vr
CHAPTER IT.
I HAVE Mentioned .poison as my
first thought. It was a natural
'one Abe result undoubtedly .of
having noticed two small cordial
J glasses standing on a little table, over
against the fireplace. When I was
conscious again of my own fears I
crossed to the table and peered Into
- these glasses. They were.;-not club
glasses, and they both ' were empty.
However, they had not been so long.
In each I found .traces of anisette
cordial, and, though no -bottle stood
near, I was very confident that It
' could readily be found somewbere In
the room. What had preceded and,
followed the drinking of this cordial?
Alas, there was but little more to
eel- A pair of curling Irons lay on
the 'hearth, but I bad no sooner lifted
them' than I dropped them' with a
shudder of unspeakable loathing, only
to start at the noise they made In '
, .striking the tiles, for At was the
selfsame noise I had heard when'
listening from below. These tongs,
set ' up against the side , of the Ore
place, had been Jarred down by the
forcible shutting of the large front
: door, and no man other than myself
was In the house or bad been in the'
bouse only the two 'women. A stick?
or two still smoldered on the hearth
tone. , In the ashes lay some acat-t
. tered fragments of paper which
crumbled at my touch. On the floor
In front I espied only a stray balrpln.i
. Everything else was in place through-i
. out the room except the cushions and'
that horror on the lounge, waiting the
: second - look I had so far refrained
from giving it.
That look I could :no longer with
hold. I must know the depth of the
gulf over which I hung. I must not
wrpng with4 a thought one who had
smiled upon me like an angel of light
. a young girl. too. with the dew .of in
nocence on her beauty to every eye but
- mine and only not to mine within
shall I say ten awfnl minutes? I
would look again and perhaps discover
that my own eyes hud been at fault:
that there were no marks on Adelaide's
throat.' or. if marks, not just the ones
my fancy had painted there1.
Turning. 1 let my glance fall first on
the feet I bad not noted tbem before,
and I was startled to see that the arc
tics In which they were clad were filled
all around with snow. She had walked
then as .the other was walking now'
; she who detested every effort and
was -of such delicate make .that exer-
; tlon of unusual kind could not readily
, fee associated with her. Had she come
Alone or In Carmel's company, and, if
' in Carmel's company, on what osten
si ble errand if not that of death? Her
dress, which was of dark wool, showed
that she had changed her garments
for this trip. I had seen her at dinner,
and this was not the gown she bad
worn then the gown 1 in wblcb she
bad confronted me during those few
" Intolerable minutes when I could not
meet her eyes. Nothing spoke of the
' dinner party or of her having been
dragged here unaware, but all of pre
riMi8 intent and premeditation. Surely
pop was getting uppermost If I had
dreamed the marks
, But no! There they were, unmistak-
able apd , damnlngr Just where the
breath struggles up. I put my own
thumbs on these two dark spots to see
If. when , What was it-a lightning
stroke or m call of fate which one
1 must answer 'While sense remains? I
felt my head pulled around by some
unseen force from behind and - met:
jgtaring into mine through the glass of
due window a pair of burning eyes.
Or was it fantasy? For In another mo
meat they were gone. But the possi
bility at person baying seen 'me in
this position before the dead was
enough to startle me to my feet, and,
though in another instant I became
convinced that I bad been the victim
of hallucination. I nevertheless made
baste to cross to the window and take
A look through its dismal panes. A
gale of blinding snow was sweeping
past making all things Indistinguish
able, but the absence of balcony out
Aide was reassuring, and I stepped has
tily back, asking myself for the first
time what I should do and where I
should now go to Insure myself from
being called! as a witness to the awful
occurrence which bad Just taken place
la this bouse. Something I must do to
Aava myself the anguish and Carmei
the (danger of my testimony in this
putter. She must never know, the
world most never know, that I had
seen ber here.
I could not be the death of two wom
en. The loss of one weighed heavily
euongb upon my conscience. I would
fl the place i would leave this
ft..i An4 toll ita avii ntnrv
ine
ii, th. hnnp lata, the
-n. . mote one and the road to It
but little used. I could easily escape,
And when te morrow came- But it
was the present 1 must think of,,now
this hour, this moment How came l
to stay so long? In ferertsb baste I be
gan to throw the pillows back over the
quiet limbs, tbe accusing face. Sbudr
doringly I hid those eyes (I understood
tbelr strange protuberance now) and,
recklessly' bent" on flight "was balfway
across tbe floor when taj feet wera
stayed I wonder my reason was not
miaeated-bx a sudden aM tremefidoua
attack on thegreat"di ir below,"" min
gled with loud cries to pen which ran
thundering through the house, calling
up innumerable, echoes from its, dead
oud hidden corners. j
It was the police. Tl le wild lgbt
the biting storm, bad be in of no vall.
An ulurm hud reached beiidquUrters,
and ull ' hope of escape uu my' pa it
was ut an end. Yet. because ar siieb
'crises Instinct rises suj iTlor to rea
son, 1 blew out the cam lie and softly
made my way into the Intll. 1 bud
remembered the window opening over
a shed at the' head of the kitchen
staircase. I could reach, it from thlw
rear hall by just a turn or' two. and
once on that shed a short leap would
land me on the ground. After which I
could easily trust to the storm to con
ceal my " flight across the open golf
links. It was worth trying, at ; least
Anything was better than being found
in the bouse with my murdered be
trothed. ,
1 bad no reason to think that I was
being sought or that my presence in
this building was even suspected. . It
might well be that the police, were
even ignorant of the tragedy awaiting
them across the threshold of the door
they seemed Intent on battering down.
The gleam of a candle burning in this
closed up house or even the tale told
by the rising smoke may have drawn
them from the road to investigate. .
With a spring I reached the window
by. which I hoped to escape and quick
ly raised it. A torrent of snow swept
in, covering my face and breast in
a moment. It did something more;
it cleared my brain, and I remembered
my poor horse standing in this ' blind
ing gale under cover of the ' snow
packed pines. Every one knew my
horse. I could commit no greater
folly than to flee by tha rear; fields
while such a witness to ;py presence
remained In full view in front : With
the sensation of a trapped animal I
reclosed ihe window and cast; about
for a safe corner where 1 could lie
concealed until J learned what biid
brought these men here and bow
much 1 really bad to fear from tbeir
presence. ? ' ,
I had but little time In which to
choose. The door below bad Just giv
en way, and a party of at least three
men were already stamping their feet
free from snow in the ball. I did not
like the tone of tblr voices: it was
too How and steady to suit me. I bud
rather have heard drunken cries or a
burst of wild hilarity than these stern
and purposeful whispers. Men of res.
olution could have but one errand here.
My doom was closing round me. 1
could dnly put off the fatal moment,
But It was better to do this than to
plunge headlong into the unknown fate
awaiting me,
4 knew of a possible place of conceal
ment It was in the ballroom not far
from where I stood., I remembered
the spot : well. It was at 'the top of
a little staircase lending to the musi
hulnHtrnde cuarded
this gallery, supported by a boardingJ
... I
wide enough to hide a man lying be
hind it at his full length. It would
off er me the double advantage of con
cealment and an unobstructed view of
what went on In the ball through the
main doorway opening directly oppo
site.. 1 could reach this ballroom and
Its terminal gallery without : going
around to this door. A smaller one'
communicated directly with the corri
dor In which I was then lurking, and
toward this 1 now made my way with
all the ' precaution suggested by my
desperate situation. No man ever mov
ed more, lightly.. The shoes which I
bad taken off In the lower ball were
yet l By band. 1 bad caught them
op after replacing the cushions on
Adelaide's body. Even to my own
troiBlng ears I made no perceptible
sound. 1 reached (be balcony and bad
stretched myself nut at full length be
hind tbe boarding before the men be
low bad left the lower floor.
More quickly than 1 expected tbe
total darkness in which I lay brighten
ed under an advancing lantern, and I
beard the steps of two men coming
down tbe bail. It was a steady If not
rapid approach, and I w quit? pro
pared for tbelr presence when they
finally" reached the doorway fOpposlta
and stopped to look In at what must
have anneared to tbem . vast and
empty space. When I lifted my bead
again It was to catch a glimpse of tbelr
side faces as they turned to look else-.
where for. what they were plainly In
search fit An oath, muffled but stern.
which was the first word above a
whisper that 1 bad beard issue from
their lips, told me that they bad reach
ed the room and bad come upon tha
horror which lay there.
Maddened by my own Intolerable po
sition, drawn by a power I reit it tm-
possible to resist I crept to my feet
and took my staggering way down the
j half dozen steps of tbe gallery and
i theme, along , by the left band waU
f toward
the . farther doorway and
' ..i. it tn Khun thesa men stood
welehlna the chances in wblcb my
life and honor were Involved and
those of one other nf whom dared
not think. I
It was dark In tbe ballroom, and It
waa only a little less so In tba cor
ridor. All tbe light waa In that room.
But I soil slid along tbe wall like a
ftlef jrltaeyea act and ear aaiM
for any "chance word" whfcfi mTgfif
reach me. Suddenly 1 beard one. It
was this, ottered
witb a decision
.which bad the
sfrnnge effect of
lift fag my bead
an4., making a
'man of me again: j
"That settles it
He will find it
hard to escape
after this."
. Bet I had been
dreading to hear
a the. J yet why?
Who , save my
self could 'know
that Carmei bad
been within these
woeful walla to-.
1 FIND HEB tTKftJ
' night?, Relieved
" bv the discovery.
' HERS DEAD."
I drew myself up and stepped, quickly
forward, into the room, where tbe two
officials stood. . My bands 'were clean
of this murder, and. allowing the sure
ty of this fact to take a foremost
place in. my mind..! faced, these men,
and with real feeling, but as little dis
play of it as possible I observed:
"You bave come to my aid In a crit
ical moment .This Is my betrothed
wife the .woman I " was to marry
and I' find' her 'lying here dead In this
closed' and lonely bouse. ' what does
It mean? I know no more than yon do."
Tbe two men eyed me quietly; then
Policeman Hexford.- w'hom I knew,
pointed to my shoeless feet' and sternly
reionea:
"Permit me to doubt your last as
sertion. You seem to be In better po
sition than ourselves to explain the
circumstances wblcb puzzle yon."
: Tbey were right. It was for me to
talk,, not for tbem. But here emotion
elzed me. and I almost broke down.
) was In a position much 'more dread
ful than any, they' could 'Imagine or
should be. allowed to. t J
Tbelr silence led me ; to examine
their faces. "Hexford's ' month :had
settled into a stiff, straight line, and
the other man's wore a cvnlcal smile
I did not like. At this presage of tbe
difficulties awaiting me; I felt one
strand of the rope sustaining . me
above this yawning gulf of shame and
Ignoinlnv crack and .give; way. But
the 'courage wblcb bad served me In
lesser extremities did not fall me uow.
and. kneeling down before my dead
betrothed. 1' kissed her cold white
band with sincere compunction before
attempting the garbled and probably
totally incoherent atory .with wblcb I
endeavored to explain ' tbe inexplain
able situation.
They listened I will do tbem that
much justice but It was with such
an air of Incredulity that my . words
fell with less and less continuity and
finally lost themselves In a confused
stammer as reached tbe point where
1 pulled tbe cushions from tbe couch
and made my ghastly discovery.
"You. see see. for yourselves what
confronted me.
nnintir flallflOtA
My betrothed a
dainty, delicate woman dead, alone.
In this solitary, faraway spot the
victim of what? I asked myself then
I ask myself now. 1 cannot under
stand 'ltor' those glasses yonder or
or tho'se'mifks!" They were black by
this tlme-fuomlstakable not to be Ig
nored 'by 'tbem or by me.
"We understand those marks, and
yon ouptbt to" came from the second
mnn. the one I did not know,
My head fell forward. My Hps re
fused to speak tbe words. Tbe vision
of the' one' wonJan bending over tbe
other was a "maddening one. I shook
'myself free f rbto it by starting to my
feet : "IfBTt's'v.'l gasped.
"She has been Strantled," quotb
Hexford doggedly.
"A . dog's death," mumbled tbe
other.
"Yon bad better sit down." Hex
ford suddenly suggested, pushing a
chair my way. "Clarke, look up the
telephone and ask for three more men.
J am going into this matter thorough
ly, Terbaps yon will tell us where
the telephone Is?" be asked, turning
my way.
Tbe second man left tbe room to go
0 the telephone. A be did. sq Hex
ford lit tbe candle. Idly watchjng.
for nothing now could make me look
at the loqnff again. I noticed tba can
dlestick. It was of brass and rare in
atyla and workmanship a candlestick
to be remembered, one of a pair, per
haps. I felt my balr stir as 1 took In tbe
details of Its shape and ornamenta
tion. ' If its mate were In her bouse
No, no. no! 1 would not 'bave It so.
I could not control my emotion If t
let my Imagination stray too far. Tbe
candlestick most be the property ot
tbe club. I bad only forgotten. It
was bought wben? While thinking,
planning. I was conscious of Hex
ford's eyes fixed steadily upon me.
"Did yon go Into tbe kltcben In
your wanderings below?" be asked.
"No." I began, bot seeing that 1
bad made a mistake. I, bungled land
Added weakly. "Yes; after matches."
'And did yoq get tbem7
"Yes." ;
"in tbe dark? Ton must have bad
fronble Iq finding tbem?"
"Not at ll- Only safety matches
are allowed her, and tbey are put in
receptacle at the aid of each door.
I Irad but to open tbe kltcben door.
teel alotut lamb. And th. recen-
tncle and" pull' tlie box out I'm well
used to all parts of (Be house."
"Where did you light your first
match?"
"Upstairs."
"Not In tbe kitchen V
"No. sir."
"That's a pity. I thought you might
be able to tell me bow so many wine
and whisky bottles came to be stand
ing on tbe kltcben table." '
I stared at blm. dazed. Then I re
membered the two small glasses on
the little table across the room and
Instinctively glanced at them. But no
whisky bad been drunk out of them.
The odor of anisette Is unmistakable.
You carry the key to tbe wine cel
lar?" he asked. .
I considered a moment I did not
know what to make of bottles on tbe
kltcben table. These women and bot
tles! Tbey abhorred wine; tbey bad
reason to. I remembered the dinner
and all that had signallzed.it and felt
my confusion grow. . v
The keys were given up by tbe
Janitor yesterday," I managed to stam
mer at last. "But I did not bring tbem
here tonight They are In my rooms
at home." -- '
1 finished witb . a gasp. I had sud
denly remembered that these keys
were not in my rooms. I had bad
tbem with me at Miss Cumberland's,
and, being given to tooling witb some
thing wben embarrassed. 1 bud fooled
with them and dropped them while
talking with Adelaide and watching
Carmei. 1 had meant to pick them up.
but 1 forgot and
"You need say nothing more about
It" remarked Hexford. "1 have no
right to question you at all. Let us see
what there Is In here." stepping Into
tbe adjoining small room. Into wblcb
I bad simply peered' In my own In
vestigation of tbe place.
As be did so a keen blast blew In;
a window In tbe adjoining room was
open. He enst me a hurried glance
and. with the door In his band, made
the following remark:
"Your ladylove, the victim here.
could not have come through the snow
with no more clothing on ber than we
see now. She muxt have worn a bat
and coat or furs or something of tbat
nature. Let .us look' for them."
As I followed blm into the closet he
pushed the door wide, pulling put an
electric torch as be did so. By Its
light we saw almost at first glance-tbe
coat and bat be professed to seek, ty
ing In a corner of tbe floor, beside an
overturned cbalr.
, "Good!" left my companion's .lips.
"That's all straight You recognize
these garments?" I nodded, speech
less. , j
CHAPTER IIL
A SCRAP Or PAPER.
s
HORTLY after this a fresh re
lay of police arrived, and 1
could bear tbe whole house be
ing ransacked. I bad found
my shoes and was sitting In my own
private room before a fire which bad
been lighted ror me on tne neartn. i
waa In a state of stupor now.
The storm, which bad been exceed
Ingly Acre while It lasted, had quiet
ed down to a steady fall ot snow.
Had lta mission been to serve as a
blanket to this crime by wiping out
from tbe old snow all telltale foot
steps and aucb other records as Him
pllfy casea of this kind for the detec
Uvea It could not bave happened more
apropos to tbe event While this filled
me with relief In one way. It added
to my care in another, for the storm
wblcb could accomplish so much In so
short a time was a bitter one for a
young girt o meet and Carmei must
bave met It at Its worst In ber lone
some struggle bomeward. '
Tbe door behind me oiicned. and I
turned to face Dr. Perry, once a prac
ticing physician and my father's Inti
mate friend, now a county oniclnl of
no ordinary Intelligence and. what was
better, of no ordinary feeling.
His attachment to my father had
pot descended to me, and for the mo
ment he treated me like a stranger.
"1 am tbe carper of this district."
aid be. "1 hare left my bed to bave
a few words with you and learn If
four detention her Is warranted
They have told me, what ynu had m
aay In explanation of your presence
here where a crime of some natnr
ba taken place. But I should like V
bear the story from your own Hp.
You bave been Intending to marry
Miss Cumberland?"
"Yes."' I looked tbe man directly In
the eye. "Our wedding day was set"
"Did you love ber? Pardon ma If
I am to be of any benefit to yon at
this crisis 1 must strike at tbe root of
things. If you do not wish to answer
aay so, Mr. Ranelagb."
"I do wish," This was a lie. but
what was I to do. knowing bow dan-
gem us It would be for Carmei to bar
It publicly known wbere my affection
were really centered? "1 am In bu
position to conceal anything from you.
did iove Miss Cumberland. We bave
been engaged fqr a year,"
"I see. and sb. returned your love?"
"Sincerely." Was tbe room iliit
, ougb to reveal my guilty flush? Kho
: " " r,
ously, too absorblugly for ber happi
ness or mine.
"And the slater?"
It was gently but gravely put and
Instantly I knew tbitt our. secret was
out. however safe we had considered
It. This man was cognizant of It and
If be. why not others? Why not tha
whole town? 1 made my reply in these
words?
"Her sister Is ber sister. I hardly
think that either of us would be apt
to forget that Have you beard other
wise, sir?"
He was prepared for equivocation,
possibly for denial, but not for attack.
His manner changed and showed dis
trust and I saw tbat I had lost rather
tbuu mude,by this venturous move.
"Is this your writing?" he suddenly
asked, showing me a morsel of paper
which be bad drawn from bis vest
pocket
I looked and felt that I now under
stood what tbe pines bad been trying
to tell me for tbe last few hours. That
compromising scrap of. writing bad not
been destroyed. It existed for her and
my undoing. But Carmei was no fool
even If she bad wild and demoniacal
moments. This could Bot be uiv uote
to ber that fatal note which would.
make all denial of our mutual passion
unavailing
Is it your' writing,?" my watchful
Inquisitor repeated.
1 looked nguln. Tbe scrap was small
er than my note hud been wben It
left my hands. If It were the same
then some of the words were aone.
Were they the first ones or the last?
It would make a difference In tbe read
ing or. rather. In the conclusions to
be drawu from what remained. If only
tbe mist would clear from before my
eyes or he wwild bold the slip ot paper
nearer. Tbe room was very dark. Tha
-tbe- -
Is it your writing?" Coroner Perry
asked for tbe third time.
There was oo denying It My writ
ing was peculiar and quite unmistak
able. I should gain nothing by saving
no. ,
"It looks like It," I admitted reluc
tantly, "but I cannot be sure in this
light May I ask what this bit of pa
per is and where you found It?"
"Its contents I think you know. Am
for the last question, think you can
answer Hint also if you will." 8ay
lug which be quietly replaced the scrap
of paper In bis pocketbook.
I followed tbe action witb .my eyes.
I caught a fresh glimpse of a darkened
edge and realized tbe cause of tbe faint
odor which I bad bltberto experienced
without being conscious of it Tbe
scrap bad been plucked out of tbe
chimney. She bad tried to burn It 1
remembered the fire and the smolder
ing bits of paper wblcb crumbled at
my touch. And tbls one this, tba most
Important, tbe only Important one of
tbem all bud flown, bait acorcbed, up
tbe chimney and clung there within
easy reach.
Tbe whole incident was plain to me,
and I could even tlx upon tbe moment
wben Hexford or Clarke discovered
this Invaluable bit of evidence, it waa
just before I burst In upon tbem from
tbe ballroom, and It was tbe undoubt
ed occasion of tbe remark I then over
beard: "Tbls settles It He cannot escape
lis now."
During tbe momentary silence wblcb
oow ensued I tritfU to remember tbe
exact words which bad composed this
note:
"Tonight-10:30 train-we will be
married at P. Come. come, my dar
ling, my life. She will forgive wben
all Is done. Hesitation will only undo
us. Tonight at 10:30. Do not fall me.
I shall never marry any one but you."
Was tbat all? 1 bad an Indistinct
remembrance of having added soma
wild and Incoherent words ot passion
ate affection affixed to ber name. Ber
name! Hut it may be tbat in tbe bur
ry and flurry of tha moment these
terms of endearment simply passed
through my mind aud found no ex
pression on paper 1 could uot be sure
any more than I could be positive
from the half glimpse I got of these
lines wblcb portiou had been burned
off tbe top, to wblcb the word "train"
occurred, or tbe Uoal words, emphasis
ing a time ut nteetiug and my determi
nation to marry no oue but tbe per
son addressed. The first gone, tbe lat
ter might take on any sinister mean
ing. The latter gone, tbe Unit might
prove a safeguard, corroborating my
statement that an errand bad taken
me into town.
It would be hard to find an alibi for
Carmei If suspicion once turned ber
way. She bud not met me at tbe
train.' The unknown but doubtless
easily to be found man who bad band
ed me ber note could swear to tbat
ruct
Tben tbe oote Itself! I bad destroyed
It It Is true, but Its phrases were pres
ent to my mind. Tbey were these In
nocent If she were Innocent but bow
suggestive to tbe llgnt of ber probable
j guilt
"I 1
cannot Walt till tomorrow. Tben
you will sea the depth of my lova for
yuu what 1 ow you. what I owe
Adelaide."
I was conscious that not a look or
movement ot mine bad escaped tbe
j considerate but watebful eye of tbe
tuuu before me.
"You do not relish my questions."
be dryly observed. ".Perhaps you
would rather tell yogjr story wltbyuj;
Interruption. If so r beg you to be
as explicit as possible. The clii-um-stances
are serious (enough for per
feet candor on your part"
1 took a quick resolve. I would np
pear to throw discretion to the winds,
to tun tide to tiiin wbut men' usually
bold sacred, to risk my reputation as
a gentleuiun. rather than Incur a sus
picion wblcb might involve others
more tha u" It did myself.
"I will give you un account of my
elf," said 1. "I did love Adelaide on-e.
or tbougbt so. but my feelings cbang '
ed. A great temptation cam- Into. no
life. Carmei returned from srbool and
you know ber beauty, ber fascina
tion. A week In her prexeuce and mar
riage with' Adelaide became Impossible.
But bow evade It? -1 knew only tbe
coward's way to lure tbls Inexperi
enced young girl, fresh from . school.
Into a runaway match.' Tbls evening
) 1 bad set as tbe limit of my endusunce
I of tbe Intolerable situation. During a
minute of solitude preceding tbe din
ner at Miss Cumberlu nd's bouse on tbe
bill I wrote a few Hues to ber sister,
urging her to trust me with her fate
and meet me at the station in time tor .
tbe 10:30 train. I meant to carry ber
at once to P., where I rind a friend In
the ministry wbo would at once unite
us In marriage. I was very peremp
tory, for my nerves were giving way
under tbe secret strain to which tbey
bad been subjected for so long, and sbe
berxHlf was looking worn with ber own
silent and uncommunlcated con diet.
"To write this note was 'easy, but to
deliver It Involved di faculties. Miss
Cumberland's eyes seemed to be more
upon me than usual. Mine were oblig
ed to respond, and Carmei, seeing this.
kept ber on ber plate or on tbe one
other person seated at tbe table, ber
brother Arthur. But tbe opportunity
came aa we all rose and passed togeth
er Into tbe drawing room. Carmei fell
Into place at my side, and I slipped tba
note into ber band. Bbe bad not ex
pected it and 1 fear tbat tbe action .
was observed, for when 1 took my .
leave of Miss Cumberland shortly aft
er 1 was struck by ber expression. I
bad never seen such a look on ber face -
before, nor can I conceive of one pre
senting a mora extraordinary contrast
to the few and commonplace words
with wblcb sbe bade meftood evening.
"I neither, knew Adelaide nor did I
knowv tbe girt whose love I bad so
overestimated. Sbe failed me. Dr.
Perry, i was met at tbe station not
by herself, but by a letter a few hur
ried lines given me by an uuknown
man-In wblcb aba stated that 1 bad
asked too much of ber that sbe could
not so wrong ber sister wbo bad
brought ber up and dope Everything
for her since ber mother died. I have
not tbat letter now or 1 would show
It to you. In my raging disappoint
ment I tore It up on the place where I
received It and threw tbe pieces away.
I bud staked my wbole future on one
desperate throw, and I bad lost If I
bad bad a pistol" ' I slopped, warned
by an easy movement oo tbe part-of
tbe man I addressed tbat I bad better
not dilate too much upon my feelings.
1 pulled myself together and proceed
ed to finish my atory witb greater di
rectness. "1 did not leave tbe station till tba
10:30 train bud gone. It waa from
beer' preoccupation ot mind that I
drove tbls way Instead of straight out
by Marshall avenue. As I reached tba
bend In tbe road wbere you get your
first sight of tba buildings I saw a
thin streak of smoka rising from one
of lta chimney, and, anxious aa to lta .
meaning, I drove In"
"Walt Mr. Ranelagh, I am sorry to
Interrupt you, but by wblcb gate did
you enter?"
"By tba lower one."
"Was It snowing at. tbls time?"
"Not yet It was just before tba
clouds rushed upon tbe moon. 1 could
see everything quite plainly."
My companion nodded, and I went
breathlessly on. Any question of bis
staggered me. I was tgnornut of tba
facta at bis commnud I was not able
to roujectura by what chance or at
whose suggestion (he police hud raid
ed the place and discovered the trag
edy wblcb bad given point to tbat
raid I continued, but I omitted nil
mention of tbe most serious part of
my adventure said nothing of my vi
sion 'of Carmei or the lettable rondo
Ions wblcb ber presence there had
awakened.
"There Is no mora to say," I conclud
ed. "I know nothing. It Is all a
phantasmagoila to me with oo mora
meaning than a nightmare. She Is
doad-I know that but beyond that
'all Is doubt coufuslou, I cud neither
understand nor explain."
(To te continued.)
A Peek Into His Pocket
would show the box of Bucklen's Ar
nica Salve that E. 8. Leper, a car
penter of Marllla, N. Y., alway car
ries. "I have "never had a cut.
wound, brujje, or sore it would not
oon heal," be writes. Greatest heal-
a kiiMia knl I i a si a rm Atinntmrl
r "l vu'"". , m-h--
hands and Hps, fever-sores, skln-erup-
Hons, eczema, corns and plies. 25c
at all druggists.
s
J