The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-07

ulONcuu
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. | thought could lug away
an armful. but there are limits TO ones
ability. realized this when re-
membered how far had to 20 ana so
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
It's ruddiness and took on sickly
white which did not leave 1t 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 III"
81 didn't 60 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"
''If 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 bottlesy
I'm my overcoat pockets-these
pockets" he blurted out. clapping his
hands on either side OF him.
Had II begun to snow when you
left the clubhouseT
"No."
''Was IL dark?"
81 guess not; the links were bright as
day. or shouldn't have got over them
as quickly as did"
Quickly? How quickly?" The dis
trict attorney stole glance at the
coroner. which made Sweetwater ad-
vance Il step from his corner.
IL don't know. l don't understand
these questions" was the sullen re-
ply.
you walked quickly. Does that
mean you didn't look backy"
"How look back?"
Your sister lit candle I'm the small
room where her coat was found. This
light should have been visible from the
golf links"
81 didn't see any light"
A few more questions followed, but
they were of minor import and aroused
less violent feeling. The serious por-
ton OF the examination, II thus 1t
might be called, was over.
The coroner glanced meaningly at
the district attorney, who, tapping
with his fingers on the table, hesitated
for a moment before he finally turned
again upon Arthur Cumberland.
"You wish TO return to your sister?
You are at liberty TO do so. l will trou-
bic you no more tonight. Your sleigh
Ia at the door, presume"
They watched him go. each as silent
IS he. 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 bottle
with special label on IL being found
at our house? 1t never was. or, II IL
was, some fellow has been playing you
a trick. carried off those two bottles
myself. One you see there; the other
isl can't tell where. but didn't take
1t home. That you can bet on"
One more look. followed by 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 as to the morrow. and Sweetwater
was also gone. The district attorney
and the coroner still 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. The
coroner rose and lifted the receiver.
The message could be heard by both
gentlemen in the extreme quiet of this
midnight hour.
CDR. PerryT'
"Yes; I'm listening"
HE came I'm at quarter to 10,
greatly agitated aud very white. | ran
upon him In the lower hail. and he
looked angry enough to knock me
down. but he simply let out curse
and passed straight up to his sisters
room. waited till he came out; then
l managed to get hold OF the nurse,
and she told me this queer tale:
He was all In n tremble when he
came In, but she declares he had not
been drinking. He went Immediately
to the bedside, but his sister was
asleep, and he didn't stay there, but
went over where the nurse was and
began to hang about her till suddenly
she felt a twitch at her side and. look
Ing quickly, saw the little book she
carries there falling back into place.
He had lifted it and probably read
what she had written in 1t during his
absence
"She was displeased, but he laughed
when he saw that he had been caught
and said boldly: you are keeping
record of my'sister's rawlings. Well,
think I'm as interested in them as you
are and have as much right as you TO
IL.