New Britain herald., 1922-03-03

you ask? Your questions just now made me think of suicide, even though I knew how manifestly impos- sible such thing could be in con nection with my gloriously happy little cousin. Are you suggesting now that there may have been something far worse, that some hideous, un- speakabie crime was committed in that room last night? Do you mean |-murder?"
 She broke off as the door at the farther end of the hall opened sud- denly and Mrs. Tudor appeared, lean- ing upon the doctors arm.
 II must see her! You shall let me in! l do not believe you, any of you! It cannot be that my baby is dead."
 "She is, ma'am, though l am mighty sorry to say it." The sheriff produced a key and unlocked the door.
 She seemed not to have heard, but made her way with the slow, meas ured step of soomnambulist to the bedside, where shefell upon her knees and took the small rigid hand in hers. The sheriff had remained respect fully outside the door, but like a shadow the young police sergeant had passed him and stood motionless now behind the kneeling figure.
 My baby! Speak to me. You are only sleeping. you will awaken" But the parted blue white lips gave no response. and the fixed stare of the glazed half-open eyes convinced the wel-nigh crazed mother that her plea had fallen upon ears forever deaf, and with the first outburst of tears she bent her head upon the coverlet- of the bed,
 Fay came swiftly forward and with Sergeant Barry attempted to lift her aunt to her feet.
 Don't touch me!' Mrs. Tudor turned historically upon the girl and then her face quivered and she cried appealingly: "Oh. Fay, can't you see I want to be alone? That l could not endure sympathy just yet? My grief is my own! My own.'
 Fay drew back in pitiful, shocked amazement but the doctor nodded to her reassuringly and himself escorted the sorrow stricken woman to her own apartment.
 Fay was scarcely dressed when voices sounded from below among which the nasal accents of Coroner Shaw mingled with deeper, more re- sonant tones which made Fay catch her breath sharply. How had Ken meth Clayton learned of their trag- edy? What had brought him here
 CHAPTER VI.
 Fay shrank instinctively from a meeting with Kenneth Clayton now, but as a privileged family friend his presence was not amiss at this time of the tragedy. ...
 As she descended the stairs she realized all at once that her head did not feel quite right in spite of what she had told Sergeant Barry, and in sudden fit of dizziness she clutched at the ballustrade.
 Kenneth Clayton met her at the foot of the stairs and his hand closed warmly about hers. 'Is it true that poor Laurel"
 'She is dead, MT. Clayton
 "I suppose Clara is prostrated.'
 "Of course, but she-she takes il so strangely! She could not believe the truth at first when l told her.
 That would be only natural, dear I won't ask you now if you have giver a thought to our little talk last night but l have come to offer my service. to both you and your aunt in any pos sible capacity
 "Oh!" Fay cried in genuine dis tress. "I am sure that Aunt Clara will be deeply grateful, but you ,wil not think me unkind if l feel that T want to be alone? This has al come so suddenly that l don't feel can discuss it even with so-so gooc friend as you.'
 The coroners nasal tones sounded from the stairway.
 Ut isn't whether it's likely or not doctor; it's what the evidence proves I don't care if the other girl got of without being harmed, or not, nor |