The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-07-26
The House of the
Whispering
Pines

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 that II will rebound TO your
interests. You are ready TO swear TO
the sleigh you speak of-that you saw
II leave the clubhouse grounds and
turn north?"
"Quite ready, but you must not ask
me to describe or in any way to iden-
tify its occupants ! saw nothing but
the hat and coat have told you
about. II was just before the moon
went under cloud or | could not
have seen that much"
suppose my voice fell. for his
glance became suddenly penetrating
and his voice slightly sarcastic as he
remarked:
Those clouds obscured more than
the moon. | fancy. | only wish that
they had not risen between you and
me- This is the blindest case that has
ever been put in my hands"
Tell me-" broke in, "of Carmers
condition. of the sort of nurse who
cares for her and how Arthur con-
ducts himself under this double af-
fiction"
81 was there last night. Miss Cliff
ford was in the house and received
me. She told me that Arthur's state
of mind was pitiful. He was never
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 Adelaide?
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 at every
cry Carmel utters Of 'Lila-Lilar Moth
ing more!'
Does he-Arthur-mention me at
all?"
"Arthur feels very hard toward you
and insists upon your guilt"
"Does the doctor-Dr. Carpenter. I
|
mel's present delirium will holdY'
He cannot, not knowing rs real
cause. Carmel fell i'll before the news
of her sisters death arrived ut the
house, you remember. Some frightful
scene must have occurred between the
two previous to Adelaides departure
for the Whispering Pines. What that
scene was can only be told by Carmel.
and for her account we must wait.
Happily you have an alibi which will
serve you in this instance. You were
at the station during the time we are
speaking Of"
Has that been proved?'
Yes; several men saw you there"
"And the gentleman who brought
me the-her letter. 1t was more than
difficult for me to speak Carmers
name. He has not come forward?"
Not yet; not to my knowledge, at
least"
And the ring?"
"No news"
1.-The nurse-you have told me moth,
ing about her" now urged. reverting
to the topic Of gravest interest to me.
us she any one we k"'v or an impor-
tation of the doctor'sT'
IL did not busy myself with that.
She's a competent woman, of course.
] suppose that is what you mean"
Could | tell him that this was not
what | meant at all-that it was her
| nuolitiaS nc Uomap rofhar Than har
qualifications as nurse which were i'm
portant In this case? If she were OF a
suspicious. prying disposition what
might we not fear from her circum-
spection when Carmel's memory as
serted itself and she grew more pre-
else in the frenzy which now exhaust
ed itself in uninteligible cries or the
ceaseless repetition of her sisters
name? | passed the matter over with
the final remark:
Watch her. watch them all, and
bring me each aud every detail Of the
poor girls sickness. You will never
regret humoring me in this. You or
dered the flowers for-Adelaide"
Eyes; lilies, as you requested"
"There will be no autopsy, the papers
say; the evidences
of death by stran-
gulatiOn are too
well defined"
J: !" ]. !. ]. !" !: /: I
MEaN Very true. Yet
,VtNY wonder at their lax
SA6 N, ity In this. There
WNN VNN were signs OF some
Y I'm A@E other agency hav-
ing been at work
!. !. !: :. :: ::
SA also. Those two
v YM NJ empty glasses smell
NV \ ing OF cordial-in-
~tA nocent perhaps.
X8R yet
~ Don't! can bear
no more today.
49,, ,., shall be stronger
nnr tomorrow"
TuououT. Anot her feeler
| turned aside His