The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-22

I1E and unused glass Which was found with the fiaSk,'' ventured tentatively He seemed to consider 1t an important item"
 "It is a curious circumstance. will make note of it. You have no Sug- gestions to offer on the subjectT
 None"
 "The clew is a small one," he smiled.
 "So is the one offered by the array of bottles found on the kitchen table, yet the latter may lead directly to the truth. Adelaide never dug those out of the cellar where they were locked up. and I'm sure I did not. Yet l suppose I'm given credit for doing so."
 Naturally. The key to the wine vault was the only key which was lacking from the bunch left at Miss Cumberland's. That it was used to open the wine vault door is evident from the fact that it was found in the lock-
 "You may add this coincidence to the other," I conceded. T swear that I had nothing to do with that key"
 Neither could I believe that it had been used or even carried there by Adelaide or Carmel, though I knew that the full ring of keys had been in their hands and that they had entered the building by means of one of them. So assured was I of their innocence in this regard that the idea which after ward assumed such proportions in all our minds had at this moment its first dawning ill mine as well as it's first outward expression.
 "SOme other man than myself was thirsty that night" firmly declared. "We are getting on. Charles"
 Evidently he did not consider the pace a very fast one; but, being a cheerful fellow by nature, he simply expressed his dissatisfaction by an imperceptible shrug.
 "Do you know exactly what the clubhouse's wine vault contained?' he asked.
 "An inventory was given me by the steward the morning we closed. It must be in my rooms.''
  You expected that. didn't you? Prob ably this inventory has been found. ] don't suppose it will help any"
 T will see you tomorrow-any time tomorrow" I said. Meantime I will give you commission which you are at liberty to perform yourself or to in trust to some capable detective. The lotfor of x,hiob o porfior, rapoa;oS uro S written to Carmel, and she sent me a reply, which was handed me on the sta ton platform by man who was a perfect stranger to me. I have hardly any memory Of how the man looked, but it should be an easy task to find him, and if you cannot do that the smallest scrap of the note he gave me and which unfortunately tore up and scattered to the winds would prove my veracity in this one particular and so make it easier for them to believe the rest"
 His eye frightened. I presume the prospect of making any practical at tempt in my behalf was welcome.
 "One thing more." l now added. s'My ring was missing from Miss Cum berland's hand when took away those pillows. l have reason to think-or it is natural for me to think-that she planned to return it to me by some messenger or in some letter. Do you know if such messenger or such letter has been received at my apartments? Have you heard anything about this ring? It was a notable one and not to be confounded with any other. Any one who knew us or who had ever re- marked it on her hand would be able to identify it.
 .sI have heard the ring mentioned" he replied. ''I have even heard that