Part 18 (2/2)
”That is all for the present,” he added, and Margaret moved back to where she had been first sitting.
”I am glad that is over,” whispered Raymond. ”Can I do anything? Get you some water?”
”No, nothing,” she answered, and dropped a veil over her face.
The next witness called was Mary Billings, the domestic employed at the Langmore mansion, and who had been about the place at the time of the tragedy. She proved to be a round-faced Irish girl, not particularly bright, and now all but terror-stricken. As soon as she was sworn in she burst into tears.
”Sure as there is a heavin above me, Oi didn't do that murder, so Oi didn't!” she moaned.
”n.o.body said you did,” answered the coroner dryly, while a general smile went around the courtroom.
”Then why did yez bring me here, I dunno? Sure an' Mr. Langmore was afther bein' me bist frind, an' Oi wouldn't harm him fer a million dollars, so Oi wouldn't!” It was with difficulty that she was quieted and made to tell what she knew.
”Where were you from ten o'clock to twelve of the morning of the tragedy?” was the first question put to her.
”Oi was in the kitchen, an' down to the barn, yer honor.”
”Were you in the kitchen first.”
”Sure an' Oi was that.”
”What were you doing?”
”Phat was Oi doin'? Sure Oi was was.h.i.+n' the dishes, cl'anin' the silverware, peelin' the praties, sh.e.l.lin' the beans, cleanin' the lamps, fixin' the--”
”Ahem! You mean you were doing the housework, eh?”
”Yis, sur.”
”While you were in the house, did you leave the kitchen?”
”Only to go to the ciller fer a scuttle o' coal.”
”Did you see or hear anything unusual going on while you were in the kitchen?”
The Irish girl scratched her head and shrugged her shoulders.
”Oi heard a lot av things, yer honor.”
”What were they?”
”Oi heard Mrs. Langmore walkin' around upstairs, an' Oi heard Miss Margaret walkin' around, too. Then Oi heard Mrs. Langmore call to Miss Margaret.”
”Did Miss Margaret answer?”
”Oi dunno--if she did, Oi didn't hear her.”
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