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

ton Of his kn0'k, hung suspended. He
had not expected quite such indiffer-
ence as this. Il upset his calculations
just a tritie.
The door was opened to him this
time. As il swung back be saw first
burst Of rosy color as a room pan.
eled in exquisite pink burst upon his
sight. then the great picture of his life
the 'odleSs features Of Carmel
calmed tol the moment into sleep.
Sweetwater gaZed at the winsome
brown head over the nurses shoulder
and felt that for him new and i'm
portant factor had entered into this
case with his recognition Of this wo-
mans great beauty. How deep fac
tor be was far from suspecting or he
would not have met the nurses eye
with quite so CHEEKY and self confident
a smile
Excuse the intrusion" be said.
I'VE thought you might need these
things. Hexford signed for them"
I'm obliged to you. Are you-one
of them?" she sharply asked.
would it disturb you If were? I
hope not. I've no wish to seem intru-
sive."
"What do you want? Something, !
know. Give it a name before there's
a change there"
She nodded toward the bed. and
Sweetwater took advantage of the mo-
ment to scrutiniZe more closely the
nurse herself She was a robust, fine
looking woman, producing an impress
sion of capability united to kindness.
Strength of mind and rigid attendance
to duty dominated the kindness. how
ever.
Il want another good look at your
patient. and | want your confidence
since you and may have to see much
of each other before this matter Is
ended. You asked me to speak plain
ly and have done So"
You are from headquarters?
Coroner Perry sent me-" Throwing
back his coat. be showed his badge.
The coroner has returned to his Of
fee. He was quite upset by the outcry
which came from this room at an un.
happy moment during the funeral"
II know. 1t was my fault. opened
the door just for an instant, and In
that instant my patient broke through
her torpor and spoke"
She had drawn him In by this time
and, after another glance at her pa
tient. softly closed the door behind him.
II have nothing to report" said she,
but the one sentence everybody
heard"
Sweetwater took In the little memo.
randum book and pencil which hung
at her side and understood her post.
ton and extraordinary amenability to
his wishes. Unconsciously low ex.
clamation escaped him. He was young
and had not yet sunk the man entire
ly In the detective.
His eye went wandering all over the
room as he spoke until 1t fell upon
peculiar looking cabinet or closet let
into the wall directly opposite the bed
whats that?" he asked.
81 don't know. l can't make It out.
and don't like to ask"
Sweetwater examined It for a mo-
ment from where he stood. then cross
ed over and scrutinized it more par.
ticularly. 1t was unique specimen.
What 1t lacked In height-it could not
have measured more than a foot from
length. which must have exceeded FIVE
feet. The doors of which It had two.
were both tightly locked. but as they
we're made OF transparent glass the
objects behind them were quite visi-
BILE. 1t was the nature of these OBJ
iects which made the mystery. The
longer Sweetwater examined them the
less he understood the reason for their
collection, much less for their preser-
vation In a room which in all other
respects expressed the quintessence Of
taste.
At one end he saw a stuffed canary.
not perched on twig. but lying prone
on its side. Near it was a doll. with
scorched face and limbs half consum.
ed Next this the broken pieces Of a
china bowl and what looked like the
torn remnants of some very fine lace.
Further along his eye lighted on a
young girls bonnet. exquisite In color
and nicely Of material. but crushed
out Of all shape and only betraying
its identity by Its dangling strings.
"Some childish nonsense" he re-
marked and moved toward the door.
"The servants will be coming back,
and had rather not be found here.
You'll see me again. cannot tell
just when. Perhaps you may want to
send for me. II so, my name is Sweet