The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-25
by CAROLYN WELLS


IlIIIlIIlIIlIIIIlllIllI l!it!llllN entrance for the murderer of Made leine Van Norman"
 Fleming Stones voice and manner were far from triumphant or jubi- Iant at his discovery. He seemed rather to state the fact with regret. but as if it must be told.
 MT. Fairbanks looked amazed and thoughtful, but Rob Fessenden was frankly incredulous.
 "Mr. Stone," he said respectfully, 'T am sure you know what you are talking about, but will you tell me how a man could get up through that hole? It doesn't seem to me that a sma'l-sized boy could squeeze through"
 Fleming Stone took a silver-cased tape-measure from his pocket and handed it to Rob without a word.
 Eagerly stopping to the hearth, Rob measured the oval opening in the iron plate. Although the rec tangular plate was several inches larger each way, the oval opening measured exactly nine and one-half inches by thirteen and one-half inches.
 ''Who could get through that?" he inquired, as he announced the fig ures. "I'm sure I couldn't"
 '.And Schuyler Carleton is a larger man than you are," observed MT. Fairbanks
 That lets Tom Willard out, too.'' said Rob, with a slight smile, flor he's nearly six feet tall, and weighs more than two hundred pounds
 "The only man I know of," said MT. Fairbanks thoughtfully, "who could come up through that hole is slim Jim."
 ''Who is Slim Jim?' cried Rob quickly. "Go for him, he is the man. and suspected murderer. but he is safely in prison at present and has been for some months"
 'But he may have escaped" ex- claimed Rob. Are you sure he hasn't?"
 'I haven't heard anything about him of late; but if he is or has been away from prison, it can be easily found out"
 Isn't it unlikely" said Fleming Stone quietly, that a noted burglar should enter house and commit murder without any attempt to steal?"
 'He may have been frightened away by the sound of Schuyler's latch-key," suggested Rob, and Kitty looked at him with pride in his in genuity, and thought how much clev- erer he was, after all, than the cele- brated Fleming Stone. Fessenden urged MT. Fairbanks to go at once and look up the where abouts of Slim Jim, and the detec- tive was strongly inclined to go. "Go by all means, if you choose '' said Fleming Stone pleasantly. There's really nothing further to do here in the way of examination of the premises. do not mind saying that, my own suspicious are not di- rected toward Slim Jim, but my own suspicious are by no means an in- fallible guide. I will ask you, though, gentlemen, not to say anything about this ash-chute matter today. I con- sider it is my right to request this. Of course you can find out all about Slim Jim without stating how he en- tered the house.
 The two men promised not to say anything about the ash-chute to any, body. and not upon the trail of the suspected burglar they went away. Miss Morton excused herself, and upon Kitty French fell the burden cf entertaining MT. Stone. Nor was this young woman dismayed at the task. Though not loquacious, the detec- tive was an easy and pleasant talk CT, and he seemed quite ready to con- verse with the girl as if he had no | other occupation, on hand. How wonderful you are!" said Kitty clasping her hands beneath her chin as she looked at the great man ''To think of your spotting that fire place thing right away. Though of course never should have thought of anybody squeezing up through there. And Rob and I spent a whole
 morning searching these rooms for clues, and that was only the day aft CT it happened
 What an opportunity" Stone
 seemed interested. And you didn't find anything-not anything?"
 "No, not a thing. We were so dis | appointed. Oh, yes, Rob did find one little thing, but it was so little and silly that guess he forgot all about it.''
 What was it?"
 "Why I've almost forgotten the | the name. Oh, yes, Rob said it was a cachou-a little silver thing, you | know, like a tiny pill. Rob says mer eat them after they've been smoking ! But he asked all the men that evel came here, and they all said they | didn't use them. Maybe the burglar