Suddenly the banker leaped out of his seat and stood stiffly erect, gazing tensely at the attractively slim figure of Josephine Burden.
"Joe!" he called, advancing timorously.
She shrank back toward the door.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said, halting half a dozen feet from where she stood.
"Where is Mr.Beard ?" she inquired, an expression of alarm written on her pale face.
"He'll be here in a minute or two," the coroner informed her.

"Sit down!" She came forward hesitantly and seated herself on the edge of a chair.
"Josephine!" Ward appealed to her.

"Don't you see the mess you are getting into ?" "What mess ?" she inquired innocently.
"Why--the notoriety!" He edged closer to her chair.

"You're mad to come down here! These officers have induced you to come." "No, I came of my own accord," she said quietly.

"I came to see Mr.
Beard." Ward looked anxiously from Britz to the coroner and back again to the detective.