I assure you, anything you say will be submitted to them, so that there will be no danger of your case being prejudiced by any statements made." "I am not afraid," said Mrs.Brenton, "that the truth will injure or prejudice my case." "I am sure of that," answered the newspaper man; and then, knowing that she would not sit down if he asked her to, he continued diplomatically, "Madam, will you permit me to sit down?
I wish to write out my notes as carefully as possible.

Accuracy is my strong point." "Certainly," said Mrs.Brenton; and, seeing that it was not probable the interview would be a short one, she seated herself by the window, while the sheriff took a chair in the corner, and drew a newspaper from his pocket.
"Now, madam," said the special, "a great number of the questions I ask you may seem trivial, but as I said to the sheriff a moment ago, some word of yours that appears to you entirely unconnected with the case may give me a clue which will be exceedingly valuable.

You will, therefore, I am sure, pardon me if some of the questions I ask you appear irrelevant." Mrs.Brenton bowed her head, but said nothing.
"Were your husband's business affairs in good condition at the time of his death ?" "As far as I know they were." "Did you ever see anything in your husband's actions that would lead you to think him a man who might have contemplated suicide ?" Mrs.Brenton looked up with wide-open eyes.
"Certainly not," she said.
"Had he ever spoken to you on the subject of suicide ?" "I do not remember that he ever did." "Was he ever queer in his actions?
In short, did you ever notice anything about him that would lead you to doubt his sanity?
I am sorry if questions I ask you seem painful, but I have reasons for wishing to be certain on this point." "No," said Mrs.Brenton; "he was perfectly sane.

No man could have been more so.

I am certain that he never thought of committing suicide." "Why are you so certain on that point ?" "I do not know why.