The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-12

But the Fancy passed as l saw how
| still she lay, and 1 went on after awhile
and threw the note into the one small
| flame which was all that was left of
the fire. 1 saw it caught by a draft
| from the door behind me and go fam
ing up the chimney
Some Of my trouble seemed to go
with the note, and lifted pillow from
the window seat near by and covered
her face. l must have done more.
must have covered the whole lounge
with pillows and cushions, for pres
entlysmy mind cleared again, and I
recollected that it was something about
the poison. I was to put the vial in
her hand-or was l to throw it from
the window? Something was to be
thrown from the window-it must be
the vial. Bat I couldn't lift the win
dow, so, having found the vial stand
ing on the table beside the little flask,
L carried it into the closet where there
was a window opening inward and
! dropped it out Of that and thought
had done all. But when I came back
| and saw Adelaide's coat lying in q
heap where she had thrown 1t / re-
called that she had said something
about this, but what didn't know. So
lifted it and put it in the closet-why
/ cannot say. Then 1 set my mind on
going home.
But there was something to do first
something not in that room. 1t was
to telephone the police. / seized the
receiver, and when central answered
/ said something about the whispering
Pines and wanting help. This is all I
remember about that.
"Some time afterward-I don't know
when-I was stumbling down the stairs
on my way out. had gone toto the
room again for my little bag, for the
keys were in it, and I dared not leave
them. But I didn't stay a minute, and
/ cast but one glance at the lounge.
What happened afterward is like a
dream to me- / found the horse, the
borse found the road, and some time
later reached home. AS came with
in sight of the house 1 grew suddenly
strong again. The open stable door re-
minded me of my duty, and, driving in.
/ quickly embarrassed Jenny and put
her away. Then I dragged the cutter
into place and hung up the harness.
Lastly I locked the door and carried
the key with me into the house and
hung it up on its usual nail in the
kitchen. I had obeyed Adelaide, and
ROW I would go to my room. That is
what she would wish. But 1 don't
know whether I did this or not. My
mind was full of Adelaide till confu-
sion came, then darkness and then
perfect blank"
She had finished; she had done as
she had been asked; she had told the
story of that evening as she knew it
from the family dinner till her return
home after midnight, and the mystery
of Adelaide's death was as great as
ever.
"Mr. District Attorney, the witness
is yours" said Mr.. Moffat
Mr.. Fox at once arose. The mo-
ment was ripe for conquest. He put
his most vital question first:
= 'In all this interview with your sis
ter did you remark any discoloration
on her throat?'
The witness lips opened. Surprise
spoke from her every feature. dis
colorationT' she repeated. II do not
know what you mean"
ANY marks darker than the rest of
her skin on her throat or neck?"
mo. Adelaide had a spotIess skin.
1t looked like marble as she lay there.
No; / saw no marks. I do not know
what you allude to-"
did you hold your sisters hands all
on the lounge?"
eyes, yes"
"How was it when you let go Of
them? Where did they fall then?'
''On her breast 1 laid them down
softly and crossed them. 1 did not
leave her till / had done this and clos
ed her eyes,"
''And what did you do then?"
81 went for the note to burn it,
"Miss Cumberland, in your direct ex-
animation you said that you stopped
still as you crossed the floor at the
time, thinking that your sister called,
and that you looked back at her to
see"
Eyes, SIR
"Were her hands crossed then"
"Yes, sir; just the same"
"And afterward when you cams
from the fire after waiting some little
time for courage!"
Yes, yes. There were no signs OF
movement. Oh, she was dead-quits
dead.''
mo statements, Miss Cumberland.
She looked the same, and you saw nc
change in the position OF her .handsT'
"None. They were just as 1 left
them"
f"Can you say she did not clutch or
grip her throat during any Of this
timer
YES, yes. / couldn't have forgotten
it if she had done that. 1 remember
every move she made so well. She
didn't do that
when, after telephoning, you re.
turned to the room where your sister
lay you glanced at the lounge?''
'fes; I could not help it."
T'Was it in the same condition as
when you left-the pillows, / mean?"
IL think so. I cannot say.
only half looked. / was terrified by
it."
"Can you say they had not been dis