The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-19
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"And the sISter!'' It was gently but gravely put. and instantly I knew that our secret was out, however safe we had considered 1t. This man was cognizant of it, and If he. why not others? Why not the whole town? l made my reply in these words:
 ''Her sister is her sister. hardly think that either of us would be apt to forget that Have you heard other. wise, sir?"
 He was prepared for equivocation. 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 morsel of paper which he had drawn from his vest pocket.
 looked and felt that I now under. stood what the pines had been trying to tell me for the last few hours. That compromising scrap of writing had not been destroyed. It existed for her and my undoing. But Carmel was no fool even if she had wild and demoniacal moments. This could not be my note to her-that fatal note which would make all denial of our mutual passion unavailing.
 'Ts it your writng?" my watchful inquisitor repeated. looked again. The scrap was small. CT than my note had been when 1t left my hands. If 1t were the same then some of the words were gone. Were they the first ones or the last? It would make difference in the read ing or. rather. in the conclusions to be drawn from what remained. If only the mist would clear from before my eyes or he would hold the slip of paper nearer. The room was very dark. The the
 "Is it your writing?" Coroner Perry asked for the third time. There was no denying 1t. My writ ing was peculiar and quite unmistak- able. 1 should gain nothing by saying no.
 "It looks like it." admitted reiuc- tantly, but 1 cannot be sure in this light. May l ask what this bit of pa- per is and where you found itr'
 Its contents I think you know. As for the last question, 1 think you can answer that also if you will" Say ing which he quietly replaced the scrap of paper in his pocketbook.
 followed the action with my eyes. I caught fresh glimpse of a darkened edge and realized the cause of the faint odor which I had hitherto experienced without being conscious of it. The scrap had been pIucked out of the chimney. She had tried to burn it. l remembered the fire and the smolder- ing bits of paper which crumbled at my touch And this one-this, the most important. the only important one of them all-had flown, half scOrched, up the chimney and clung there within easy reach.
 The whole incident was plain to me. when Hexford' or Clarke discovered this invaluable bit of evidence. 1t was just before burst in upon them from the ballroom. and it was the undoubt- ed occasion of the remark I then over. heard:
 ''This settles It. He cannot escape us now"
 During the momentary silence which now ensued l tried to remember the exact words which had composed this note:
 'Tonight-10:30 train-we will be married at P. Come. come, my dar- ling. my life. She will forgive when all is done Hesitation will only undo us. Tonight at 10:3O. Do not fail me. I shall never marry any one but you"
 Was that allY 1 had an indistinct wild ard !ncgherent words of passion ate affection affixed to her name. Her namei But it may be that in the hur- " and furry of the moment these terms of endearment simply passed through my mind and found no ex- pression on paper. l could not be sure any more than I could be positive from the half glimpse 1 got of these lines which portion had been burned off-the top, in which the word train" occurred. or the final words, emphasiz- ing a time of meeting and my determi- nation to marry no one but the per son addressed The first gone, the lat ter might take on any sinister mean ing. The latter gone. the first might prove a safeguard, corroborating my statement that an errand had taken me into town.
 It would be hard to find an alibi for Carmel if suspicion once turned her way. She had not met me at the train. The unknown but doubtless easily to be found man who had hand ed me her note could swear to that fact
 Then the note itself! l had destroyed it, it is true. but it's phrases were pres ent to my mind. They were these-in nocent. if she were innocent. but how suggestive in the light of her proba ble guilt:
 "l cannot. Wait till tomorrow. Then you will see the depth of my love for you-what l owe you, what I owe Adelaide"
 l was conscious that not a look or movement of mine had escaped the considerate but watchful eye of the man before me.
 You do not relish my questions" t- oIe,