New Britain herald., 1926-09-01
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 "Yes, half an hour after"

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 "Yes,hal an hour after"
 GO on."
 "Yes, I'm not through yet. Then the big light went off and the two sparks showed again. And after an- other short interval, on snaps the big light again."
 You amaze me, Mrs. Prentiss! Then people were in and out after the murder"
 Well we don't quite know that but they were in and out after those candles were set burning. Then, if you please, the big light goes off and the candles show again. And that was well after two o'clock. I watched them long while and then l went back to bed and I fell asleep. That's all I know about it.
 And it's lot. Of course. we can't explain the various lights until we know more of the movements of the household during the night. Perhaps the candles were lighted early, be- fore Mrs. Heath was attacked at all"
 1 Maybe, but they were surely not put on the floor until after she was dead. Why should they be? They are so evidently meant as funeral candles. Why place them on the floor, at her head and feet, before she was dead?"
 You are right. When you saw the sparks, and didn't realize they were candle flames, were they, do you think, just where they are now?"
 "Yes. exactly They were right in line with my vision as l looked from my window"
 "The police detective may experl- ment with other candles, and see if you can verify their position"
 He may, if he choses, but know now those candles stood right there where they are now, ever since one o'clock, or thereabouts, last night. i CH4.4 TER X1
 That afternoon at two o'clock, the lounge at the Heath home looked a more fitting place for a social recep- -tton than for coroner's inquest. 1 The big room with it's windows open front Il back, showed window boxes of bright colored flowers, over which the thin sash curtains swayed l in the breeze, and the sunlight play ed through their fluttering folds. l On the tables were vases and baskets of flowers arranged with the care and taste that was the resulting routine of Myra's instructions. 1 The easy chairs and davenports showed their summer garb of flow cred English chintz, and small light chairs had been brought from the caterers for the audience that was expected.
 Many yeople came, both from the Park and from the Gardens, for the Heaths had numerous friends. and there was the usual quota of curl osity seekers.
 Coroner Osborn sat at table, his canny dark eyes darting about the room, and his small features twisted l into a thoughtful frown, as he real l ized the magnitude of the task be- | fore him.
 But he was man of efficient
  habits. and on the stroke of two he called his first witness. This was Katie, the parlor maid, who had first discovered Myra's body.
 She took the chair indicated, and faced the coroner with composure. But Osborn Lad no suspicion that the girl was in any way implicated in the crime, and he merely asked few definite and direct questions as , to her movements that morning and her actions on I.ial1ing the discovery of the tragedy in the studio. He had heard her story before, but had it repeated for the benefit of the men who were serving as jurors.
 Again Katie hesitated when asked at what time she had returned to the house the Light before. Coroner Osborn pressed the point.
 At what hc-c are you supposed to come home, when you have your evening out?" he asked her.
 "At eleven o'clock" she replied, with apparent reluctance.
 That seems to be a bit late. but no matter. What time was it when you really returned?" q don't know, sir"
 "Who let yo in? don't suppose you carry a latch-key."
 NO, sir. IT just got in-my- self"
 The coroner turned to Herrick.
 "At what time did you lock up the house?" he asked.
 "At something after eleven thirty V The man spoke sulkily, for he could see that this must impair Katie's story, and the servants were, for the most part, loyal to one another.
 You locked the back doors-the kitchen entrance as we'll as the front door and windows?"
 "Yes, sir" Herrick could see no way to evade the truth.
 "Then how did Katie get in?" the iinexorable voice continued.
 The, was moments silence, and then Emma, the waitress, spoke up and said: T let her in."
 "Ah. now we are getting facts. How did you know when she came? Did you sit up for her? Did she knock? Telt het ruth. now"
 But Emma was a straightforward person. and she said, simply. "Why. Katie threw a pebble up at my bed room windo :. and I came down and unbolted the kitchen door for her. I often do that"
 "Oh, you do! And you bolted 1t again, after that?"
 "Yes, sir"
 And what time of night was this?"
 Emma gave a scared glance at Katie, b;:t she had ;- supreme respect for the majesty of the law, and she replied:
 Well, it was Just half past one,