The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-12

portunity for rest and recuperation.
CHAPTER XVI.
"wERE HER HANDS CROSSED THEN?"
XA Tisn the left e,ns s4s WITNESSES sssssss'1
W. noticed a man standing near
| the district attorney. After
ward I heard that he YVES Sweet.wa-
| ter, the detective from New YosA ';ho
had had so much to do in unearthing
the testimony against Arthur.
/ left him talking to Mr.. Fox and
| later received this account of the in
| terview which followed between them
and Dr. Perry.
els this girl telling the truth?'' ask
| ed District Attorney Fox as soon as
the three were closeted and each could
speak his own mind. Doctor, what
do you thinkY'
81 do. not question her veracity in
the least"
"You believe that she burned herself
Intentionally?
81 wouldn't disbelieve it-you may
think me sentimental; I knew ~ nd
loved her father-for any fortune "a I
| might name"
Mr.. Fox turned to Sweewater. "And
your
"Mr. Fox, have you those tongs?"
Eyes, 1 forgot. They were brought
to my Office with the other exhibits. l
attached no importance to them, and
you will probably find them just where
I thrust them into the box marked
'Cumb.'''
They were in the district attorneys
Office. and Sweetwater at once rose
and brought forward the tongs.
''There is my answer" he said, point
ing significantly at one Of the legs.
The district attorney turned pale and
motioned Sweetwater to carry them
back. He sat silent for a moment and
then showed that he was a man.
"Mfss Cumberland has my respect"
said he.
Finally Mr.. Fox turned to DR.. Perry
and put the question:
You are satisfied with your autopsy?
Miss Cumberland's death was due to
strangulation and not to the poison she
tookY'
"That was what I swore to and
what should have to swear to again
If you placed me back on the stand.
The poison, taken with her great ex-
element, robbed her Of consciousness,
but there was too little of it or it was
too old and weakened to cause death.
She would probably have revived in
time, possibly did revive. But the
clutch of those fingers was fatal; she
could not survive it. 1t costs more
than you can ever understand to say
this, but questions like yours must be
answered. I should not be an honest
man otherwise"
To the relief of all Carmel was phys
ically stronger than we expected when
she came to retake the stand in the
afternoon. But she had lost little of
her courage.
Mr.. Fox kept nobody waiting. He
asked:
"Miss Cumberland, in your account
your sister you alluded to a story you
had once read together Will you tell
us the name Of this story?"
'It was called "A Legend of Francis
l. 1t was not a novel, but little tale
she found in some old magazine. 1t
had a great effect upon US. l have
never forgotten it."
"Can you relate this tale to us in
few words?'
81 will try. 1t was very simple. 1t
merely told how young girl marred
her beauty to escape the attentions Of
the great king and what respect he al
ways showed her after that, even call
ing her sister,"
while you were holding your SIS
ter's hands in what you supposed to
be her final moments, did you observe
whether or not she still wore on her
finger the curious ring given her by
Mr.. Ranelagh and known as her en-
gagement ring?"
Eyes. 1 not only saw it, but felt it.
1t was the only one she wore on her
left hand
Mr.. Fox pressed his advantage.
"And Avhen you rose from the lounge
and crossed your sisters hands"'
1T was still there. I put that hand
uppermost."
'And left the ring on?"
''Oh, yes; oh, yes" Her whole atti-
tude and face we're full of protest.
$50 that, to the best of your belief,
it was still on your sisters finger when
you left the room?''
Certainly, sir; certainly"
There was alarm in her tone now.
Cha UaS boUiOniDu fn 600 that hor foe
timony was not as entirely helpful to
Arthur as she had been led to expect
Can you say whether you noticed
any especial chill in the hall when
you went out to telephone?'
81 don't remember I was almost in
sensible"
But you do remember having shut
the door behind you?"
Eyes
fTo Be Continued.)