The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-09

"You are on the wrong track Cairns he said. '"The coroner de l clares there are no symptoms of any kind Of violent death, and the verdict is from natural causes" Show me any basis of suspicion and I might take a chance, if there was any money hung up, but there isn't. Your talk don't make me want to spend my money"
 Cairns was nett1ed.
 "Nobody wants you to spend any of your money or the firms money. I'm going into this on my own"
 Rainey laughed.
 '"The thing is dead so far as the State is concerned. If you want to fish around a. for1orn hope for the sake of the practice 1t will give you, do it on your own time and with your own money. Take a vacation
 'AH right" assented Cairns. '"The work won't have done me any harm and the vacation may do me good. I'll start right now"
 Cairns first move was to run down to Cypripedium Lodge.
 The iron gates were open. Cairns drove up to the portecochere and rang. Batu opened the door, and ushered Cairns into the library. Claire Carroll, in black that accentuated her beauty, sat at the desk, though not in the chair Forsythe had used BlatcQaley occupied that, and there was a mass of papers between them, which they had evidently been sort ing. Both greeted Cairns cordially, but he was sure he noticed restraint between them.
 There seemed to have been more than an ordinary difference of opin- ion between B1atchley and the girl. which was not yet adjusted.
 Miss Carroll" began Cairns, "I am of the opinion that MT. Forsythe's death was not natural. It is my wish to prove the mystery-at my own eX- pense-in a ps4vate manner. But I do not wish to do anything in direct opposition to your desires. In fact I wish your cooperation, if possible"
 The girl exchanged a look with 
 ttI share your belief, MT. Cairns she said. T have been trying to per suade MT. Blatchley."
 Blatchley glowered.
 "It is useless he said. There is not an iota of evidence. I consider it nonsense. But my opinion seems to be of small consequence. I will leave you two to talk it over" Pre- sently they heard the sound of his motor down the drive.
 "Mr. Cairns" said Miss Carroll. s'I shall be very frank with you. I will tell you all I know of the affair.
 tMr. Forsythe has done me the honor of making me his heiress, an honor that I shall not accept.
 'T came to MT. Forsythe four years ago as his amanuensis. I was em- ployed by the Pan-American Botani- cal Association at the time, and +n Mr. hn &hr0iICh my special knowledge of what he wanted, any idea that we were even distant relatives. That came up quite by accident later.
 'fFor the sake of the conventions we agreed upon the remote relation 5tip as that of uncle and niece. Later was glad of 1t.
 For some reason he disliked Fred Blatch1ey-the first time | le saw him."
 "Yet he called him in?"
 At the last moment He came to 1 sudden decision on the night of the | we1fth. before you arrived.
 .'I wasn't present at their interview. | Ie got Batu and Ngatf to act as wit l lesses. It was two years ago that I | loticed a change in MT. Forsytthe- I | the first of the warning let CTS came at that time After that ie dlWdyS dCIeHOeQ SITlctiy to HIS oWH nail, no matter what the envelopes night indicate-and answered them. ie became more and more of re- luse."
 You never saw any of the threat ming letters?"
 'No, nor actually heard of them Intu quite recently But I could see | hat he was worried
 fTo Be Continued) Copyright, 1922, Thompson Feature |
 Sarufcel r