The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-09

much justice-but il was with such
an air OF Incredibly that my words
fell with less and less continuity and
finally lost themselves in 8 confused
stammer as reached the point where
| pulled the cushions from the couch
and made my ghastly discovery.
You See-see for yourSelveS-wha
NE. Ny betrnthed
dainty. delicate woman-dead. alone.
IN this solitary. faraway SPOT. the
victim OF what: / asked myself then
i ask myself now. l cannot under
stand it-or those glasses youder-or-
or those marks They were black 10y
his time-unmistakable- TO Ice ig-
nored " them or by me.
we understand those marks. and
you ought to-" came from the second
man. the one / did not know
My head fell forward. My lips re-
fused 10 speak the words. The vision
OF the one woman bending over tie
other was a maddening one. ! shook
myself free from il 10y starting to my
feet. "It's-it's'- caSped.
she has been strangled." quoth
Hexford doggedly.
a dogs death" mumbled the
other
You had better sit down" Hex
ford suddenly suggested. pushing
chair my way. Clarke. look up the
telephone ard ask for three more men.
am going into this matter thorough
". Perhaps you will tell US where
the telephone iSE' he asked. turning
my way
The second man left the room to go
10 the telephone. As he did 50 Hex
ford lii the candle. Idly watching.
for nothing now could make me look
M the lounge again. | noticed the can
dleStick It was of brass end rare I'm
style and workmanShir-a candlcStick
u be remembered. one cf pair. per
haps. felt my hair stir as | took in the
details OF its shape and ornamental
tiun. If its mate We're in her house
No. no. no. | would not have il 80.
l could not control my emotion If I
let my Imagination stray too far. The
candlestick must be the property of
the club. ! had only forgotten. II
was bought when: While thinking
planning. was conscious Of Hex
ford's eyes fixed steadily upon me-
Did you 20 into the kitchen in
your wanderinCs below" he asked.
NO" I began. but seeing that |
had made mistake. l bunGled and
added weakly. Yes; after matches"
and did you get them
Yes"
"In the dark: You must have had
trouble in finding them:"
Not at all. Only safety matches
are allowed here. and they are put in
receptacle at the side Of each door.
l had but TO open the kitchen door.
feel along The jamb, find the recen-
tacle and pull the box out. I'm well
used TO all parts Of the house.
Where did you light your first
match"
Upstairs"
Not in the kitchen?"
"No, sir"
That's a pity. I thought you might
be able to tell me how SO many wine
and whisky bottles came TO be stand
ing on the kitchen table"
i stared at him, dazed. Then I re-
membered the two small glasses on
the little table across the room and
instinctively glanced at them. But no
whisky had been drunk out OF them.
The odor of anisette IS unmiStakable.
You carry the key 70 the wine Gel
lar?" he asked.
considered q moment ! did not
know what to make OF bottles on the
kitchen table. These women and bot
- 4 4,
reason to. / remembered the dinner
and all that had signalized it and felt
my confusion grow.
THE keys We're given up by the
janitor yesterday" I managed TO STAN
mer at last. But did not bring them
here tonight. They are in my rooms
| at home"
finished with a gasp. had sud,
denly remembered that these keys
were not in my rooms. ] had had
| them with me at Miss Cumberland's
and. being given TO fooling with some
thing when embarrassed. | had fooled
with them and dropped them while
| talking with Adelaide and watching
| Carmel. i had meant to pick them up
but forgot and
You need say nothing more about
| IT," remarked Hexford. II have M
right to question you at all. Let us see
what there Is in here" stepping into
| the adjoining small room. into which
had simply peered in my own in
! yestigation OF the place
AS he did so keen blast blew in
a window in the adjoining room wa:
| open He cast me a hurried clanc.
! and. with the door in his hand, mad.
the following remark:
Your ladylove. the victim here
| could not have come through the snow
with no more clothing on her than w
see now. She must have worn 4 ha
and coat or furs or something OF tina
! nature Let Us look for them"
As followed him into the closet b.
! pushed the door wide. pulling out al
! electric torch as he did 50. BY il!
! light we saw almost at first glance th'
coat and hat he professed TO seek, ly
/ ing in a corner Of the floor. beside AZ
overturned chair.
/ Good" left my companions lips
That's all straight. You recognize
Z these garments" ] nodded, speech
less.
CONTINUED Tomorrow