Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-11-23

JUST as he entered by the Opposite
driveway"
"Ah." came in quick ejaculation from
the c%oroner's lips. 81 like to hear you
say that. The police did find traces
Of a second horse and cutter having
passed through the clubhouse grounds.
Hexford and Clarke saw them in time
to satisfy themselves that they ex-
tended from the northern clump Of
trees to the upper gateway, where
they took the direction Of the hill"
THAT is not all. A gripsack. packed
for travelling. vas in MI. Ranelagh's
cutter. showing that his story Of an
intended journey was not without some
foundation"
Eyes. We have retained that grip
sack. 1t is not the only proof we have
of his intention to leave the city for
awhile. No n doubts that he plan.
ned an elopement with the beautiful
Carmel. The question is. Was his
disappointment followed by the MUIR
der of the woman who stood in his
way?"
District Attorney Fox quietly remark.
ed:
Il suppose that no conclusion can
be drawn from the condition of the
body when u men reached it. l
judge that it was still warm"
"Yes, but so it would have been if
she had met her fate several minutes
aar1ior fh1n WINS r,1rrccoI CJorly0 orI
HeXford differ about the length of
time which interviewed between the
moment when the former looked into
the room from the outside and that of
their final entrance. Let us take up
something more tangible"
Very good. Here it is. OF the six
bottles of spirits which were surrepti-
tiously taken from the clubhouse's
wine vault four We're found standing
unopened on the kitchen table. Where
are the other two?"
That's it! That's the question l
have put myself ever since ! inter.
rogated the steward and found him
ready to swear to the correctness Of
his report and the disappearance Of
these two bottles. Ranelagh did not
empty them or the bottles themselves
would have been found somewhere
about the place. Now, who did,"
NO one within the clubhouse pre-
cincts. They were opened and emptied
elsewhere. There's u clew, and if the
man you've got up from New York is
worth his salt he has his task ready at
band"
Would you like to see him|
Gin a moment. l want to clear my
mind in reference to these bottles. Only
some one addicted to drink would
drag those six bottles out Of that cold,
unlighted cellar"
Eyes, and a connoisseur at that. The
two missing bottles held the choicest
brand in the whole stock. They were
kept far back, too-hidden, as it were,
behind the other bottles"
What was in the four bottles found
on the kitchen tablet"
Sherry. whisky and rum-two bot
ties Of rum and one each of sherry
and whisky"
1.-THE thief meant to carry them all
off. but had not time"
1.-THE gentleman thief. No common
man such as we are looking for would
make choice Of just those bottles. So
there we are again. Contradictions in
every direction"
"Those bottles, full or empty, must
be found. You know the labels"
eyes, and the shape and color Of the
bottles, both of which are peculiar"
The door opened, and Mr.. Clifton
was ushered in. Well and favorably
known to both men, he had no diff.
Guilty in stating his business and pre-.
ferring his request.
81 am here in the interests of Ell.
wood Ranelagh," said he. Gle is
willing to concede, and so am I, that
under the circumstances his arrest
was %justifable. but not his prolonged
detention. He has little excuse tc
offer for the mistakes he has made OF
the various offenses Of which he has
been guilty. He VOWS that he had nc
hand in ~the murder, and in this re
gard I feel not only bound but forced
to believe him. I have come to en-.
treat your aid in clearing up one OF
two points which may affect your OWL
opinion of his guilt.
GAS his counsel I have been able tc
extract from him a fact which he has
hitherto withheld from the police. II
is this:
"The ring which Miss Cumberland
wore as the sign and seal Of her en-.
gagement to him was not on her hand
when be came upon her, as he declares
he did, dead. 1t was there at dinner
hme-a curious ring which I have Of
ten noted myself and could accurately
describe If required. If she took il
off before starting for the Whispering
Pines it should be easily found. But
If she did not. what a clew it offers to
her unknown assailant! Up till now
Mr.. Ranelagh has been anticipating
receiving this ring back in a letter
written before she left her home. But
he has heard of no such letter and
doubts now if you have. May 1 ask
If he is correct in this surmise?"