The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-19
Continued1

Sfl1le at this. carleton Hdu HUI pcci 4t ali chatty: indeed, Fessenden and Mrs. Carleton had sustained the hur- den of the conversation; and while Miss Burt had played, it had been bits of romantic music that Rob felt sure had been for Schuyler's delecta- tion more than his mothers.
 ..Is that all?'' said MT. Benson.
 .sYes, I think so," said Miss Burt; i've all went to our rooms early, as the next day was the day appointed for MT. Carleton's wedding, and we assumed he wanted to be alone"
 Rob looked up astounded. Was she going to make no mention of the stroll in the rose-garden? He almost hoped she wouldn't, and yet that was certainly the evidence MT. Benson was after.
 You said goodnight to MT. Carle- ton at what time, then?" was the next rather peculiar question.
 It might have been imagination, but Fessenden thought the girl was going to name an earlier hour, then, catching sight of Rob's steady eyes upon her, she hesitated an instant, and then said: About ten o'clock, l think"
 Mrs. Carleton and MT. Fessenden went to their rooms at the same time 2''
 Dorothy Burt turned very pale. She shot a quick glance at Schuyler Carleton and another at Fessenden. and then said in a low tone: "They had gone upstairs a short time be- fore.''
 And you remained downstairs for a short time with Mr. Carleton?"
 .sYes." The answer, merely a whis- per, seemed forced upon her lips.
 where were you?"
 Again the hesitation. Again the swift glances at Carleton and Rob. and then the lower answer:
 Tn the rosegarden."
 Fessenden understood The girl had no desire to tell these things, but she knew that he knew the truth, and SO, she was too clever to lie use- lessly.
 How long were you two in the rose-garden, Miss Burt?''
 Another pause. Somehow, Fessen- cen seemed to see the workings of the girls mind If she designated a long time it would seem important If too short a time, Rob would know of her inaccuracy. And if she said ehe didn't know,it would lend a meaning to the rose-garden inter view which it were better to avoid.
 Perhaps a half-hour," she said, at last, and, though outwardly calm. her quickly-drawn breath and shining eyes betokened a suppressed excite n1ent of some sort
 And you left MT. Carleton at ten o'clock?"
 Yes"
 Do you know what he did after that?"
 .I do not" the answer rang out clearly. as if Miss Burt were glad to be we'll past the danger point of the dialogue. But it came back at her with the next question.
 What was the tenor of your con- versation with MT. Carleton in the rose-garden?"
 At this Dorothy Burt's calm gave way. She trembled. her red lower lip quivered. and her eye-lids fiuttered. almost as if she were about to faint.
 But, by a quick gesture, she straightened herself up, and then looking her interiocutor in the eyes said:
 .T trust I am not obliged to an- swer that very personal question"
 Like q flash it came to Fessenden that her perturbation had been mere ly a clever piece of acting. She had trembled and seemed greatly dis tressed in order that MT. Benson's sympathy might be so aroused that he would not press the question.
 And indeed it required a hardened nSaEI bo ins1sI On dH dusWcT ATOul the lovely, agitated girl.
 But MT. Benson was not so sus- ceptible as some younger men, and, moreover, he was experienced in the ways of witnesses.
 "I am sorry to be so personal, Miss Burt" ne said firmly; "but I fear it is necessary for us to learn the pur- port of your talk with MT. Carleton lat that time"
 Dorothy Burt looked straight at Schuyler Carleton.
 Neither gave what might be called gesture, and yet a message and A response flashed between the two.
 Rob Fessenden, watching intently, translated it to mean a simple nega- tive on Schuylers part, but the ques tion in the girls eyes he could not Fead%
 Carleton's mo-, however, was as plain as if spoken, and, apparently comprehending, Miss Burt went even Iy on.
 We talked" she said, lon such subjects as might be expected on the eve of mans wedding-day. We dis |.