Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-11-10
CHAPTER vi.
A CHANCE! I TAKE 1T.

wa
B my mind. demanding instant con-
sideration and IA definite answer
before | again saw Clifton. This was
my plan. would acknowledge to
having seen horse and cutter leave
the clubhouse by the upper gateway
simultaneously with my entrance
through the lower one. 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 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 tethered in the clump of trees
opposite the one where | had con-
cealed my own, enough Of the truth
might be furnished to divide public
opinion and start fresh inquiry.
That womans form had sought
conceament under these masculine
habiliments would not, could not,
strike anybody's mind. Nothing in the
crime had suggested 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, IL
he could not be found. return to me
or be lost in maze of speculation.
| was ready with my confession when
Mr.. Clifton next came. | had even
forestalled it in short interview
forced upon me by the assistant dis
trict attorney and Chief Hudson. That
it seemed to have made more favor
able impression upon the latter than
had expected gave me additional cour-
age when ! came to discuss this new
line of defense with the young lawyer.
81 have heard of no new discovery"
he said. IF another cutter besides
yours passed through the clubhouse
grounds at the time you mention 1t
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. 1t would help. You have
not asked for news from the HILL"
"Carmelv' cried. "She is worse
deadr
mo. She's not worse and she's not
dead. But the doctors say it will be
weeks before they can allow ques-
ton 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. / am inclined to
think now that 1t will rebound to your
interests. You are ready to swear to
the sleigh you speak of-that you saw
1t leave the clubhouse grounds and
turn north?'
'"Quite ready, but you must not ask
me to describe or in any way to iden-
tify its occupants. saw nothing but
the hat and coat / have told you
about. 1t was just before the moon
went under cloud or | could not
have seen that much"
l suppose my voice fell. for his
glance became suddenly penetrating
and his voice slightly sarcastic as he
Remarked:
"Those clouds obscured more than
they had not risen between you and
me. This is the blindest case that has
ever been put In my hands"
Tell me-" ! broke in. "of Carmers
condition, Of the sort of nurse who
cares for her and how Arthur con-
ducts himself under this double af-
fiction"
81 was there last night. Miss Cliff
ford was in. the house and received
me. She told me that Arthur's state
Df mind was pitiful. He was never a
very affectionate brother. you know.
but now they cannot get him away
from Carmel's door. He sits or stands
all Gay just outside the threshold and
casts jealous and beseeching looks at
those who are allowed to enter"
Doesn't he grieve for Adelaide? I
slways thought that of the two she
had the greater influence over him."
"Yes, but they cannot get him to en-
ter the place where she lies, His duty
Is TO the living. he says AT least his
anxiety is there. He starts at every
try Carmel utters of 'Lila-Lilap Moth
Ing more"
"Does e--Arthur-mention me at
all"
arthur feels very hard toward you
and insists upon your guilt"
"Does the doctor-Dr. Carpenter. I
presume-venture~ro say how long Car
mel's present delirium will hold"
"He cannot not knowing Its rea
cause. Carmel fell i'll before the new