The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-20
White Cat
 
Copyright. 1910. by BObbs.
 Merrill Go.


 Whats the matterY Edith demand ed, glancing uneasily over her shoul- 1 der
 "Some one has been upstairs" Mar gerry panted. Somebody has been staying in the house while we were away | At the door of a small room next to what had been Allan Fleming's bed room we paused. It was filled with feminine knickknacks and mahogany lounging chairs. Wherever possible pale brocade had been used, on the empire couch, in panels in the wall, 1 covering cushions on the window seat It was evidently Margery's private sitting room.
 The linen cover that had been thrown over the divan was folded back, and pillow from the window seat bore the imprint of head Mar gerry had been right. Some one had used the room while the house was closed.
 s'Might it not have been your fa- ther?" Edith asked when we stood again at the foot of the stairs.
 'I don't think so,'' Margery said i wanly.
 l I put them in a cab and saw them start away. Then I went back into l the house.. as had arranged to sleep there and generally to look after things. Whatever scruples had had about taking charge of Margery Elem l ing and her affairs had faded with 1 Wardrop's defection and the new mystery of the blue boudoir. l The lower floor of the house was full of people that night, local and state politicians, newspaper men and the usual crowd of the morbidly cu- rious. Whatever panoply the death scene had lacked, Allan Fleming was lying in state now.
 At midnight things grew quiet. found Bella in the basement kitchen with all the lights burning full, and I stood at the foot of the stairs while she scooted to. bed like a scared rabbit. She was strange creature, Bella-not so stupid as she looked, but sullen, mo rose" "smouldering'' about expresses 1t.
 l A guest room in the third story had been assigned to me- The telephone bell rang just after got into bed.
 '.This is the Times-Post. Is MT. War drop there?"
 Nc"
 ."Who is thisy'
 s"This is John Knox"
 4'The attorney?'
 "Yes."
 ''Mr. Knox, are you willing to put yourself on record that MT. Fleming committed suicide?"
 T am not going to put myself on rec ord at all''
 "'Tonight's Star says you call it sui eide and that you found him with the revolver in his hand''
 "The Star 1ies!' I retorted, and the man at the other end chuckled.
 Many thanks" he said and rang of went back to bed, irritated that had betrayed myself. Loss of sleep for two nights, however, had told on me. Tn short time I was sound asleep.
 1 wakened with difficulty. The wind was blowing hard, and a shutter was banging somewhere below. I looked down into the well-like space beneath me. It was one of those apparently J chance movements that have vital con- sequences.
 Below me on the wall across was a sectangle of yellow light, reflected from She library window of the Fleming home There was some one in thu l house.
 My first thought was burglars NY second Lightfoot Luckily I hat brought my revolver with me iron Fred's that day, and it was under my pillow. To get it, put out the ligh and open the door quietly took only { minute. I was in pajamas, barefoot as on another almost similar occasion but was better armed than before.
 I ran into heap of folding chairs that had been left by the undertaken The light was, out in an instant, anc ] with conceaIment at an end, broke for the door and threw it open, stand ing there with my revolver leveled we-the man in the room and I-were both in absolute darkness.
 .'Who is here?" I demanded.
 Only silence, except that seemed tf hear rapid breathing.
 Speak up or I'll shoot" I said, not without an ugly feeling that he migh' be-even probably was-taking careful aim by my voice. I reached cautious r ly to the left and found the electric switch and turned it. The room was empty, but a portiere in doorway at my right was shaking.
 leaped for the curtain and dragged it aside, to have a door just close 1r my face. When had jerked it open found myself in asshort hall, and there were footsteps to my left. The foot steps seemed only beyond my reach and at the other side of the room the swinging door into the pantry was swaying when I caught it.
 I made misstep in the pantry anc brought up against blank wall. | seemed to me heard the sound of feel running up steps, and when found 2 door at last threw it open and dashed in.
 The next moment the solid earth slip ped from under my feet, I threw ou nv hand and if met a cold wall