The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-23
Whispering
 Pines

les, put so IL WOULD nave been she had met her fate several minutes earlier than was supposed. Clarke and Hexford differ about the length oi time which intervened between tht moment when the former looked into the room from the outside and that o1 their final entrance. Let us take uI something more tangible"
 every good Here it is. Of the six bottles of spirits which were surrept tiously taken from the clubhouse's wine vault four were found standing unopened on the kitchen table. Where are the other two"
 "That's it! That's the question ] have put myself ever since I inter
 'ogated the steward and found him
 :eady to swear to the correctness o1 his report and the disappearance o1 these two bottles. Ranelagh did not empty them or the bottles themselves would have been found somewhere about the place. Now, who dtd?" {.
 "No one within the clubhouse pre- cincts. They were opened and emptied elsewhere. There's our clew, and if the man you've got up from New York is worth his salt he has his task ready at hand.'
 Would you like to see him?"
 "In a moment. I want to clear my mind in reference to these bottles. Only some one addicted to drink would drag those six bottles out of that cold, unlighted cellar"
 "Yes, and connoisseur at that. The two missing bottles held the choicest brand in the whole stock. They were kept far back, too-hidden, as it were, behind the other bottles"
 "What was in the four bottles found on the kitchen tableF
 Sherry, whisky and rum-two bot. ties of rum and one each of sherry and whisky"
 'The thief meant to carry them all of, but had not time."
 'The gentleman thief. No common man such as we are looking for would make choice of just those bottles. So there we are again. Contradictions in every direction
 "Those bottles, full or empty, must be found. You know the labelsT
 'Yes, and the shape and color of the bottles, both of which are peculiar"
 The door opened, and MT. Clifton was ushered in. We'll and favorably known to both men, he had no difi- culty in stating his business and pre- ferring his request.
 'I am here in the interests of Ell wood Ranelagh," said he. "He is willing to concede, and so am I, that under the circumstances his arrest was justifiable, but not his prolonged detention. He has little excuse to offer for the mistakes he has made or the various offenses of which he has been guilty. He VOWS that he had no hand in the murder, and in this re- gard feel not only bound but forced to believe him. I have come to en- treat your aid in clearing up one or two points which may affect your own opinion of his guilt.
 "As his counsel have been able to extract from him a fact which he has hitherto withheld from the police. It is this:
 '"The ring which Miss Cumberland wore as the sign and seal of her en- gagement to him was not on her hand when he came upon her, as he declares he did, dead. It was there at dinner time-a curious ring which I have of ten noted myself and could accurately describe if required. If she took it off before starting for the Whispering Pines it should be easily found. But, If she did not, what clew it offers to her unknown assailant! Up till now MT. Ranelagh has been anticipating this ring back in a letter written before she left her home. But he has heard of no such letter and doubts now if you have. May I ask If he is correct in this surmisew
 "We know of no such letter. None has come to his rooms," replied the coroner.
 'I thought not. The whereabouts of this ring, then, is still to be determin- ed. AS MT. Ranelagh's legal adviser am very anxious to have that ring tound''
 "We'l search for the ring, MT. Cliff -on." Meanwhile will you cast your eye ,ver these fragments of a note which MT. Ranelagh says he received from Miss Carmel Cumberland while wait ng on the station platform for her ] ,oming" MT. Clifton drew from his pocket | ,wo small scraps of soiled and crum- oled paper, one of which was the half | ,f an envelope presenting very nearly | be following appearance: