The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-08-16
Whispering
Pines

"Peace and tragedy do not often run
together" came In the mild tones OF
his would be friend. "Mr. Ranelagh's
assertion that he found Miss Cumber-
land dead when be approached her
may not he. as so many now believe,
the reckless denial of a criminal dis
turbed In his act. 1t may have had a
basis In fact"
81 don't believe II. Nothing will
make me believe IT," stormed the
other. jumping up and wildly pacing
the drawing room floor. 1T Is all
scheme for saving the most popular
man in society. But you haven't told
me your discovery. II seems to me
,, II is a little late to make discoveries
now"
"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 or
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 houseT
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 II with her medicines, and
the druggist with whom you deal re-
members selling 1t some time ago to
a member of your family"
(which member? don't believe
this story; | 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"
81 cannot" He did not seem to be
quite master of himself. II don't know
half the things I 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"
"We're 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 at last.
81 cannot leave Carmel"
THE autopsy will take place tomor-
row. How is Carmel today%
mo better" The words caz;s with
a shudder. Doctor. I've been a brute
to you. am brute! have misused
my life and have no strength with
which to meet trouble. What you pro-
pose to do with-with Adelaide is hor-
ribie to me- | didn't love her much
while she was living, but if could
have saved her body this last humilia-
ton l would willingly die right here
and now and be done with it. Must
this autopsy take placer
ut must"
"Then tell them to lock up every
bottle the house holds or cannot an
swer for myself. should like to drink
and drink till | knew nothing. cared
for nothing. was mailman or a
beast"
"You will not drink" The coroners
voice rang deep: he was greatly moved.
"You will not drink. and you will come
to the Office at 8 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
TITS not what you will fnd"- 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. Mr.. Clifton. the chief
Of police and one or two others.
among them Sweetwater, made up
the group and carried on the CONVEX
sation. DR.. 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 II did at this time. II was 10
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