The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-07-26

"And you still hold hIm7"
Yes. but with growing uncertainty.
He's one Of those fellows who affect
your judgment In spite Of yourself You
may escape the fascination. probably
will. but NJ least you will understa nd
my present position and why tele-
phoned to New York for an expert de-
tective to help US on this Job. wish
to give the son Of my old friend a
chance"
The man whom Coroner Perry thus
addressed leaned back In his chair and
quietly replied:
You're right-not because he's the
son Of your old friend. a handsome fel.
low and all that, but for the reason
that every man should have his full
chance whatever the appearances
against him. lay greater stress than
you do on the two or three minor
points which seem to favor his latest
declaration that a man had preceded
him in his visit to this lonely club
house. man whom he had himself
seen leaving the grounds In cutter
just as he entered by the opposite
driveway"
"Ah" came In quick ejaculation from
the coroner's lips. 81 like to hear you
say that. The police did find traces
Of 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. was In Mr.. Ranelagh's
cutter. showing that his story Of an
intended journey was not without some
foundation"
"Yes. We have retained that grip
sack. 1t is not the only proof we have
| of his intention to leave the city for
awhile No one 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:
81 suppose that no conclusion can
be drawn from the condition Of the
body when our men reached it. 1
judge that it was still warm"
"Yes, but so it would have been IL
she had met her fate several minutes
earlier than was supposed. Clarke and
| 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"
Every good. Here it is. OF the six
bottles of spirits which were surrepti-
tiously taken from the clubhouse's
wine vault four were found standing
unopened on the kitchen table Where
IRE the other two"
That's it. That's the question
lave 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,"
mo one within the clubhouse pre-
cincts. They were opened and emptied
elsewhere. There's our clew, and if the
man you've got up from New York is
worth his salt he has his task ready at
hand"
would you like to see him?"
"In 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"
! Yes. and Il 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 table?"
SHERRY, whisky and rum-two bot
| ties of rum and one each of sherry
and whisky"
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.
II am here in the interests of FL
wood Ranelagh," said he. "He Is
willing to concede. and so am /. that
under the circumstances his arrest
was justifiable, but not his prolonged
detention. He has little excuse to
offer for the mistakes he has made or
the various offenses of which he has