But as he read on and on, the situation seemed to become more and more appalling.

He saw that his friends had been suspicious of his sudden death, and had insisted on a post-mortem examination.

That examination had been conducted by three of the most eminent physicians of Cincinnati, and the three doctors had practically agreed that the deceased, in the language of the verdict, had come to his death through morphia poisoning, and the coroner's jury had brought in a verdict that "the said William Brenton had been poisoned by some person unknown." Then the article went on to state how suspicion had gradually fastened itself upon his wife, and at last her arrest had been ordered.

The arrest had taken place that day.
[Illustration: Mrs.Brenton.] After reading this, Brenton was in an agony of mind.

He pictured his dainty and beautiful wife in a stone cell in the city prison.