Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-06-03


instantly knew that our secret was
out, however safe we had considered
1t. This man was cognizant of 1t. and
If be. why not others? Why not the
whole town? made my reply In these
words:
Her sister is her sister. hardly
think that either of us would be apt
to forget that Have you heard other.
wise. sir?"
He was prepared for equivocation.
possibly for denial. but not for attack.
His manner changed and showed dis.
trust. and saw that | had lost rather
than made by this venturous move.
''ls this your writing?' he suddenly
asked. showing me a morsel of paper
which he had drawn from his vest
pocket
looked and felt that I now under.
stood what the pines had been trying
to tell me for the last few hours That
compromising scrap of writing had not
been destroyed. 1t existed for her and
my undoing. Bnt Carmel was no fool
even If she had wild and demoniacal
| hiOhNhto. hAS NOuiu eOt Oe NY uOtc
to her-that fatal note which would
make all denial Of our mutual passion
unavailing
us it your writing?" my watchful
inquisitor repeated.
l looked again. The scrap was small
er than my note had been when II
left my hands. II 1t were the same
1 than .,f hA
Were they the first ones OF the last?
1t would make a difference In the read
Ing or. rather. In the conclusions to
be drawn from what remained. II only
the mist would clear from before my
eyes or he would hold the slip Of paper
nearer. The room was very dark The
The a
"ls It your writing?" Coroner Perry
asked for the third time.
There was no denying Il. My writ
ing was peculiar aud quite unmistak.
able. should gain nothing by saying
no.
1T looks like it." ! admitted reluc-
tantly. but cannot be sure in this
light. May ask what this bit Of pa
per is and where you found it9"
Its contents | think you know. Az
for the last question. think you can
answer that also If you will" Say
ing which he quietly replaced the scrap
Of paper in his pocketbook.
followed the action with my eyes.
| caught fresh glimpse of a darkened
edge and realized the cause of the faint
odor which had hitherto experienced
without being conscious OF It The
scrap had been plucked out of the
chimney. She had tried to burn 1t.
remembered the fire and the smolder.
Ing bits Of paper which crumbled az
my touch And this one-this. the most
important. the only important one Of
them all-had flown, half scorched. up
the chimney and clung there within
easy reach.
The whole incident was plain to me.
and could even tx upon the moment
when Hexford or Clarke discovered
this invaluable bit of evidence. 1t was
Just before burst In upon them from
the ballroom. and II was the undoubt-
ed occasion of the remark ! then over.
beard:
This settles It He cannot escape
us now"
During the momentary silence which
, bow ensued tried to remember the
exact words which had composed this
note:
Tonight 1890 train-we will be
married at p. Come. come. my dar.
, ling. my life She will forgive when
! all Is done. Hesitation will only undo
l us. Tonight at 1890. Do not fail me
, l shall never marry any one but you."
, Was that allf | had an indistinct
/ remembrance Of having added some
t wild and incoherent words OF passion.
: ate affection affixed to her name. HeT
namel Hut It may be that In the hur.
ry and furry of the moment these
terms of endearment simply passed
through my mind aud found no ex'
preston on paper. could not be sure
from the half glimpse I got OF these
! lines which portion had been burned
Otf-the top. In which the word train
), occurred. or the hnal words. emphasiz
ing time of meeting and my determi
:. nation to marry no one but the per
son addressed. The first gone. the lat
: ter might take on any sinister mean
: ing. The latter gone. the nrst nigh
. prove safeguard. corr0b0rating m,
statement that an errand hnd take
me into town.
: 1t would be hard to end an alibl 10
Carmel II suspicion once turned be
/, way. She had not met me at tn
;. train. The unknown but doubles
easily to be found man who had hand
= ed me her note could swear to tina
4 fact
r. Then the note itself! had destroye
It. II is true. but its phrases were pre-,
Il ent to my mind They were these-in
J. nocent. II she were innocent but ho1
n suggestive I'm the liQnt of her DrObabl