Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-05-03

( thin. almost piercing, as he mace LnlS
remark:
"You entered by an open window.
Why didn't you go in by the door,"
/ Il hadn't the key. I had only alb
stracted the one which opens the wine
vault. The rest left on the ring. 1t
was the sight of this key lying on our
hall table which first gave me the
idea feel like a cad when I think
of it, but that's of no account now"
Flushed. he slowly sank back into
his seat. No complaint now Of being
In a hurry or Of his anxiety to regain
his sick sisters bedside He seemed
to have forgotten those fears in the
| perturbations Of the moment. His
mind and interest were there: every
thing else had grown dim with dis
lance.
did you try the front door,"
"What was the use? knew It to
be locked"
what was the use Of trying the
window? Wasn't 1t also. presumably.
locked?"
The red mounted hot and feverish to
his cheek.
You'll think me no better than a
street urchin or something worse" he
exclaimed. II knew that window. I
had been through it before. You can
move that lock with your knife blade.
I had calculated on entering that
way"
"Mr. Ranelagh's story receives con-
f]rmation." commented the district at.
torney. wheeling suddenly toward the
coroner HE says that he found this
window unlocked when he approached
1t with the idea of escaping that way"
Arthur Cumberland remained un-
moved.
The district attorney wheeled back.
There were a number of bottles
taken from the wine vault Some half
dozen were left on the kitchen table.
Why did you trouble yourself to carry
up so many?"
Because my greed outran my con-
venience. i thought I could lug away
an armful. but there are limits to ones
ability. I realized this when I re-
membered how far had to 90 and 30
left the greater part of them behind"
'Why. when you had team ready
to carry you?
Al had no team" But the denial
cost him something. His cheek lost
its ruddiness and took on a sickly
white which did not leave it again as
long as the interview lasted.
You had no team? How then did
you manage to reach home in time to
make your way back to Cuthbert road
by half past 11?'
II didn't 30 home. went straight
across the golf links. II fresh snow
hadn't fallen you would have seen
my tracks all the way to Cuthbert
road"
III fresh snow had not fallen we
should have known the whole story Of
that night before an hour had passed.
How did you carry those bottles"
I'm my overcoat pockets-these
pockets" he blurted out. clapping his
hands ON either side of him.
Had 1t begun to snow when you
left the clubhouser'
"No."
"Was It dark"
VI guess not; the links were bright a.
day. or I shouldn't have got over them
~ quickly a. l did"
Quickly? How quicklyr The dis
trict attorney stole a glance at the
coroner. which made Sweetwater ad-
vance a step from his corner
II don't know. / don't understand
these questions" was the sullen re.
ply.
"You walked quickly. Does that
mean you didn't look back?"
"How look backw
"Your sister lit candle In the small
room where her coat was found. This
light should have been visible from the
golf links"
Il didn't see any light"
A few more questions followed. but
they were Of minor import and aroused
less violent feeling. The serious Dor.
ton Of the examination. II thus n
might be called. was over.
The coroner glanced meaningly at
the district attorney, who. tapping
with bis fingers on the table. hesitated
for a moment before be finally turned
again upon Arthur Cumberland.
"You wish to return to your sister3
You are at liberty to do 30. I will trou.
BILE you no more tonight Your sleigh
- at the door. presume"
They watched him 60. each a. silent
as be. The coroner tried to speak, but
succeeded no better than the boy him.
self. When the door opened under his
hand they all showed relief. but were
startled back into their former atten.
ton by his turning suddenly in the
doorway with this final remark:
what did you say about a bottle
with q special label on it being found
at our house? 1t never was. q. II It
was, some fellow has been playing you
trick. I carried Oh those two bottles
myself. One you see there: the other
isl can't tell where, but didn't take
It home. That you can bet on"
One more look. followed by q heavy
frown and a low growing sound in
his throat-which may have been his
way Of saying goodby-and he was
gone.
A few more words. some understand.
Ing a. to the morrow. and Sweetwater
was also gone. The district attorney
and the coroner stiu sat but very little
passed between them. The clock over.
head struck the hour. Both looked up,
but neither moved Another fifteen
minutes: then the telephone rang. Tho
coroner rose and lifted the receiver.
The message could be heard BY both
gentlemen in the extreme quiet Of this
midnight hour.
"Dr. Perryr
Eyes; I'm listening"
HE came In at a quarter to II,
greatly agitated and very white. I ran
upon him in the lower hall. and he
looked angry enough to knock me
down. but he simply let out a curse
and passed straight mp to his sisters