Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-09-20
[CoNTINUED.1


before any intimation of the evenings
tragedy had turned suspicion on any
one watched him as l watched 9th
ers. l saw that he had not come to the
ball to please Mr.. Ramsdell or for any
pleasure he himself hoped to reap from
social intercourse. but for some pur-
pose much more important and that
this purpose was connected with Mrs.
Fairbrother's diamond. Indifferent, al
most morose before she came upon the
scene, he frightened to a surprising
extent the moment he found himself in
her presence, not because she was a
beautiful woman, for he scarcely hon
ored her face or even her superb figure
with a look. All his glances were cen
tered on her large fan, which in sway
ing to and fro alternately hid and re-
vealed the splendor on her breast, and
when by chance 1t hung suspended
for q moment in her forgetful hand,
and he caught a full glimpse of the
great gem, l perceived such a change
in his face that, If nothing more had
occurred that night to give prominence
to this woman and her diamond, l
should have carried home the cOnvic-
ton that interests of no common i'm
port lay behind feeling so extraordl-
narily displayed"
"Fanciful, my dear Miss Van Ars-
dale! Interesting. but fanciful."
81 know. | have not yet touched on
fact. But facts are coming, inspector"
He stared. Evidently he was not ac-
customed to hear the law laid down in
this fashion by a midget of my pro-
portions.
go on" said he. Happily, l have
no clerk here to listen"
Il would not speak if you had. These
are words for but one ear as yet. Not
even my uncle suspects the direction of
my thoughts"
Proceed" he again enjoined.
Upon which plunged into my sub
ject.
Mrs Fairbrother wore the real dia
mond, and no imitation, to the ball. OF
this feel sure. The bit of glass or
paste displayed to the coroner's jury
was bright enough, but it was not the
star of light | saw burning on her
breast as she passed me on her way to
| the alcove."
Miss Van Arsdale!'
"The interest which Mr.. Durand dis
played in it, the marked excitement
into which he was thrown by his first
view of its size and splendor. confirm
In my mind the evidence which he gave
on oath land he is well-known dia-
! l-p no
been very we'll aware that he would
injure rather than help his cause by
this admission that at that time he be-
leved the stone to be real and of i'm
| mense value. Wearing such gen.
then she entered the fatal alcove. aud
with smile on her face prepared to
employ her destinations on whoever
CHANGED to come within their reach.
But now something happened. Please
let me tell it my own way. y shout
from the driveway, or bit of snow
thrown against the window. drew her
attention to a man standing below,
holding ND note fastened to the end
of whip handle. do not know
whether or not you have found that
man. If you have The inspector
made no sign. Il judge that you have
not. so | may go on with my suppose
tons. Mrs. Fairbrother took in this
note. She may have expected it and
for this reason chose the alcove to sit
in, or it may have been surprise TO
her. Probably we shall never know
r the whole truth about it; but what we
can knew AMI do. if you are still hold
ing to our. compact and viewing TINS
crime in the light of Mr.. Durand's eX-
plantations. is that it made change IN
her and made her anxious to rid her
self Of the diamond. 1t has been de-
cided that the hurried scrawl should
read. Take warning. He means to be
at the ball Expect trouble if you &c
, not give him the diamond or some
thing to that effect
but why was it passed up to hen
unfinished? Was the haste too great
! hardly think so. believe in another
explanation which points with startling
directness to the possibility that the
person referred to in this broken com
munication was not Mr.. Durand, bu
: one whom need not name, and tina
| the reason you have rallied 10 nnu tn'
! messenger, of whose appearance yol
have received definite information, |!
that you have not looked among thu
servants of a certain distinguished Wis
it0r in town. Oh" l burst forth witt
feverish volubility as | saw the In
spector's lips open in what could no
fail to be a sarcastic utterance, :"
know what you feel tempted to reply
r Why should a servant deliver a warn
ing against his own master? II yo'
will be patient with me, you will sool
see, but first | wish to make clear tina
y Mrs. Fairbrother, having received thi
warning just before Mr.. Durand ap
peared in the alcove-reckless, schem
.e ing woman that she was-sought to Ri
herself OF the object against which