The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-18

see you. Glanced to see me, indeed! Noth- ing of the sort! It was that little ingly spying about. Well, she is not to be believed 'I am sorry to doubt your state ment, Miss Morton, but another 1 member of the household also saw you. Denial is useless; it would be better for you to tell us simply why you went to Miss Van Norman's room at that time.'' "It's nobody's business" snapped Miss Morton. My errand there had nothing to do in any way with Made leine Van Norman, dead or alive" ''Then there is no reason you should not tell frankly what that errand was" T have my own reasons, and I re- fuse to tell.''
 MT. Benson changed his tactics.
 Miss Norton" he said, when did you first know that you were to in- herit this house and also a consider able sum of money at the death of Miss Van Norman?"
 The effect of this sudden question was startling. Miss Morton seemed to be taken off her guard. She turned red, then paled to sickly white. Once or twice she essayed to speak, but hesitated and did not do so.
 Come, come," said the coroner, ''that cannot be a difficult question to answer. When was your first inti- nation that you were a beneficiary will ?''
 And now Miss Morton had recov- cred her bravado.
 When the will was read" she said in cold firm accents.
 ''No; you knew it before that. You learned it when you went to Miss Van Norman's room and read some papers which were in her desk. You read from a small private memoran-I dunn book that she had bequeathed this place to you at her death"
 Nothing of the sort" returned the quick, snappy voice. T knew it be- fore that"
 '.And you just said you learned of it first when the will was read!"
 r the day came here last year that she had made a will leaving the house to me, because she said it should have been mine any way.''
 ''The day you were here last year, she told you this?''
 "Yes, we had a little conversation on the subject, and she told me-
 ''Why did you not say this when | first asked ycu concerning the mat ter?"
 T forgot it.'' Miss Morton spoke nonchantly, as if contradicting one~ self was matter of no moment.
 'Then you knew of your legacy be- fore Miss Van Norman died?"
 "Yes, now that I think of it, I be- lieve I did"
 She was certainly difficult wit ness. She seemed unable to look up on the questions as important, and Ter answers were given either in a flippant or savage manner.
 Then why did you go to Miss Van Norman's room to look for her will last night?"
 "Her will? I didn't!'
 -'No not the will that bequeathed you the house, but later will, that made different disposal of it''
 There wasn't such a one," said Miss Morton, in a low, scared voice.
 ''What, then, was the paper which you took from Miss Van Norman's desk. carried to your own room. and burned2' \ The coroner's voice was not per- suasive now; it was accusing, and his face was stern as he awaited her reply.
 Again Miss Morton's face blanched to white. Her thin lips formed a straight line, and her eyes fell, but her voice was strong and sillant, as she fairly hie-ed:
 "How dare you! Of what do you accuse me?"
 ''Of burning a paper which you took secretly from Miss Van Nor- mans private desk.'
 A moments hesitation, and then, .I did not do it." she said clearly.
 "But you were seen to do it.
 By whom?"
 By disinterested and credible witness
 By a sly, spying French servant" ''It matters not by whom; you are asked to explain the act of burning that paper"
 'I have nothing to explain. I deny it."
 And try as he would MT. Benson could not prevail upon Miss Morton to admit that she had burned a pa. per.
 He confronted her with the wit ness, Marie, but Miss Morton coldly refused to listen to her, or to pay