The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-05-16


 and suppose just at first it isn't surprising that you feel that way. But surely,-as man to man, now you want to find and punish the wretch that put an end to that beau tiful young life"
 "Yes,-I suppose so"; Carleton spoke hesitatingIy, and drew his hand across his brow in the same dazed
 You're done up, old man, and I'm not going to bother you tonight. But I'm on the hunt, if you aren't, and I'm going ahead on a few little trails, more importance. By the way, what were you doing in those few minutes last night between your entering the house and entering the library?"
 Carleton stared at his guest.
 "I don't know what you mean" he said.
 "Yes, you do. You went in at eleven-fifteen, and you called for help at eleven thirty
 "No.-it didn't take as long as that" Carleton's eyes had far away look, and Rob grasped his arm and shook him, as he said:
 Drop it man! Drop that half dazed way of speaking! Tell me. clearly, what did you do in that short interval?"
 'T refuse to state,'' said Carleton quietly, but with a direct glance now that made Fessenden cease his in- sistence.
 'very well," he said; tits of no consequence. Now tell me what you were doing last evening before you went over to the house?''
 At this Carleton showed disposi- ton to be both haugty and ironical
 "Am I being questioned" he said, "and by you? Well, before I went to Miss Van Norman's was walking in the rose-garden with Miss Burt. You saw me from your window"
 "I did," said Rob gravely. Were you with Miss Burt until the time of your going over to the Van Norman house?'
 "No," said Carleton with sarcastic intonation 'I said goodnight to Miss Burt about three-quarters of an hour before I started to go over to Miss Van Norman's. Do you want to know what I did during that in- terval?"
 "Yes.,s- s
 TT was in my own room-my den. I did what many man does on the eve of his wedding. l burned up a few notes,-perhaps a photograph or two,-and one withered rose-bud,- a Keepsake Does this interest you % ''Not especially, but, Schuyler. do drop that resentful air. I'm not quiz zjng you, and if you don't want to talk about the subject at all, we won't"
 Very well,| don't" "Very well, then" The two men rose, and as Carleton held out his hand Rob grasped it and shook it heartily, then they went to the drawing-room and rejoined the ladies.
 The Van Norman affair was not mentioned again that evening. All felt certain oppression in the atmosphere, and all tried to dispel it, but it was not easy. Uninteresting topics of conversation were tossed from one to another, but each felt relieved when at last Mrs. Carleton was at an end.
 Fessenden went to his room, his brain a whirlwind of conflicting | thoughts.
 He sat down by an open window and endeavored to classify them into some sort of order. First, he was annoyed at Carle- tons inexplicable attitude. Granting he was in love with Miss Burt, he he'd no reason to act so unconcerned about the Van Norman tragedy. And yet Schuyler's was a peculiar nature, and doubtless all this strange be- havior of his was merely the effort to hide his real sorrow. | But again, if he were in love with Miss Burt, his sorrow for the loss for Madeleine was for the loss for her fortune and not herself. This Fessenden refused to believe, but the more he refused to believe it, the more it came back to him. Then there was his new notion that came | to him at dinner, about Miss Burt. Carleton said she was the ingenious, timid girl she looked, but Rob couldn't believe it. Executive ability showed in that determined little chin. Yelled cunning lurked in the shadows of those innocent eyes. And the girl had a motive. Surely she wanted her rival out of the way. Then she said goodnight to Schuyler nearly an hour | before he went over to Madeleine's, Could she have, but nonsense! Even if she had been so inclined, how could she have entered the house? An, thai settled it! She couldn't And Fes- senden was honestly glad of it. Hon. estly glad that he had proved to him.