The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-26


 MT. Willard's presence in this house upon that fatal night, tiny clue dis covered by MT. Fessenden gives us undoubtable proof. MT. Fessenden found next morning on the drawing room floor a cachou. have learned these are by no means common iii Mapleton, and, moreover, that it is not the custom of any one of the men now present to use them. I further learned that MT. Willard left here that night to go to the hotel he found by chance a small bottle of these in the room which was assigned to him. I am assuming that he carelessly put a few in his pocket, and that in his struggle through the ash-chute one which MT. Willard occupied at Maple ton Inn is in the second story, and it's windows open upon a veranda roof, which has a gentle slope al- most to the ground. This provides an easy means of exit and entrance, and as MT. Willard has no alibi later than half-past ten on that evening, the time would permit him to come here and go away again before the hour when MT. Carleton is known to have arrived
 Then turning and meeting Toms intent gaze, Fleming Stone addressed himself directly to him, and said, Why you chose to kill your cousin, don't know; but you did"
 'I did," said Tom in hollow voice, "and will tell you why" He rose as he spoke, and standing by the table, he steadied himself by placing one hand upon it.
 Tt was certainly unpremeditated," he said, "and I'm going to tell you about it, because I owe confession to Madeleine's memory though I am responsible for my deed to no one here present.
 Though Willard spoke with no at tempt at pride or defiance, his tone and look were those of man hope less and utterly crushed. He ad- dressed himself principally to Elem ing Stone, looking now and then at Carleton, but not so much as glanc- ing at any one else.
 'It is no secret, I think, that loved my cousin Madeleine. Many, n, q r,x, fiy,,aO 1,ouo pJoo do<5 xr,;tb bar to marry me. But never mind about that. When I came here to attend her wedding, couldn't help seeing that the man she was about to marry did not love and worship her as I did. besought her to give him up and to marry me, but she would not listen to that for a moment. That day before the wedding they had a tiff, and Carleton did not return for dinner, though Madeleine expected him. She was all broken up about this, and was not herself during the evening. When I left her, at about ten o'clock to go to the hotel, her sad face haunted me, and I could not dispel the idea that I must have one more talk with her, and beg her not to marry man who did not love her."
 Without seeming to do so, Fleming Stone stole a glance at Carleton. The man sat quietly, with bowed head. as one who hears himself denounced, but recognizes the truth.
 "I was in my room at the hotel" went on Tom, land was preparing for bed when the irresistible impulse came to me to go and see Meddy once more before her wedding day. I had no thought of wrong-doing. I came out through the window, instead of in the ordinary way, only because I knew the inn was about to be closed for the night, and I knew I could get back the same way. A trellis. that was simply a ladder, reached up to the low roof, and it was quite as easy an exit as through the front door. AS to the cachou, I had found ehO Slidy Nie1l IucIS, duQ QdO S1pQoQ a couple in my pocket, without really thinking anything about it. I don't usually carry them, but they are by no means unfamiliar to me. I came directly over here, and found the house partially darkened, as if for the night. There was a low light in the library and hall, but the blinds were drawn, and I could see only a. glimpse of Maddy's yellow dress on the floor. I was about to ring the bell, when I suddenly thought that I didn't care to arouse the household, or even the servants, and, remem- bering the way I often used to get in when I came home at night later than my uncle approved I went around and entered by a cellar win : dow. I came up through the fire place, exactly as MT. Stone has de- scribed to you. It is astonishingly easy to any one who knows how, and quite impossible for one who does not l crossed the drawing-room at once, and entered the library. Ma turally, I made very little noise, but still I am surprised that Hunt did not hear me. I did not try to be entire ly silent, for I had no thought of evil in my heart. Madeleine looked