"Yes, sir. She told me she was waiting for Alice Cary, and had run down the back stairs to look for her dog, Misery, who she thought had probably sneaked down to the kitchen. We went upstairs together, and I went on to my room alone." "Did the accused find her dog?" "I reckon she did, though he wasn't in the hall then, because shortly after she rapped at my door to ask me to tell Alice Cary she couldn't wait any longer for her, and Misery came into my room while we were talking." The judge advocate cleared his throat, and spoke impressively. "Did the accused have a bottle and a pocket book in her hands?" "I--I--can't say positively," stammered Mrs. Lewis, doubtfully. "It--it was dark in the hall, and I am quite near-sighted." "How was the accused dressed when you saw her the first time?" "She had on her hat, but no coat. The last time I saw her she was dressed for the street." "Did you notice anything unusual about the accused when you met her in the hall?" "She looked excited and frightened, and very pale." The judge advocate smiled with satisfaction; he was piling up damaging facts against Nancy. He signed to Warren to cross-examine the witness; but his smile changed to a frown when he read Warren's first question. "Will you kindly explain to this court how you could see in a dark hall that Miss Newton 'looked excited and frightened, and very pale,' when you have just testified that you are too near-sighted to have seen so large an object as a bottle or a pocket-book in Miss Newton's hands?" "I do-don't understand?" quavered Mrs. Lewis. The judge advocate repeated the question with more emphasis. "I guess I just thought she looked excited and frightened," admitted the confused old lady reluctantly. "That is all," exclaimed Warren, and Mrs. Lewis left the chair dissolved in tears. CHAPTER XXIII SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE Turning quickly, the judge advocate gave an order in an undertone to an attendant, who saluted and then followed Mrs. Lewis out into the hall. Warren leaned forward and spoke an encouraging word to Nancy; then settled back in his chair and fidgeted uneasily with his papers. He glanced covertly at her. Surely her frank, fearless eyes, her unruffled demeanor, hid no criminal act; and yet.... Angry with himself for permitting a doubt, he pulled out his watch and glanced at its face. A quarter of two.... At that moment the attendant reentered the room, and delivered a message to the judge advocate, who rose and announced that the next witness called to the stand was Major Robert Goddard. All eyes were turned to the entrance as the folding doors opened and Goddard stepped into the room, leaning on his attendant's arm.