Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-08-09
CONTINUED

uSptOt VI StNtllty, llc dShtu llt w nat
l had to say now which had not had
the opportunity of saying before.
replied with all the passion of a for
lorn hope that it was only at this
present moment | remembered a fact
which might have very decided bear
ing on this case; and. detecting evil
dences, as | thought, of relenting on
his part. l backed up this statement by
an entreaty for few words with him
apart, as the matter l had to tell was
private and possibly too fanciful for
any ear but his own.
He looked as if he apprehended some
loss of valuable time but. touched by
the involuntary gesture of appeal with
which l supplemented my request, he
led me into a corner, where. with just
an encouraging glance toward Mr.
Durand, who seemed struck dumb by
my action, l told the inspector of that
mOmentary picture which | had seen
reflected In what | was now sure was
some window pane or mirror.
ut was at time coincident, or very
nearly cOincident, with the perpetra
ton of the crime you are now investi-
eating" l concluded. "Within five
minutes aftcrward came the shout
which reused us all to what had hap
pened in the alcove. l do not know
what passage | saw or what door or
even what figure, but the latter, l am
sure, was that of the guilty man.
Something of the outline land it was
the outline only l could CATCH ex-
pressed an emotion incomprehensible
to me at the moment, but which in
my remembrance impresses me as that
Of fear and dread. 1t was not the en-
trance to the alcove l beheld-that
would have struck me at once-but
some other opening which l might rec
ognize If saw 1t. Cannot that open
ing be found, and may it not give u
clew to the man l saw skulking
through 1t with terror and remorse In
his hearth"
"Was this figure when you saw 1t
turned toward you or away the In
spector inquired, with unexpected in
terest.
Turned partly away. He was going
from me-"
And you sat whereW
"Shal | show you?"
The inspector bowed, then with n
low word of caution turned to my
uncle.
Il am going to take this young lady
into the hall for moment at her own
request May ask you and Mr.. Du-
rand to await me here?'
Without pausing for reply, he threw
open the door, and presently we were
pacing the deserted supper room seek
Ing the place where had sat. found
it almost by miracle, everything be-
ing in great disorder. Guided by my
bouquet, which l had left behind me
in my escape from the table. ] laid
hold of the chair before which it lay
and declared quite confidently to the
inspector:
This is where | sat"
Naturally his glance and mine both
few to the opposite wall. \ window
Wa, before us of an unusual size and
make. Unlike any which had ever
before come under my observation, 1t
swung on pivot and. though shut at
the present moment, might very easily
when opened present its huge pane al
an angle capable of catching reflections
from some of the many mirrors dec
Grating the reception room situated
diagonally across the hall. AS all the
| doorways on this lower floor were OF
unusual width, an open path was offer
ed as it We're, for these reflections &c
pass making it possible for scenes tc
be imaged here which to the person:
involved would seem as safe from az!
ones scrutiny as if they were takioe
place in the adjoining house.
AS we realized this a look p9sqsf
between us of more than ordinary stS
nifcance. Pointing to the window. IL
inspector turned to group of wa sTs
watching us from the other side OF III
room AMI asked if it had been opeasf
that evening
The answer came quickly.
Eyes. sir-just before the-the"-
81 understand broke in the inspact
or and leaning over me, he whispered
"Tell me again exactly what yol
thought you saw"
But l could add little to my forme
description.
perhaps you can tell me this" HI
kindly persisted. "Was the picture
when you saw it, on a level with you
eye or did you have to lift your heaC
in order to see it?"
at was high up-in the air, as /
were. That seemed its oldest feature
The inspectors mouth took a satisfied
curve.
Possibly l might identify the doc
and passage IL l saw them" | sug
gested
Certainly, certainly" was his cheer
full rejoinder, and summoning one o
| l. hn nj 70 eriV