The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-06-05
 CContinuedl

releasing her hands, but or what we must face here I have told you that Coonnbs claims to be working under the orders of your husband Is that posslblee''
 IT cannot conceive clearly how it could be, and yet he might have re ceaved notice of his fathers death in time to assume control of the estate by telegraph or even by letter."
 T hardly think Coombs has been here so short a time" . @He might have been the old over seer, however, and retained.
 True. Yet how could Philip Henley Know that he had inherited the prop ertyT
 She thought a moment seriously. little crease in the center of her fore head
 Aof course I can only guess.v she hazzrded at length, 'tbut 1t would seem nEely he was notified of his fathers death by one of the administra tors and doubtless told at the same time of and there were no other near relatives. It would be only natural for him to natnin the old servants until he could come here and select others"
 There 1s only one fact whirh op- p0mew your theory" acknowledged, -'0fherwNse I WUuld accept it aa my own also. Cocmbs plainly threatened t0 confront you with Henley to test your claim to being his wife"
 Even that would not be fnlpossi- bla," she admitted reluctantly flor dsath even before-before left. Only do not believe it probable. as he was In no condition to travel and had very little money Besides,' her voice strengthening with conviction, those men who sent you here, Neale and Vail, would never have ventured such a scheme had they been uncertain as to Philip HenIey's helpIessness. be- neve he is either in their control or else dead-'
 Than Coombs lied"
 Perhaps. although still another supp position is possible. Some one else may claim to be the heir.''
 This was a new theory and one not I'D Unreasonable as it appeared at first Ehought- StiIl 1t was sufficiently im- probable so that dismissed it with out much consideration. She apparent " read this In my face
 1t is all gropfng in the dark until we learn more" she went on slowly. Have you decided what you mean to doTs
 Only indefinitely. want to make careful exploration of the house and grounds bY daylight This may reveal something of value. Then we win go into Carr0I1ton before dark. I cannot consent to your remaining here an- ether night after what has occurred. Besides, wesahou1d consult a lawyer the best we cam finland then proceed under hlR.advice- Do you agree7"
 CeEtaAmlys ana how can be of as- nlgtnnceF"
 H yO1 could go back to the house amd keepbSml1Ie busy in the 1ritchen for nm hours hDld her there at something Bo as toEfEfve me free range of the h@upea''
 sVVzEh sa1liey' She lifted her hands fin ayerziSnL ssIt doesn't seem as though could stand that But, she added, ri11ng reso1ute1y to her feet 1T will if you wish t. OG. course eught to do what ntfle can Why what is thfs-- a zeal KingT'
 She sbooped and picked the article ID G1m the floor out of a litter of dead leaves ana held it to the light be- tween her hngers- As she gazed her checks Whitened, and when her eyes again met mine they evidenced fear
 That-that was Philip HenIeyss Emg." she said gTavely. Family heir Hooms he always wore aE. He must be herA
 ..At Ieast it would seem that he has been Tho seal is a peculiar one, not likely to be duplicated But doubt lf he ts here now, for he could have mp reason for avoiding us. unless,-
 I know what you nean,' she re- piled, ag I hesitated, unless he in tended tD repudiate me. to refuse me reeogrf8fum'
 sIs he that kind of a manr'
 ESoD not when sober. Under the fnduenee Offliquer he becomes a brute, capable of any meanness.''
 Perhaps that may be the secret then The others here may be keeping him intoxicated and hidden away for purposes of their own However, this need not change our plans. viii you go in to Sallie?''
 ~Yes; it will be relief to be busy, to feel that I am accomplishing some thineT
 I stood upon the bench. from where could look out above the weeds and tangled bushes. and followed her course to the house. At top of the nteps she paused an instant to glance hack and then disappeared within wEited patiently. knowing that if she failed to discover the housekeeper she would give some signal Meanw hile I watched the weed grown area about me carefully in search of any slkl1lker observing our movements.
 The knowledge that Philip Henley was alive. that any discoveries I might make would benefit him even more than his wife. robbed me of some in terest in the outcome Nothing I had heard of the man was favorable to his character I felt profoundly con- vinced chat whatever affection his wife might have once entertained for him had long ago vanished through neglect and abuse. Fly sympathies