Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1911-09-09
CHAPTER vi.
A CHANCE! . TAKE 1T.

my mind. demanding instant con.
slderation and II definite answer
before ! again saw Clifton. This was
my plan. would acknowledge to
having seen horse and cutter leave
the clubhouse by the upper gateway
simultaneously with my entrance
through the lower one. would even
describe the appearance Of the per-
son driving this cutter. No one by the
greatest stretch OF Imagination would
be apt to associate this description
with Carmel. but It might set the au.
tboritics thinking. and II by any good
chance cutter containing n person
wearing a derby hat aud coat with
an extra high collnr should have been
seen on this portion OF the road. or II.
as ! earnestly hoped. the snow had left
any signs of another horse having
been tethcred in the clump Of trees
opposite the one where I had con-
cealed my own. enough of the truth
might be furnished to divide public
opinion and start fresh inquiry.
That a woman's form had sought
concealment under these masculine
habiliments would not. could not.
strike anybody's mind. Nothing In the
crime had suggested woman's pres
ence. much less woman's active agen.
cy.
The suspicion which had naturally
fallen on myself as the one and only
person implicated would in shifting
pass straight TO another man and. II
he could not be found. return to me
or be lost In a maze OF speculation.
I was ready with my confession when
Mr.. Clifton next came. had even
forestalled II In a short interview
forced upon me by the assistant dis.
trict attorney and Chief Hudson. That
1t seemed to have made more favor.
able impression upon the latter than
had expected, gave me additional cour.
age when came to discuss this new
line Of defense with the young lawyer.
II have heard of no new discovery"
he said. "If another cutter besides
yours passed through the clubhouse
grounds at the time You mention It
left tracks which all the fury Of tho
storm would not have entirely obliter.
ated In the fifteen minutes elapsing
between that time and the arrival Of
the police"
but a witness can certainly be
found who encountered that cutter
and It's occupants somewhere on the
long stretch Of open road between
the Whispering Pines and the resi-.
dence district" said.
POSSIBLY. 1t would help. You have
not asked for news from the HILL"
"Carmelw I cried. "She is worse
dend!'
"No. She's not worse and she's not
dead. But the doctors say II will be
weeks before they can allow ques.
tion Of any Importance to be put to
her. You can see what that will do
for u.s. Her testimony n too impor.
tant to the case to be ignored. A de.
lay will follow, which may or may not
be favorable TO you. ! am inclined to
think now thar II will rebound TO your
interests. You are ready TO swear to
the sleigh you speak of--that you snw
It leave the clubhouse grounds ana
turn north?"
"Quite ready. but you must not ask
me to describe or IN any way 10 iden-
tfy its occupants. ] saw nothing hut
the hat and coat have told you
about. II was Just before the moon
went under a cloud or l could not
have seen that much" :.
suppose my voice fell. for bis
glance became suddenly penetrating
and his voice slightly sarcastic as he
remarked:
"Those clouds obscured more than
the moon. I fancy. only wish that
they had not risen between you and
Inc. This Is the blindest case that has
ever been put In my bands"
'.rell me-" broke in. 'of Carmeis
conditioa. Of the sort Of nurse who
cares for her and how Arthur con.
ducts himself under this double at
Fiction"
II was there last night. Miss Cliff.
ford was IN the house and received
me. She told me that Arthur's state
Of mind was pitlful. He was never a
very affectionate brother. you know,
but now they cannot get him away
from Carmels door. He sits or stands
all day Just outside the threshold and
casts jealous and beseeching looks at
those who are allowed to enter"
Doesn't he grieve for Adelaide7 I
always thought that OF the two she
had the greater influence over him."
Eyes, but they cannot get him TO en-.
ter the place where she lies His duty
Is to the living. he says At least his
| anxiety Is there. He starts nj every
cry Carmel utters Of 'Lila-Lilar Moth.
ing morer'
Does he-Arthur-mention me at
alp
"Arthur feels very hard toward you
and Insists upon your guilt"
"Docs the doctor--Dr Carpenter. !
presume-venture to say how long Car
mers present delirium will hold;"
He cannot not knowing its real
cause. Carmel fell III before the news