The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-07-14

or near the hour OF 10 on the evening
Of your sisters death:''
II was in the clubhouse-in the house
you call the Whispering Pines
At this astounding reply. unexpected
by every one present save myself and
the unhappy prisoner. incredulity. sea
soned with amazement, marked every
countenance. Carmel Cumberland in
the clubhouse that night-she who had
been found at a late hour in her own
home. injured and unconscious. It
was not to be believed. or it would not
have been il Arthur. with less self
control than he had hitherto main
tanned, had not shown by his morose
air and the silent dropping Of his head
that be accepted this statement. wild
and improbable as it seemed. Mr.. Fox
started to rise at her words; but. noting
the prisoners attitude. he hastily re-
seated himself. realizing. perhaps
that evidence of which he had never
dreamed lay at the bottom of the
clients manner and the counsel's COM
placency.
Mr. Mofat, who saw everything.
smiled slightly as he spoke encourag
ingly to his witness and propounded
his next question::
Miss Cumberland. was your sister
with you when you went to the club
house:"
NO: we went Sc parately"
How? VIII you explainT'
II drove there l don't know how
Adelaide went
You drove there?"
YES had Arthur harness up his
horse for me. and drove there"
A moment of silence. then slow
awakening on the part of judge. jury
and prosecution to the fact that the
case was taking a turn for which they
were ill prepared. To Mr.. Moffat 1t
was a moment Of intense self con-
graduation. and something of the
qualification he felt crept into his
voice as he said:
Miss Cumberland. will you describe
this horse?"
''It was gray horse. 1t has 3 large
black spot on it's left shoulder"
ITO what vehicle was it attached?'
ITO q cutter-my brothers cutter"
"Was that brother with you? Did he
accompany you in your ride to the
Whispering Pines?'
NO l went quite alone"
Enhancement had now seized upon
were not true. but merely the wander
ings of mind not fully restored. the
interest of it was intense
"And how did you return? With
whom and by what means did you re-
gain your own house?'
The answer came with simple direct
ness:
"In the same way | went. l drove
| back in my brothers cutter, and. being
all alone. just as before, l put the
horse away myself and went into my
empty home and up to Adelaide's room.
| where lost consciousness
Miss Cumberland, do you often ride
! out alone on nights like that?"
81 never did before. I would not
| have dared TO do it then if l had not
taken certain precaution."
"And what was this precaution?'
Il wore an old coat of my brothers
over my dress and one of his hats on
my head"
| 1t was out-the fact for the suppress
sion of which | had suffered arrest
without a word. because of which Ar
thur had gone even further and sub
mitted to trial with the same con-
| stancy. Instinctively his eyes and
mine met, and at that moment there
was established between us an under
/ standing that was in strong contrast
to the surrounding turmoil, which now
exceeded all limits, as the highly
wrought up spectators realized that
these statements, if cOrroborated, de-
stroyed one Of the strongest points
which had been made by the prosecu-
/ ton. This caused a stay in the pro-
ceedings until order was partially re-
stored, and the judges voice could be
heard in a warning that the courtroom
would be cleared of all spectators if
this break of decorum was repeated.
Miss Cumberland, will you now give
the jury the full particulars of that
evenings occurrences as witnessed by
yourself? Begin your relation. if you
please, with an account Of the last
meal you had together" said Mr.. Mof-
fat when the trial was resumed.
Carmel hesitated. Her youth-her
| conscience, perhaps hrank in mani
fest distress from this inquisition.
ASK me a question" she prayed.
Il do not known how to begin"
VERY well. Who were seated at
the dinner table that night?"
MY sister. my brother. Mr. Rane.
lagh and myself"
Did anything uncommon happen
during the meal?"
Yes; my sister ordered wine and
had our glasses all filled. She never
drank wine herself, but she had her
glass filled also. Then she dismissed
Helen. the waitress. and when the girl
was gone she rose and held up her
glass and invited us to do the same
We will drink to my coming mar
riage' said she. but when we had done
this she turned upon Arthur. with
bitter words about his habi,s. and, de
claring that another bottle of wine
should never be opened again in the
house, Enclosed her fingers and lei
her glass drop on the table, where II
broke Arthur then let his fall and
mine We all three let our glasses fall
and break"