The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-24

TT statements, and his cross-referenced columns of evidence.
 So, unaccompanied by Kitty, who was apt to prove a disturbing influ ence on his concentration of mind, he interviewed Miss Burt.
 It was not difficult to get an oppor- tunity, as she rarely left the house, and Mrs. Carleton was not exigent in her demands on her companions time
 So the two strolled in the rose-gar- den late one afternoon, and Rob ask ed Miss Burt to tell him why she hesitated so when on the witness stand, and why she looked at Carle- ton with such unmistakable glances of inquiry, which he as certainly an- swered.
 Dorothy Burt replied to the ques- tions as frankly as they were put.
 ''To explain it to you, MT. Fessen- Gen," she said, "I must first tell you that I loved MT. Carleton even while Miss Van Norman was his affianced bride. I tell you this simply. both because it is the simple truth and be- cause MT. Carleton advised me to tell you, if you should ask me. And, knowing this, you may be surprised to learn that when I heard of Miss 
 Van Norman's death, T." she raised her wonderful eyes and looked straight at Rob-"I fought she died by Schuyler's hand. Yes, you may well look at me in surprise-I know it was dreadful for me to think he could have done it, butt did think so. You see loved him,-and I knew he loved me. He never told me so, had never breathed a word that was disIoyai to Miss Van Norman,-and yet I knew. And that last evening in this very rose-garden, on the night before his wedding, we walked here together, end I knew from what he didn't say, not from what he did say, that it was I whom he loved, and rot she. He left me with a few cold curt words that knew only too well masked his real feelings, and I saw him no more that night. He had told me he was going over to Miss Van Norman's, and so, when I heard of the tragedy-I couldn't help think ing he yielded to a sudden terrible impulse. Oh, Pm not defending my self for my wrong thought of him; I'm only confessing that I did think that"
 And how did you learn that you were mistaken,'' said Rob gently, "and that Schuyler didn't do it?" ''why, the very next night he told me he loved me-" said the girl her face alight with tender glory, "and then I knew!"
 And your embarrassment at the questions on the witness stand?" .sWas only because I knew suspic- ion was directed toward him, and feared I might say something to strengthen it, even while trying to do the opposite"
 And you didn't care whether you told the truth or not ?'' ''If the truth helped to incriminate Schuyler, I would prefer not to tell it."
 The gentle sadness in Dorothy's tone robbed this speech of the jarring note it would otherwise have held. You are right, Miss Burt" said Rob, '.and thank you for the frank confidence you have shown in me-" Schuyler told me to- said the girl simply.
 When Fessenden told Kitty of his interview with Dorothy Burt, she agreed that he had now followed every trail that presented itself. or had been suggested by anybody. MT. Fairbanks, too, admitted that he was at his wits end, and saw no hope of solution of the mystery ex- cept through the services of Fleming Stone. And so when the great de- tective arrived, both Fairbanks and Fessenden were ready to do anything they could to help him, but had no suggestion to make.
 With her ever-ready hospitality. Miss Morton invited MT. Stone to make his home at the Van Norman house, and, as this quite coincided with his own wishes, Stone took up l his quarters there.
 The first evening of his arrival he listened to the details of the case. Fleming Stone was of a most at tractive personality. He was nearly fifty years old, with gray hair, and a | kindly responsive face. At dinner he had won the admira- ton of all by his tact and interesting | conversation. At the table the busi- ness upon which he had come had not been mentioned, but now the group assembled in the library felt that the time had come to talk of the matter.
 It was a strangely-assorted house hold. Tom Willard. though the only relative of the Van Normans' present, | was in no way the head of the house. That position was held by Miss Nor