The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-05-10
CHAPTER III
A SCRAP OF PAPER

A SCRAP HE4AEEft+
HoRTLY after this a fresh re-
lay of police arrived. and
could hear the whole house be
ing Fansacked. had found
my shoes and was sitting In my own
private room before q are which had
been lighted for me on the hearth. l
was in a state OF stupor now.
The storm. which bad been exceed
Ingly fierce while It. lasted. had quiet
ed down to a steady fnll OF snow.
Had Its mission been to serve a. a
blanket to this crime by wipinE out
from the old snow all telltale foot
steps and such other records as sim
pity cases of this kind for the detec-
dives It could not have happened more
apropos TO the event. While this oiled
me with relief in one why. it added
to my care in another. for the storm
which could accomplish so much In SO
short a time was a bitter one for a
young girl to meet. ana Carmel must
have met It at its worst In her lone
some struggle homeward.
The door behind me opened. and ]
turned to face DR.. Perry, once a prac-
dcinG physician and my fathers inti-
mate friend. now county ofhciaI of
no ordinary intelligence and, what was
better. Of no ordinary feeling.
His attachment to my father had
not descended TO me. and for the mo
ment he treated me Ike stranger.
II am the coroner OF this district"
said he. II have loft my bed TO have
a few words with you and learn e
your detention here Is warranted.
They have told me whnt you had to.
say In explanation OF your presence
here where a crime OF some nature
has taken place. But I should like TO
hear the story from your own lips.
You have been intending to marry
Miss Cumberland"
Eyes" looked the man directly in
tho eye. sour wedding day was set"
did you love herr Pardon me. If
am to be Of any benefit to you at
this crisis must strike at the root OF
things. II you do not wish to answer
say 80, Mr.. Ranelagh."
81 do WISH" This was a lie. but
what was to do. knowing how dan
gerous It would be for Carmel to have
It publicly known where my affections
were really centered2 81 am in no
position to conceal anything from you.
I did love Miss Cumberland. We have
been engaged for a year"
II see, and she returned your lover"
Sincerely" Was the room light
enough TO reveal my guilty hush2 She
had loved me only too well, too jenl-
ously, too absorbingly for her happi-
ness or mine.
''And the sisterT'
It was gently but gravely put. and
Instantly knew that our secret was
out, however safe we Ind considered
It This man was cognizant Of It, and
II he. why not others7 Why not the
whole town? made my reply In these
words:
Tier sister is her sister. I hardly
think that either of US would be apt
to forget that Have you heard other
wise, sir?"
he was prepared for equlvOcation.
possibly for denial, but not for attack.
His manner changed and showed dis
trust. and saw that had lost rather
than made by this, venturous move.
''Is this your writing?' he suddenly /
asked, showing me a morsel OF paper
which he had drawn from his vest I,
pocket.
l looked and felt that now under
stood what the pines had been trying /,
70 tell me for the last few hours. That
scrap of writing had not /
0een destroyed. II existed for her and /
ny undoIng. But Carmel was no fool /
wen tf she had Wild and dem6niacal
This cOuld not be my note /
o her-that fatal note which would I
make an denial OF our mutual passion /
ina vaillnS.
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