trace of a struggle or crime. Could it be possible they had ventured too near the brink and fallen over?
He hurried to report to his father his discoveries, instructed his mother and Margaret to keep the servants quiet until the truth was known, and the two men returned along the river's brink to the foot of the cliff.
They found the bodies close to the water's edge. Marion had been killed instantly. Her fair blonde head lay in a crimson circle sharply defined in the white sand. But the mother was still warm with life. She had scarcely ceased to breathe. In one last desperate throb of love the trembling soul had dragged the dying body to the girl's side, and she had died with her head resting on the fair round neck as though she had kissed her and fallen asleep.
Father and son clasped hands and stood for a moment with uncovered heads. The doctor said at length:
"Go to the coroner at once, and see that he summons the jury you select and hand to him. Bring them immediately. I will examine the bodies before they arrive."
Ben took the negro coroner into his office alone, turned the key, told him of the discovery, and handed him the list of the jury.
"I'll hatter see Mr. Lynch fust, sah," he answered.
Ben placed his hand on his hip-pocket and said coldly:
"Put your cross-mark on those forms I've made out there for you, go with me immediately, and summon these men. If you dare put a negro on this jury, or open your mouth as to what has occurred in this room, I'll kill you."
The negro tremblingly did as he was commanded.
