Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-11-24

ply horrified by the sacrilege or wnlcn
she had been witness There was no
mistaking her feelings But those of
the other two women were more com.
plex.
So were those of the men. Zadok
specially watched each movement of
his young master with open distrust
and very nearly started upright in bis
repugnance and dismay when that in.
truding hand fell on the peaceful brow
of her over whose fate to his own sur.
prise he had been able to shed tears.
And the women. Might not the
same explanation account for that Gu
rious droop of the eve with which the
two younger clutched at each others
hands to keep from screaming and
interchanged whispered words which
Sweetwater would have given consid.
cradle out of his carefully cherished
hoard to have heard.
1t was impossible to tell at present,
but he was confident that It would
not be long before he understood
these latter at least. He had great
confidence in his success with women.
homely as he was. He was not so
sure of himself with men. and he felt
that some difficulties and nor a few
pitfalls lay between him aud. for in
stance. the uncommunicative Zadok.
But I've the whole long evening be-
fore me-" he added in quiet consola-
ton to himself 1T will be pity II
/ can't work some of them in that
time"
Plans had been made for carrying
the servants to the cemetery. and
despite the universal disturbance con-
sequent upon these events. these plans
were adhered to- Sweetwater watch
ed them all ride away in the last two
carriages.
This gave him the opportunity be
wanted Leaving his corner he look.
ed up Hexford and asked who was
left in the house.
"Dr. Perry. Mr. Clifton. the lawyer:
Mr.. Cumberland. his sick sister and
the nurse"
"Mr. Cumberland! Didn't he go to
the graveT"
"Did you expect him to after that"
Sweetwater's shoulders rose. and his
voice took on tone of indifference.
'There's no telling. Where is he
now. do you think-upstairsT
"Yes. 1t seems be spends all his
time in little alcove opposite his sis
ter's door They won't let him inside
for fear Of disturbing the patient, so
he Just sits where I've told you. doing
nothing hut listening to every sound
that comes through the door,"
where's his room2 In sight of the
alcove you mention?"
"No; there's a partition or two be-
tween. If you go up by the side stair.
case you can slip into 1t without any
one seeing you. Coroner Perry and
Mr.. Clifton are in front"
"Is the side door lockedT
mo"
Lock 1t. The back door, of course
is"
'Yes: the COOK attended to that"
II want a few minutes all by N.Y.
self. Help me, Hexford. If DR.. Perry
has given you no orders take your stand
upstairs where you can give me warn
ing If Mr.. Cumberland makes move
to leave his post or the nurse her pa
tient"
Five minutes later Sweetwater had
slipped from sight, and for some time
not even Hexford knew where he was
"Dr. Perry. may have few words
with your
The coroner turned quickly. Sweet
water was before him. It'll not take
long," added the detective, with short
significant glance in the direction Of
Mr.. Clifton.
DR.. Perry nodded. excused himself to
the lawyer and followed the detective
into the small writing room which he
had occupied during the funeral In
the decision with which Sweetwater
closed the door behind them there was
something which caused the blood to
mount to the coroner's brow.
"You have made some discovery"
said he.
"a very important one" was the
quick, emphatic reply. And in few
brief words the detective related his
interview with the master mechanics
wife on the highroad. Then with an
eager "Now let me show you some
thing" he led the coroner through the
dining room into the side hall, where
he paused before the staircase.
"UpT queried the coroner, with an
obvious shrinking from what he might
encounter above.
mo" was the whispered reply.
"What we want Is here" And. push
ing open a small door let into the un-
der part of the stairway. he disclosed
q closet and in that closet a coat or
two and one derby hat He took down
the latter and. holding It out to the
light, pointed to spot on the under
side Of its brim.
The coroner staggered as he saw 1t
and glanced helplessly about him. He
had known this family all their lives,
and the father had been his dearest
friend. But he could say nothing in
face of this evidence. The spot was
-four mark. in which could almost
be discerned the outline Of woman's
thumb.
CHAPTER TX.