing on Saturday, Oscar?" he asked. "Yes, Sah." Oscar spoke more cheerfully at the change of the topic. "Did you buy some peaches for Miss Baird?"