The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-12

I Ou dIc sure, MT 1unI, that your statement as to the time is correct ?'' said the coroner turning again to him.
 Perfectly sure, sir. It is my busi- ness to be sure of the time.'
 "Mr. Carleton" said MT. Benson, there is an apparent discrepancy here which it is advisable for you to explain. If you came into this house at quarter after eleven, and rang the bells for help at half-past eleven, what were you doing in the mean time p
 It was out at last. The coroner's question, though quietly put, was equivalent to an accusation. Every eye in the room was turned toward Carleton, and every ear waited in suspense for his reply. At last the answer came. The Carleton's face and his voice sound ed mechanical, like that of an auto- maton, as he replied, 'I decline to say"
 TT think, MT. Carleton, you can scarcely realize the gravity of the moment, or the mistake you are mak- ing in refusing to answer this ques- tion."
 "I have nothing to say," repeated Carleton, and his pallor changed to a faint angry flush of red.
 "I am sorry." said MT. Benson gently. He seemed to have lost his pompous manner in his genuine anxiety for his witness. and he look ed sorrowfully at Carleton's impas- sive, yet stubborn face.
 "As so much hinges on the ques- ton of who wrote that paper" he resumed, sI will make test now that ought to convince us all. Miss Dupuy you say you wrote it I be- lieve."
 ';I did, yes, sir," said Cicely stam- been calm enough few minutes be- fore.
 ''Then you know the words on the paper-by note?"
 Yes. sir," said Cicely, uncertain of where this was leading.
 "I will ask you. then, to take this paper and pencil, your own pencil, and write the same words in the same way once more"
 "Oh, don't ask me to do that" inn plored Cicely clasping her hands and looking very distressed.
 "I not only ask you, but I direct you to do it, and do it at once."
 An attendant handed paper and pencil to Cicely, and, after a glance at Carleton, who did not meet it, she began to write.
 Though evidently agitated, she wrote clearly and evenly, and the paper she handed to Coroner Benson moment later was practically an exact duplicate of the one found on the library table.
 u OOSS uOl require d uduuWTllii1S $ expert said the coroner, 'to declare that these two papers were written by the same hand. The penmanship is indeed similar to Miss Van Nor mans, of whose writing I have here many speciments, but it is only simi- lar. It is by no means identical. You may all examine these at your leisure and can only agree to what say" The district attorney, who had been comparing the papers, laid them down with finality that proved his agreement with the statements made And so.' went on MT. Benson granting. as we must, that Miss Dupuy wrote the paper,we have noth- ing whatever to indicate that this case is suicide. We are therefore seeking a murderer, and our mos' earnest efforts must be made to thai end. I trust, MT. Carleton, now thai you can no longer think Miss Var Norman wrote the message, that yoI will aid us in our work by stating | frankly how you were occupied dur | ing that quarter-hour which elaspet between your entering the house an6 your raising the alarm?" But Carleton preserved his stony calm.
 "There was no quarter-hour," ht said; "I may have stepped into tho drawing-room a moment before going ! to the library, but I gave the alarm almost immediately on entering tn. house. Certainly immediately on m. | discovery of-of the scene of the lib rary."
 Cicely looked defiantly at MT. Hunt l who, in his turn, looked perplexed The man had no wish to insinuatt against MT. Carleton, but that MT Carleton came into the house a quarter after eleven, and not at half past.
 The pause that followed was brok en by Coroner Benson's voice. "Ther, | is nothing more to be done at pres ent. The inquest is adjourned unti tomorrow afternoon. But we hav, discovered that there has been { | crime committed. There is no doub that Miss Van Norman was murdered and that the crime took place be