The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-20

 } THE CLUE } 7 by ( , CAROLYN WELLS } 6Copyright, 1909, by J. B. Lip ( , pincott Company
Continued from Page l0.l
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(Continued from Page l0.l him already. Now, merely for the sake of argument, let us see if Cicely did not have exclusive opportunity as we'll as yourself Remember she was the last one who saw Miss Van Norman. I mean, so far as we have had any witness or evidence. This fact in itself is always a matter for of two women both in love with you, one about to marry you, and the oth- CT perhaps insanely jealous, a weapon at hand, no one else astir in the house-is there not at least occasion for inquiry?"
 Carleton looked aghast. He took up the story, and in a low voice said, ''I can add to that When I came in. as Hunt has testified, Cicely was leaning over the banister still fully dressed. When I cried out for help fifteen minutes later, Cicely was the first to run downstairs. She asked no questions, she did not look toward the library, she glared straight at me with an indescribable expression of fear and horror. I cannot explain her attitude at that moment, but if this dreadful thing we have dared to think of could be true, it would per- haps be a reason.''
 And then, you know, she tried to get possession secretly of that slip of paper, after it had served it's pur- pose"
 "Yes, and also after you, by clever observation, had discovered that she wrote it, and not Madeleine"
 ''Their writing is strangely alike"
 Yes; even. was deceived, and I have seen much of Madeleine's writ: ing. Fessenden-tllis is an awful thing to hint-but do you suppose some of the notes I have had pur- could have been written by Miss Du- puy?''
 why not? Several people have said the secretary often wrote notes purporting to be from the mistress"
 ''Oh, yes; formal society notes. But. I don't mean that. I mean, do you suppose Cicely could have written of her own accord-even unknown to Madeleine-as if-as if, you know, it were Madeleine herself writing?"
 "Oh, on purpose to deceive you!"
 "Yes, on purpose to deceive me. It could easily be done. I've seen so much of both their penmanship, and never noticed it especially. I've always taken it for granted that a purely personal note was written by Madeleine herself. But now-I won- der.''
 "Do you mean notes of import ance?"
 'I mean notes that annoyed me. Notes that voluntarily referred to her going driving or walking with Will lard, when there was no real reason for her referring to it. Could it be that Cicely-bah! I cannot say it of any woman"
 s'I see your point; and it is more than possible that Miss Dupuy, know ing of the strained relations between you and Miss Van Norman, might have done anything she could to widen the breach. It would be easy, as she wrote so much of the corre- spondence, to do this unnoticed."
 'Yes, that's what I mean. Often Madeleine's notes would contain a gratuitous bit of information about her and Willard, and though she frequently leased me when we were together, I was surprised at her writing these things. I feel sure now that sometimes at least, they were the work of Miss Dupuy. I can't de- scribe it exactly, but that would ex- plain lots of things otherwise my sterious.''
 That is getting beyond us," said Rob- with a quick sigh. 'fI think it my duty to report this to the coroner and to Detective Fairbanks, who is officially on the case. I thought I'd like detective work, but I don't. It leads one toward too dreadful con- clusions. Will you go with me, Carle- ton? I shall go at once to MT. Ben- son."
 ..No, I think it would be better for you to go alone. Remember I am practically an accused man, and my word would be of little weight. More over, you are a lawyer, and it is your right and duty to make these things known. But unless forced to do so, I do not wish to testify against Miss Dupuy.''
 Remember the girls attitude to- ward Carleton, Rob could not won der at this, and he went off alone to the coroner's.
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