Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-12-15
CHAPTER XIV.


RANELAGH RESUMES HIS STORY.
NoR several days had been Ill.
~ They were merciful days to ME
q since l was far too weak for
thought. Then there came a
period OF conscious rest. then renewed
interest in life and my own fate and
reputation. What had happened dur
ing this interval?
| had a confused memory of having
seen Clifton's face at my bedside. but
! was sure that no words had passed
between us. When would he come
again? When should hear about Car
mel and whether she were yet alive
or mercifully dead, like her sister? /
might read the papers. but they had
been carefully kept from me. Not one
was in sight The nurse would un-
aoubtedly give me the information |
desired; but, kind as she had been. /
dreaded to consult a stranger about
matters which involved my very exist
ence and every remaining hope.
would risk one question, but no
more. would ask about the inquest
Had 1t been held? If she said yes-ah.
il she said yes!-I should know that
Carmel was dead. and the news, com
ing thus. would kill me. So ! asked
nothing and was lying In a sufficiently
feverish condition when the doctor
came In. saw my state and, thinking
to cheer me up, remarked blandly:
You are we'll enough this morning
to hear good news. Do you recognize
the room you are in?"
I'm in the hospital, am not?"
Hardly. You are in one of Mr..
O'Hagen's own rooms" Mr. O'Hagen
was the head keeperD you are de-
tanned now simply as a witness"
| was struck to the heart, terrified
in an instant.
what? Why? What has hap
pened" l questioned rapidly. half
starting up, then falling back on my
pillow under his astoniShed eye.
Nothing" he parried. seeing his mis-
take and resordng to the soothing
process.
"Send for Mr.. Clifton" l said. Hes
my friend; I can better bear
Here he is" said the doctor as the
door softly opened under the nurses
careful hand.
With gesture to the nurse the doc
tor tiptoed out, muttering to Clifton
as he passed some word of warning
or casual instruction. The nurse fol-
lowed. and Clifton. coming forward,
took seat at my side. He was cheer
full, but not too cheerful, and the air Of
slight constraint which tinged his man.
ner as much as 1t did mine did not
escape me.
Tell me why they have withdrawn
their suspicious. I've heard nothing,
read nothing. for days. l don't un-
derstand this move"
You're stanch." he began. You
have my regard. Elwood Not many
men would have stood the racket and
sacrificed themselves as you have done.
The fact is recognized now, and your
motive"-
I must have turned very white. for
he stopped and sprang to his feet
searching for some restorative.
Perhaps had better wait till to-
morrow before satisfy your curl
osity," said he.
And leave me to imagine all sorts
of horrors? No! Tell me at once. Is
-is-has anything happened at the
Cumberlands'
Eyes. What you feared has hap
pened. No, no; Carmel is not dead. She
is holding her own-just holding it
but that is something in one so young
and naturally healthy"
l could see that bafTied him. 1t
could not be helped. did not dare to
utter the question with which my
whole soul was full. could only look
my entreaty. He misunderstood 1t, as
was natural enough.
"She does not know yet what Is In
store for her," were his words, and
could only lie still and look at him
helplessly. when she comes to her.
self she will have to be told. but you
will be on your feet then and will be
allowed. no doubt. to soften the blow
for her by your comfort and counsel.
The fact that 1t must have been you.
If not he"-
"He!" Did I shout 1t. or was the
shout simply in my own mind?
"Yes-Arthur. His guilt has not been
proved; he has not even been remand
ed; the sisters case is too pitiful and
Coroner Perry too soft hearted where
any Of that family Is involved. But
no one doubts his guilt. and he does
not deny it himself. You know-prob-
ably no one better-that he cannot
very consistently do this in face of the
evidence accumulated against him. ev-
idence stronger in many regards than
that accumulated against yourself"
Arthur! A BOBBY and boor. but GER
tainly not the slayer Of his sister, un-
less l had been woefully mistaken in all
that had taken place in that clubhouse
previous to my entrance into 1t Oh that
fatal night. AS | caught Cliftons eye
fixed upon me said: Don't speak Of
me. I'm not thinking Of myself. You
speak of evidence What evidence?
Give me details. Don't you see that |
am burning with curiosity? I shan't
be myself till hear"
ut all came about through you" he
went on. "You told me Of the fellow
you saw riding away from the Whis-
pering Pines at the time you entered
the grounds. passed the story on to
the coroner and he to New York de-
tective they had put on this case. He
and Arthur's own surly nature did the
rest"
cringed where lay. This was my
work The DerSOn who drove out of