Gratia's Trials — page 153: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

144 GRATIA’S TRIALS. ing you say once that you would do anything for the sake of 3 money.” Gratia stood a moment thinking. ‘‘T did say so once. I thought so then, but during the last week all my opinions on that subject have been vitally changed.” ‘‘Have you formed no opinion on the question as to who has murdered Ralph Miller ?” ‘No, none.” ‘‘ Had he any enemies within your knowledge ?” ‘‘No, sir, not one‘in the world.” ‘“You may go, Miss Kempfield.” And Gratia left the room as quietly as she had entered it. ‘¢T am sure she did it!” cried Alberta, the instant the door was closed. ‘‘She is stoical and prepared, and her own mother said she was capable of any evil deed.” ‘* Her s/ef-mother,” said Robert Falconer. ‘“Tt’s just the same.” ‘‘Indeed it isn’t, then,” said the young man. ‘‘ Don't be spiteful, Berta; she never can be your aunt now, nor the heiress of Uncle Ralph’s money, and I no more believe she did it than that you did.” “Then who was it that murdered Uncle Ralph ?” ‘“The police must ferret that out.” ‘‘But isn’t Gratia even to be arrested?” breathlessly ques- tioned Alberta. ‘There is no shadow of an excuse for doing so. Miss Falconer, your zeal carries you to extremes,” said Mr. Parley, soothingly. ‘* But I am certain she was the murderess !” ‘‘ Morally certain, perhaps, my dear young lady; and I must confess that I share your suspicion on the subject. But it is necessary that we must be legally certain as well, to justify ex- treme measures, ” : Fifteen minutes afterward the jury brought in the only ver- dict that could possibly have been expected; ‘‘ Death from the mM. cComicbooks.co