Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-03-29

your judgment in spite of yourself. You
may escape the fascination, probably
will. but at least you will understand
my present position and why tele-
phoned to New York for an expert de-
tective to help us on this job. l wish
to give the son of my old friend a
chance"
The man whom Coroner Perry thus
addressed leaned back in his chair and
quietly replied:
You're right-not because he's the
son Of your old friend, handsome fel.
low and all that. but for the reason
that every man should have his full
chance whatever the appearances
against him. lay greater stress than
you do on the two or three minor
points which seem to favor his latest
declaration that man had preceded
him in his visit to this lonely club.
house, q man whom he had himself
seen leaving the grounds In a cutter
Just as he entered by the opposite
driveway"
"Ahw came In quick ejaculation from
the cOroner's lips. Il like to hear you
say that The police did find traces
Of q second horse and cutter having
passed through the clubhouse grounds.
Hexford and Clarke saw them in time
to satisfy themselves that they ex-
tended from the northern clump Of
trees to the upper gateway, where
they took the direction Of the hill"
THAT Is not all. A gripsack. packed
for travelling. was in Mr.. Ranelagh's
cutter. showing that his story Of an
intended journey was not without some
foundation"
"Yes. We have retained that grip
sack. It Is not the only proof we have
Of his intention to leave the city for
awhile. No one doubts that he plan.
ned an elopement with the beautiful
Carmel. The question is. Was his
disappointment followed by the muir
der Of the woman who stood in his
wayr
District Attorney Fox quietly remark.
ed:
II suppose that NO conclusion can
be drawn from the condition Of the
body when our men reached it I
Judge that 1t was still warm"
"Yes, but 50 it would have been II
lhe had met her fate several minutes
earlier than was supposed. Clarke and
Hexford differ about the length Of
time which interviewed between the
moment when the former looked Into
the room from the outside and that Of
their final entrance. Let Us take up
something more tangible"
"very good. Here It H. OF the six
bottles Of spirits which were surrepu-
dously taken from the clubhouse's
wine vault four were found standing
unopened on the kitchen table. Where
are the other twoT
That's It! That's the question I
have put myself ever since I inter
rogated the steward and found him
ready to swear to the correctness Of
his report and the disappearance Of
these two bottles. Ranelagh did not
empty them or the bottles themselves
would have been found somewhere
about the place. Now. who did?"
mo one within the clubhouse pre-
cincts. They were opened and emptied
elsewhere. There's our clew. aud II the
man you've got up from New York Il
worth his salt he has his task ready at
hand"
"Would you like to see himT
I'm q moment. ! want to clear my
mind In reference to these bottles. Only
some one addicted to drink would
drag those six bottles out Of that cold.
unlighted cellar"
Yes, and connoisseur at that. The
two missing bottles held the choicest
brand in the whole stock. They were
kept far back. too-hidden. as It were.
behind the other bottles"
"What was in the four bottles found
on the kitchen table?'
Sherry. whisky and rum-two bot
ties Of rum and one each Of sherry
and whisky"
"The thief meant to carry them all
OF. but had not time"
'The gentleman thief. No common
man such as we are looking for would
make choice Of just those bottles. So
there we are again. Contradictions In
every direction"
Those bottles, full or empty, must
be found. You know the labelsr
Eyes. and the shape and color Of the
bottles, both Of which are peculiar"
The door opened. and Mr.. Clifton
was ushered in. Well and favorably
known to both men. he had no difi-
Guilty in stating his business and pre-
ferring bis request.
II am here in the interests Of FL
wood Ranelagh," said he. "He Il
willing to concede. and 80 am l. that
under the circumstances his arrest
was justinable. but not his prolonged
detention. He has little excuse to
offer for the mistakes he has made or
the various oftenses Of which he has
been guilty. He vows that he had no
hand in the murder. and in this re-
gard I feel not only bound but forced
TO believe him. I have come to en-
treat your aid In clearing up one or
two points which may affect your own
opinion Of his guilt.
AS his counsel ] have been able to
extract from him fact which he has
hitherto withheld from the police. Il
u this:
The ring which Miss Cumberland
wore as the sign and seal of her en-.
eagement to him was not on her hand
when he came upon her. as be declares
he did. dead. 1t was there at dinner
dme-a curious ring which have Of
ten noted myself and could accurately
describe IL required. II she took It
OF before starting for the Whispering
Pines 1t should be easily found. But,
u she did not. what a clew it offers to
her unknown assailant! Up till now
Mr.. Ranelagh has been anticipating
receiving this ring back in letter
written before she left her home. But
he has heard Of no such letter and
doubts now II you have. May I ask
- l. L. IL