The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-25


'eYour communication, Inspector" he
began (he had the kind of voice which
seems to be buried In sawdust pack
ing), "was brought to me this morn
ing and has disturbed me immeasura-
bly,, unspeakably."
"You have been to view the body,
sir?"
Zone of my clerks, who knew Mrs.
Vernon, has just returned to this house
to report that he has identified her."
II should have preferred you to go
yourself, SIR" began Dunbar, taking
out his notebook.
my state Of health, inspector" said
the solicitor, renders it undesirable
that I should submit myself to an or
deal SO unnecessary, so wholly unnec-
essary."
every good" muttered Dunbar, MAX
ing an entry in his book; your clerk,
| then, whom / can see in a moment,
Identifies the murdered woman as Mrs.
Vernon. What was her Christian
| name?"
"1ris-Iris Mary Vernon"
Inspector Dunbar made a note of the
fact.
"And now" he said, "you will have
read the copy of that portion Of my
report which I submitted to you this
morning, acting upon information sup
| piled by Miss Helen Cumberly."
Eyes, yes, inspector; have read it.
But, by the way, do no. Know Miss
Cumberly."
Miss Cumberly," explained the de.
tectiye, us the daughter of DR.. Cum.
berly, the Harley street physician. sShe
lives with her father in the fiat above
that Of Mr.. Leroux. She saw the body
by accident and recognized 1t as that
Of lady who had been named to her
| at the last Arts ball"
"Ah," said Debnam, Eyes, see, at the
Arts ball, inspector. This is mystic
rious and very CHASTITY case.'
ut is indeed, SIR agreed Dunbar
"Can you throw any light upon the
presence of Mrs. Vernon at Mr.. LIE
roux's flat on the very night of hel
husbands death?" :.
81 can and I cannot" answered the
| solicitor, leaning back in the chair anG
again adjusting his pince nez, in the
manner of man having important
matters e and gloomy, very gloomy
matters-to communicate.
"Goodv' said the inspector and pre-
pared to listen.
"You see," continued Debnam, "ths
late Mrs. Vernon was not actually re
siding with her husband at the date Of
| his DEATH"
.Indeedr'
"Ostensibly"-the solicitor shook
tensibly, Inspector, she was visitin
her sister in Scotland
Inspector Dunbar sat up YER
straight, his brows drawn down owe
the tawny eyes.
''These visits were of frequent oe
currence and usually Of about week
duration. Mr.. Vernon, my late client
man-Tll not deny it-of inconstan
affections (you understand me, inspee
torO, did not greatly concern himsel
with his wife's movements. She be
longed to a smart bohemian set, and
to use a popular figure Of speech
burnt the candle at both ends-lat
dances, night clubs, bridge parties an
othe4' feverish pursuits, possibly take
up as result of the-shall I say COO
ing?-of her husbands affections"
There was another woman in tn
caseY'
Il fear so, inspector. In fact, 1 al
sure of it. But to return to Mrs. Vel
non. My client provided her with an
Pile funds, and l myself have express
ed to him establishment respecting he
expenditures In Scotland. / under
stand that her sister was in compars
lively poor circumstances, and wen
so far as to point out to Mr.. Verno
that f10O was-shall / say an exec;
sive? -outlay upon a weeks sojourn
Auchterander, Perth
"a hundred popndsS