The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-26
THE CLUB 3
by CAROLYN WELLS
Copyright, 1909. by J. B. Iippincott Company

(Concluded.)

gentleman up, ana MT. IdyIOT Adu ly rubbed his hands with satisfaction to think that he and his premises were being made use of by the great detective.
 Yes sir. It's at the back of the .a~use, sir. This way sir
 Air. Stones survey of the room was exceedingly brief. He gave one glance around and looked out of the cnly window it contained, tried the key in the lock, and then expressed himself satisfied.
 Tripp, disappointed at the quick Unfinished performance, elaborately pointed out the exact spot where he had found the cachou bottle, but MT. Stone did not seem greatly interested
 However, the interview was fnan- cIally successful to Tripp, and after MT. Stones departure he turned sev- eral handsprings by way of express ing his satisfaction
 After dinner that evening the group of the night before assembled in the library
 A strange feeling of oppression seemed to hang over all. The very fact that Fleming Stone had as yet said nothing of any discoveries he might have made, and the continued courtesy of his pleasant affable de- meanor, seemed to imply that he had succeeded rather than failed in his mission.
 Although genial and quickly re- spcnsive, he was, after all, an in- scrutable man, and MT. Fairbanks, for one, had learned that his gentle cordiality often hid deep thoughts in a quiekly-working mind.
 Without preamble, as soon as they were seated MT. Stone began:
 Employed by Coroner Benson, l was asked to come here to discover, if might be, the murderer of Miss Madeleine Van Norman. By some { unmistakable evidence which I have found, by some reliable witnesses with whom I have talked, and by some proofs which I have discovered, I have learned beyond all doubt who is the criminal, and how the deed was done It is the wish of all pres ent that I should make known what { have discovered, or is it preferred that I should tell Coroner Benson alone?r
 For several minutes nobody spoke, and then the coroner said: Unless anyone present states an objection, you may proceed to tell us what you know, here and now, MT. Stone"
 After waiting a moment longer and hearing no objection raised, Fleming Stone proceeded
 '.The man who murdered Miss Van Norman entered the house through a cellar window. He climbed up ing-room fireplace.'
 Although some of Mir. Stones hear CTS had listened to this revelation in the morning, the others had not heard it and every face expressed utter astonishment, if not unbelief- with the exception of one. Tom Will lard turned white and stared at Fleming Stone as if he understood
 ''What?' he said hoarsely.
 As if he had not heard the inter rGption Fleming Stone went on:,
 Who that man was, think need rot tell you. Is he not already telling you himseif?''
 Willard's face grew drawn and stiff. like that of a paralyzed man but his burning eyes seemed unable to tear themselves away from the quiet gaze of Fleming Stone. Ther with {. frown Willard's head sank in to his hands and he fell onward or the table--the very table at which Madeleine had sat on that fatal night
 There was a stir, and Schuyler Carleton rushed. forward to Willard's assistance if need be. But the mar had not tainted, and, raising his white face. he squared his shoulders clenched his hands, and, again fixing his eyes on those of Fleming Stone said in Q desperate voice "Go on."
 "I must go on," said Stone gently ssI know each of you is thinking thai it is absurd to imagine a man o1 MT. Willard's weight and girth climb ing up through the seemingly small opening in the fireplace. But this can be explained. To one who does not know how, such feat would seem Impossible. It is only one who knows how that can do it. There arc men in certain occupations, such as engineers and boiler men, who are continually obliged to squeeze through holes quite as small. The regular boiler man-hole is oval and measures ten by fifteen inches, but there are many of them in large tanks which measure even less each way. I had occasion some time ago to interview an engineer on this subject. He weighed two hundred and fifteer rounds and had a chest measure oi forty-two inches. He told me thai he could go through a much smaller man-Tiore than another work mar who weighed only one hundred and sixfv hounds. simply because he knew