The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-10

lay VI ponce anu
- could hear the whole house be
ing ransacked | had found
my shoes and was sitting in my own
private room before a fire which had
been lighted for me on the hearth. I
was in a state OF stupOr now.
The storm, which had been exceed
ingly fierce while it lasted. had quiet.
ed down to a steady fall Of snow.
Had its mission been to serve as a
blanket 10 this crime by wiping out
from the old snow ali telltale foot
steps and such other records as SIM
plify cases of this kind for the dItec-
tives it could not have happened more
apropos TO the event. While this filled
nee with relief in one way. il added
10 my care in another. for the storm
which could accomplish so much in 80
short a time was a bitter one for
young girl to meet. and Carmel must
have met IL at its worst in her lone
some struggle homeward.
The door behind me opened. and /
turned 10 face DR.. Perry. once prac
ticing physician and my fathers init
mate friend, now a county official of
better. OF no ordinary feeling.
His attachment to my father had
not descended to me. and for the mo-
ment he treated me like a stranger.
Il am the coroner of this district"
said he. Il have left my bed TO have
a few words with you and learn II
your detention here Is warranted.
They have told me what you had to
say in explanation Of your presence
here where a crime OF some nature
has taken place. But I should like 70
hear the story from your own lips.
You have been intending TO marry
I Miss Cumberland
/ YES" | looked the man directly In
! the eye. Our wedding day was set"
Did you love her? Pardon me. II
| am 10 be Of any benefit TO you at
this crisis l must strike at the root Of
things If you do not wish to answer
say so, Mr.. Ranelagh."
II do wish" This was a lie. but
| what was I to do. knowing how dan
gerous II would be for Carmel to have
IL publicly known where my affections
were really centered? II am in no
position to conceal anything from you.
l did love Miss Cumberland. We have
been engaged for year.
81 see, and she returned your love?'
Sincerely" Was the room light
enough to reveal my guilty flush? She
had loved me only too well, too jeal
ously, too absorbingly for her happi
ness or mine.
And the sister,
1t was gently but gravely put, and
instantly | knew that our secret was
out, however safe we had considered
IT. This man was cogniZant Of 1t, anC
IL he. why not others? Why not the
whole town: | made my reply In thes,
words:
Her sister is her sister | hardly
think that either of us would be ap
to forget that Have you heard other
, wise, Sir?'
He was prepared for equivocation
. possibly for denial. but not for attack
! His manner changed and showed dis
trust, and l saw that ! had lost rathe
than made by this venturous move.
us this your writing:" he suddenl.
asked, showing me a morsel of pape
which he had drawn from his yes
2 pocket.
l looked and felt that / now under
stood what the pines had been trying
l to tell me for the last few hours. Tha
! compromising scrap of writing had no
been destroyed. 1t existed for her an
= my undoing. But Carmel was no foe
even If she had wild and demoniaca
moments. This could not be my not
to her-that fatal note which woul
make all denial of our mutual passio
unavailing.
rs it your writing:" my watchfu
inQuisitor repeated.
l looked again. The scrap was small
er than my note had been when
left my hands II ii were the sam
then some OF the words were gone
Were they the first ones or the last
1t would make difference in the reat
ing or. rather. In the conclusions I
be drawn from what remained. If onl
the mist would clear from before IN
eyes or he would hold the slip of pape
nearer. The room was very dark. Tt
the
lis it your writing?" Coroner PER-
!, asked for the third time.
- There was no denying Ii. My wri
# ing was peculiar and quite unmistal
: able. | should gain nothing by sayin
a no.
d 1T looks like It," i admitted relu
d family. but | cannot be sure in th
II light. May ! ask what this bit Of p
per Is and where you found it,
c Its cOntests l think you know. :.
for the last question, / think you ca
= answer that also if you will" Sa
ing which he quietly replaced the scra
OF paper in his pocketbook.
| followed the action with my eye
l caught fresh glimpse OF darken'
edge and realized the cause of the fai
Odor which l had hitherto experience
without being conscious Of II. IT.
scrap had been plucked out Of Il
chimney. She had tried TO burn il.
remembered the fire and the smolde
ing bits OF paper which crumbled
my touch And this one-this, tie mo
important, the only important one
them all-had flown, half scorched, I
the chimney and clung there with
easy reach.
The whole incident was plain TO n
and could even fix upon the nome
- when Hexford or Clarke discover
this invaluable bit of evidence. II w
just before / burst in upon them fro
the ballroom, and il was the undoul
p Y .l-,,