The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-11
Ccontdnued.N

"And the windows on the second Hoor-are they fastened at night?" ''They are in the halls, sir. But of course in the bedrooms I don't know how they may be. That is. the occu- pied bedrooms. When the guest rooms are vacant I always fasten those windows"
 linen you can testify, Harris, that there was no way for any one to en- ter this house last night except at the front door with latch-key or through the window of some occupied bedroom?"
 T can swear to that. sir"
 You are sure you've overlooked no way? No back window, or seldom used door?"
 Harris was a little hurt at this in- sistsnt questioning. but the coroner recognized that this was most in- portant bit of evidence, and so press ed his questions.
 .Tm sure of it, sir. MT. Van Nor man taught me to be most thorough about this matter, and I've never done different since Miss Madeleine has been mistress here."
 '-Yhat is all, thank you, Harris. You may go"
 Harris went away, his countenance showing a look of relief that his ordeal was over. and yet betokening a perplexed anxiety also.
 Cicely Dupuy was next called upon to give her evidence, or rather to continue the testimony which she had begun in the library. The girl had a pleasanter expression than she had shown at the previous questioning, but a red spot burned in either cheek. and she was clearly trying to be calm, though really under stress of a great excitement.
 "You were with Miss Van Norman in the library last evening"" began ; MT. Benson. speaking more gently than he had been doing, for he fear ed an emotional outburst might again render this witness unavailable.
 "Yes," said Miss Dupuy, in low tone; when Mrs. Markham came up- stairs she stopped at my door and said Miss Van Norman wanted me. and I went down immediately"
 "You have been Miss Van Nor mans secretary for some time?"
 "For nearly five years.'
 ''what were your duties?"
 "I attended to her social cores rondence; helped her with her sc. counts, both household and personal; read to her, and often did errands and made calls for her"
 ''She was kind to you?"
 .'She was more than kind. She treated me always as her social equal and as her friend.''
 Cicely's blue eyes filled with tears and her voice quivered as she spoke this tribute to her employer.
 Again MT. Benson feared she would break down, and changed his course of questioning
 'At what time did you go to the library last evening?"
 Tt could not have been more thar a few minutes past ten"
 What did you do there?"
 Miss Van Norman dictated some lists of matters to be attended to and she discussed with me a few fina
 
 Did she seem about as usual il her manner?"
 "Yes,-except that she was very tired. and seemed a little preoccu pied"
 And then she dismissed you?"
 ''Yes. She told me to go to bed and said that she should sit up fol an hour or so, and would write some notes herself.'
 Apparently she did not do so, a. no notes have been found in the lib rary."
 That must be so sir"
 But as she said this, a change cam, over Miss Dupuy's face. She seemed to think that the absence of thos. notes was of startling importance, ant though she tried not to show hel agitation, it was clearly evident iron the way she bit her lower lip, ant clenched her fingers.
 'At what time did Miss Van Nor man dismiss your" asked MT. Ben son, seeming to ignore her embar rassment.
 At half past ten.1
 "Did you retire at once?"
 'sNo; had some notes to write fo Miss Van Norman, and also some O my own, and I sat at my desk fo some time. I don't know just hoy long,"
 And then what happened?.'
 At this question Cicely Dupuy be came more nervous and embarrassed than ever. She hesitated and thel made two or three attempts to speak each one of which resulted in no in telligible sound.
 CHAPTER X.
 Some Testimony.
 There is nothing to fear,'' said MT Benson kindly. Simply tell us wha