The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-07-12

NY nepo rem forward. siy Ups re
fused to speak the words. The visior
Of the one woman bending over the
other was a maddening one. shook
myself free from Il by starting TO my
feet "1t's-it's''-- ! gasped.
"she has been strangled." quoth
Hexford doggedly.
"A dogs DEATH" mumbled the
other.
"you had better sit down." Hex.
ford suddenly suggested. pushing a
chair my way. Clarke. look up the
telephone and ask for three more men.
am going into this matter thorough
ly. Perhaps you will tell Us where
the telephone tsp he asked. turning
my way.
The second man left the room to go
10 the telephone. As he did so Hex
ford liz the candle. Idly watching,
for nothing now could make me look
at the lounge again. noticed the can
dlestick. II was Of brass and rare in
style and workmanship-a candlestick
to be remembered. one Of a pair. per-
haps. I felt my hair stir as took In the
details of its shape and ornamental
ton. If its mate were In her house
No, no. no. would not have II so.
could not control my emotion II |
let my Imagination stray too far. The
candestick must be the property Of
the club. | had only forgotten. II
~ In
planning. was conscious of Hex
ford's eyes fixed steadily upon me.
Ibid you go into the kitchen IN
your wanderings below? he asked.
mo" began. but seeing that !
had made mistake. bungled and
added weakly. Yes; after matches"
"And did you get themT'
eyes"
"In the dark? You must have bad
trouble In finding themT"
mot at ALL Only safety matches
are allowed here. and they are put in
a receptacle at the side Of each door.
/ had but to open the kitchen door.
feel along the jamb. find the recep-
tacle and pull the box out. I'm well
used to all parts Of the house"
where did you light your first
match"
Upstairs"
mot in the kitchenw
mo. sir"
That's 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,"
| stared at him, dazed. Then I re-
membered the two small glasses on
the little table across the room and
glanced at them. But no
whisky had been drunk out of them.
The odor of anisette is unmistakable.
You carry the key to the wine cell
lar" he asked.
considered moment i did not
know what to make of bottles on the
kitchen table. These women aud hot
Ties! They abhorred wine; they had
reason to. remembered the dinner
and all that had signalized it and felt
my confusion grow.
THE keys were given up by the
ianitor yesterday" | 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
1enly remembered that these KEYS
were not in my rooms. | had hST
them with me at Miss Cumberland's.
md haipy ,yivan m fooIfp0 with Soma
thing when embarrassed. I had fooled
with them and dropped them while
talking with Adelaide and watching
Carmel. | had meant to pick them up.
but | forgot and
"You need say nothing more about
It." remarked Hexford. 81 have no
right to question you at all. Let us see
wha: there is in here" stepping into
the adjoining small room. into which
had simply peered in my own In
vestigation of the place.
AS he did so a keen blast blew in;
a window in the adjoining room was
open. He cast me a hurried glance
and. with the door in his hand, made
the following remark:
"Your adylove, the victim here.
could not have come through the snow
with no more clothing on her than we
see now. She must have worn a hat
and coat or furs or something Of that
nature. Let us look for them"
AS followed him into the closet be
pushed the door wide, pulling out an
electric torch as he did So By its
light we saw almost at first glance the
coat and hat he professed to seek. ly
ng in corner of the floor. beside an
overturned chair.
Good" left my companions lips
That's all straight. You recognize
these garments" nodded. speech
less
CHAPTER III