The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-22
CHAPTER VI.
CHANGE! I TAKE IT.


 F SLEPT, though a question of no
 small importance was agitating
 my mind, demanding instant con
 sideratiOn and a definite answer before I again saw Clifton. This was my plan. I would acknowledge to having seen horse and cutter leave the clubhouse by the upper gateway simultaneously with my entrance through the lower one. I would even describe the appearance of the per son driving this cutter. No one by the greatest stretch of imagination would be apt to associate this description with Carmel, but it might set the au thorities thinking, and if by any good chance a cutter containing a person wearing a derby hat and a coat with an extra high collar should have been seen on this portion of the road. or if, as earnestly hoped. the snow had left any signs of another horse having been tetheced in the clump of trees opposite the one where I had con- cealed my own. enough of the truth might be furnished to divide public opinion and start fresh inquiry.
 That a woman's form had sought concealment under these masculine habiliments would not, could not, strike anybody's mind. Nothing in the crime had suggested a woman's pres ence, much less a woman's active agen- cy.
 The suspicion which had naturally fallen on myself as the one and only person implicated would in shifting pass straight to another man and, if he could not be found, return to me or be lost in a maze of speculation. I was ready with my confession when MT. Clifton next came. I had even forestalled it in a short interview forced upon me by the assistant dis trict attorney and Chief Hudson. That it seemed to have made a more favor able impression upon the latter than had expected gave me additional cour- age when l came to discuss this new line of defense with the young lawyer.
 "I have heard of no new discovery" he said. If another cutter besides yours passed through the clubhouse grounds at the time you mention it left tracks which all the fury of the storm would not have entirely obliter- ated in the fifteen minutes elapsing between that time and the arrival of the police"
 ''But a witness can certainly be found who encountered that cutter and its occupants somewhere on the long stretch of open road between the Whispering Pines and the resi- dence district" said.
 Possibly. It would help. You have not asked for news from the Hill.'
 "Carmel.' I cried. ''She is worse deadw
 'No. She's not worse and she's not dead. But the doctors say it will be weeks before they can allow ques- tion of any importance to be put to her. You can see what that will do for US. Her testimony is too impor- tant to the case to be ignored. A de lay will follow. which may or may not be favorable to you. I am inclined to think now that it will rebound to your interests. You are ready to swear to the sleigh you speak of-that you saw it leave the clubhouse grounds and turn north?"
 Quite ready. but you must not ask me to describe or in any way to iden- tify it's occupants. I saw nothing but the hat and coat I have told you about. It was just before the moon went under cloud or could not have seen that much"
 I suppose my voice fell. for his glance became suddenly penetrating and bis voice slightly sarcastic as he remarked:
 Those clouds obscured more than the moon. I fancy. I only wish that they had not risen between you and me. This is the blindest case that has ever been put in my hands"
 Tell me" I broke in. ''of Carmers condition. of the sort of nurse who cares for her and how Arthur con- ducts himself under this double af- fliction.''
 T was there last night. Miss Cliff ford was in the house and received me- She told me that Arthur's state of mind was pitiful. He was never a very affectionate brother, you know. but now they cannot get him away from CarmePs door. He sits or stands all day just outside the threshold and casts jealous and beseeehing looks at those who are allowed to enter.'
 Doesn't he grieve for Adelaide? I always thought that of the two she had tha praota inf111anca opor hin,