Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-12-21

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had been through II n'.rrr N"n ,nu
move that loci with vonr w.t." l,"".
! had calculated on r"i"".n. mat
way"
M Ieanelagh'S Sinrv receives con-
frmation." commented tlr district at
torney. wheclin. suddenly toward the
coroner. He says that he found this
window unlocked when he approached
1t with the idea of escaping that way"
Arthur Cumberland remained un-
moved
The district attorney wheeled back.
"There We're Il number of bottles
taken from the wine vault. Some huff
dozen We're left on the kitchen table.
Why did you trouble yourself to carry
up so many"
Because my greed outran my con-
%venience. thought l could lug away
an armful. but there are limits to ones
ability. | realized this when l re-
membered how far l had to go and so
left the greater part Of them behind"
why. when you had a team ready
to carry you"
Al had no team" But the denial
cost him something. His cheek lost
its ruddiness and tool on a sickly
white which did not leave it again as
long as the interview lasted.
You had no team? How then did
you manage to reach home in time to
make your way back to Cuthbert road
by half past IL"
II didn't go home. l went straight
across the golf links. If fresh snow
hadn't fallen you would have seen
my tracks all the way to Cuthbert
road"
IF fresh snow had not fallen we
should have known the whole story Of
that night before an hour had passed.
How did you carry those bottles?"
I'm my overcoat pockets-these
pockets" he bIurted out. clapping his
hands Oh either side of him.
Had it begun to snow when you
left the clubhouseY
mo"
"Was it dark?"
II guess not; the links were bright as
day. or | shouldn't have got over them
as quickly as l did"
Quickly? How quickly" The dis
trict attorney stole a glance at the
coroner. which made Sweetwater ad-
vance a step from his corner.
II don't know. l don't understand
these questions" was the sullen re-
ply.
"You walked quickly. Does that
mean you didn't look back?"
"How look back"
"Your sister lit a candle in the small
room where her coat was found. This
light should have been visible from the
golf links"
II didn't see u light"
A few more questions followed. but
they were of minor import and aroused
less violent feeling. The serious ror.
ton of the examination. if thus it
might be called. was over.
The coroner glanced meaningly at
the district attorney, who, tapping
with his fingers on the table, hesitated
for a moment before he finally turned
again upon Arthur Cumberland.
You wish to return to your sister?
You are at liberty to do so. l will trou-
BILE you no more tonight. Your sleigh
is at the door, 1 presume"
They watched him go. each as silent
as he. The coroner tried to speak, but
succeeded no better than the boy him
self. When the door opened under his
hand they all showed relief. but were
startled back into their former atten-
ton by his turning suddenly in the
doorway with this final remark:
What did you say about a bottle
with a special label on it being found
at u house? 1t never was. or. if it
was, some fellow has been playing you
a trick. l carried off those two bottles
myself. One you see there; the other
isl can't tell where. but l didn't take
1t home. That you al bet on"
One more look. followed by a heavy
frown and a low growing sound in
his throat-which may have been his
way Of saying goodby-and he was
gone.
A few more words. some understand
ing as to the morrow, and Sweetwater
was also gone. The district attorney
and the coroner still sat. but very little
passed between them. The clock over
head struck the hour. Both looked up.
but neither moved. Another fifteen
minutes; then the telephone rang. The
coroner rose and lifted the receiver.
The message could be heard by both
gentlemen in the extreme quiet Of this
midnight hour.
"Dr. Perry?'
Eyes: I'm listening"
"He came in at q quarter to II.
greatly agitated and very white. l ran
upon him in the lower hall. and he
looked angry enough to knock me
down. but be simply let out a curse
and passed straight up to his sisters
room. / waited till be came out; then
I managed to get hold of the nurse.
and she told me this queer tale:
HE was. all in a tremble when he
came in, but she declares he had not
been drinking. He went Immediately
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