Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-12-01

I've struck thp spot" he murmured
exultantly to himself. This is the
place want. and here I'll spend the
night. but not TO booze my wits away;
oh. no.
Nevertheless It was a night virtually
wasted. He learned nothing more
than what was revealed by that one
slight movement on the part of the
woman.
The driving in Of the farmers, and
the awakening of life in the market
and all the stir II occasioned inside the
house and out, prevented sleep even II
he had been inclined that way. Soon.
er than was expected of him. sooner
than was wise. perhaps, he was on his
feet and peeriug out OF the one small
window this most dismal day room
contained. He had not mistaken the
outlook. 1t gave on TO the alley and
all that was visible from behind the
curtains where he stood was the high
brick. windoTless wall of the neigh
boring house he turned back into the
room, disgusted. then crept to the win
dow again. and. softly raising the
sash, cast one of his lightning glances
up and down the alley, Then he softly
let the sash fall again and retreat
ed to the center of the room. where he
stood for a moment with growing
smile Of intelligence and hope on his
face. he had detected close against
the side of the wall box or hand
cart full of empty bottles. 1t gave him
would have criticised in another man
he flung himself out Of the room In
which he had been for so many hours
confined and coming face to face with
the landlady standing In unexpected
watch before the door. found 1t a
strain on his nerves to instantly as
sumo the sullen. vaguely abused air
with which he had decided to leave
the house. Nevertheless he made the
attempt, and If he did not succeed to
his own satisfaction be evidently did
to hers. for she made no effort to stop
him as he stumbled out, and in her
final look. which be managed with
some address to intercept. be perceiv-
ed nothing but relief. What had been
in her mind fear for him or fear for
themselves He could not decide un-
til he had rummaged that cart of bot
ties. But how was he to do this with.
out attracting attention to himself In
way he still felt to be undesirable2
When later in the day certain old
peddler went his rounds through this
portion Of the city disreputable look
ing fellow accompanied him, whom
even the sharp landlady in Cuthbert
road would have failed to recognize
as the same man who had occupied
the snuggery the night before. He was
many hours on the route and had
many new experiences with human
nature. But he gained little else and
was considering with what words he
should acknowledge bis defeat at po-
lice headquarters when he found him
self again at the markets and a min
ute later in the alley where the cart
stood, the contents of which he had
seen earlier In the day
He had followed the peddler here
because he had followed him to every
other back door and alley But he
was tired and had small interest In the
cart which looked quite undisturbed
and In exactly the same condition as
when he turned his back upon it in
the morning. But when he drew near
er and began to lend hand in remov.
ing the bottles to the wagon he dis
covered that bottle had been added
to the pile and that this bottle bore
the label which marked 1t as being
one of the two which had been taken
from the clubhouse on the night of
the murder.
The lamp in the coroners room shone
duly on the perturbed faces of three
anxious men. They had been talking
earnestly and long. but were now impa-
tently awaiting the appearance of a
fourth party.
The district attorney ,courted the
light and sat where he would be the
first seen by any one entering. Far
ther back and rather behind the lamp
than In front of 1t stood or sat, as his
restlessness prompted. Coroner Perry.
the old friend of Amasa Cumberland.
with whose son he had now to do.
Behind him and still farther in the
shadow could be seen the quiet figure
of Sweetwater. All counted the min
utes and all showed relief, the coroner
by loud sigh, when the door finally
opened and an officer appeared. follow.
ed by the lounging form of Adelaide's
brother.
Arthur Cumberland had come unwill.
ingly, and his dissatisfaction did not
improve his naturally heavy counte,
nance. 81 call this hard" he burst
forth my place Is at home and at
the bedside of my suffering sister. and
you drag me down here at 0 o'clock at
night to answer questions about things
of which | am completely ignorant
| I've said all | have to say about the
| trouble which has come into my fam
lily. but If another repetition of the
same things will help to convict tina,
scoundreI who has broken up my
home and made me the wretchedesl
dog alive then I'm ready to talk. Sc
fire ahead, Or. Perry. and let's be
done with IT,"
|
"Sit down." replied the district at