The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-01
Whispering
 Pines

me your QlSCOVeTy. It SceLuS tO IuS 1t is a little late to make discoveries ! now" s'This was brought about by the persistence of Sweetwater. He seems to have an instinct for things. He was leaning out of the window at the rear of the clubhouse-the window of that small room where your sisters coat was found-and he saw, caught in the vines beneath, a little bottle, an apothecary's vial. 1t was labeled Poison and it came from this very house."
 "How do you known that vial came from this house?"
 Dr. Perry looked up, astonished. He was prepared for the most frantic ebullitions of wrath. for violence even, or for dull, stupid, blank silence. But this calm, quiet question of fact took him by surprise. He dropped his anx- ious look and replied:
 'It has been seen on the shelves by more than one of your servants. Your sister kept it with her medicines, and the druggist with whom you deal re- members selling it some time ago to member of your family"
 (Which member? I don't believe this story; I don't believe any of your'- He was fast verging on vio- lence now.
 "You will have to, Arthur. Facts are facts, and we cannot go against them. The person who bought it was yourself. Perhaps you can recall the circumstance now"
 "I cannot" He did not seem to be quite master of himself "I don't know half the things do; at least, didn't use to. But what are you coming to? Are you going to call 1t suicide? You can't, with those marks on her throat"
 Were going to carry out our in vestigations to the full. We're going to hold the autopsy, which we didn't think necessary before. That's why am here, Arthur. thought it your due to know our intentions in regard to this matter. If you wish to be pres ent you have only to say so; if you do not you may trust me to remem- Der that she was your fathers daugh- ter as well as my own highly esteemed friend"
 Shaken to the core, the young man sat down.
 My duty is here." he said st last. "I cannot leave Carmel"
 "The autopsy will take place tomor- row. How is Carmel today?'
 ssNo better" The words came with a shudder. Doctor, I've been brute to you. I am brute! I have misused my life and have no strength with which to meet trouble. What you pro pose to do wiSh-with Adelaide is hor- rible to me. I didn't love her much while sheswas living, but if could have saved her body this last humilia ton would willingly die right here and now and be done with it. Must this autspsy take placer"
 'It must" .
 "Then tell them to lock up every bottle the house holds or cannot an swer for myself. I should like to drink and drink till knew nothing, cared beast"
 "You will not drink" The coroner's voice rang deep; he was greatly moved. "You will not drink, and you will come to the office at 5 o'clock tomorrow. We may have only good news to i'm part. We may find nothing to compli- cate the situation"
 Arthur Cumberland shook his head Its not what you will find"- said he, and stopped, biting his lips and looking down.
 Twenty-four hours later, in the cor oner's office, sat an anxious group dis cussing the great case and the possible revelations awaiting them. The dis trict attorney, MT. Clifton, the chief of police and one or two others, among them Sweetwater, made up the group and carried on the conver- sation. pr. Perry only was absent He had undertaken to make the au- topsy and had been absent for this pur- pose several hours.
 Five o'clock had struck, and they were momentarily looking for his re- appearance, but when the door open ed, as 1t did at this time, it was to admit young Cumberland, whose white face and shaking limbs betrayed his suspense and nervous anxiety.
 The door opened again and the coro- ner appeared, looking not so much de pressed as stunned. Picking out Arthur from the group, he advanced toward him with some commonplace remark, but desisted suddenly and turned upon the others instead.
 "I have finished the autopsy" said he. 'I knew just what poison the vial had held and lost no time in my various tests. A minute portion of this drug. which is dangerous only in large quantities, was found in the stomach of the deceased, but not enough to cause serious trouble, and she died, as we already decided, from the effect of the murderouS clutch upon her throat. But,' he went on sternly as young Cumberland moved and showed signs of breaking in with one of his violent invectives against the supposed assassin, "I made an- other discovery of still greater purport. When we lifted the body out of its Etfng place something besides wither- ed flowers slid from her breast and fell at our feet The ring, gentlemen the ring which Ranelagh says was missing from her hand when he came upon her and which certainly was not on her finger when she was laid in the casket-rolled to the floor when we moved her. Here it is. There is one person hpra at least who can identify