The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-17
THE CLUE
by CAROLYN WELLS


eeOeeoeeetteeteetsees D there she lighted a fire in her grate and burned those papers. With my eyes I saw her. Never would I have told. for it was not my affair, but that I fear for Miss Dupuy. It is in the air that she knows secrets con eerning Miss Van Norman'sdeath. An if one would know secrets, one should question Miss Morton" This is grave charge you bring against the lady, Marie," said F'es- senden.
 "Yes. Monsieur, but it is true" 'I know it is true," said Kitty; '.] have not mentioned it before, but saw Miss Morton go to Madeleine's
 room that night, and afterward go tc her own room. I knew nothing, ol course, of the papers, and so thought little of the whole incident, but if
 she really took papers from Made leine's desk and burned them, it's in deed important. What could the pa. pers have been?"
 "You know she inherited" began Fessenden.
 "Oh, a will!" cried Kitty. Marie, you may go now" Rob in terrupted; you did right to tell us this, and rest assured you shall never be blamed for doing so. You will probably be questioned further, bu! for the present you may go. And thank you"
 Marie curtseyed and went away. She's good girl," said Kitty. '1 always liked her; and she must have heard, as I. did. so much of Cicely's chatter, that she feared some sort ot suspicion would fall on Cice1y, and she wanted to divert it toward Miss Morton instead"
 ''As usual. with your quick wits you've gone right to the heart of her | motive" said Rob; "but it may be more serious than you've thought of Miss Morton inherits, you know '.Yes, now." said Kitty significant. 1 ly, "since she burnt that, other will.' What other will?' "Oh, don't you see? The will she burnt was later one, that didn't give her this house. She burnt it so the earlier one would stand" How do\you know this?" .I don't know it, except by com non sense! What else would she :ake from Maddy's desk and burn ex .ept a will? And, of course, will lot in her favor, leaving the one tha, lid bequeath the house to her tosap- pear as the latest will.'' Does this line of argument take us any further?" said Rob, 50 ser iously that Kitty began to think. "You don't mean" she whispered l "that Miss Morton-in order-to--" ITO receive her legacy-' "Could-no, she couldn't! I won't | even think of it!''
 "But you thought of Miss Dupuy Miss French. as told you yesterday
 we must think of every possible per. 1 son, not every probable one. These suggestions are not suspicioAs-and l they harm no one who is innocent 'T suppose that is so. We'll, lei
 us consider Miss Morton then, but of course, she didn't really kill Mad. dy."
 ssT trust not R,1t r r,o,,sf' sav
 could sooner believe it of a woman oi
 her type than Miss Dupuy's." "But Cicely didn't either! Oh, how
 can you say such dreadful things!" we won't say any more. They are dreadful. But I thought you
 were going to help me in my detec. | turn.''
 'No, I won't" said Kitty, looking l repentant. "I do want to help you and if you'll let me help, I'll suspect
 everybody you want me to- l ''I want you to help me, but thi.
 story of Marie's is too big for me tc
 handle by myself. I must put that
 into MT. Benson's hands. It is really more important than you can under.
 stand"
 | 'I suppose so." said Kitty, so hum
 bly that Rob smiled at her, and had great difficulty to refrain from kiss | ing her.