The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-06-15

at her shoulder so that they read it
together.
Miss Leaford began getting
supper before dark. Everyone
came to supper except Mrs.
Bowdon. They came in relays.
About 1850 Mrs. Tame came to
put Mr.. and Mrs. Hurder to bed.
About eight, Asa Tame came
for a cup of tea, used milk out
OF the bottle.
After he left, Mrs. Tame heat
ed milk for Mr.. and Mrs. Hurd-
er. Rab Taine came in to say
good night. The milk was on the
stove. He stood near the stove.
Then he left for Providence.
About 8:25 Mrs. Taine left,
Mr.. and Mrs. Hurder in bed.
About $3.50 Miss Leaford
turned out downstairs lights and
went to her room. About 8:45
she met Clint outside.
About HES Clint and Miss
Leaford returned and stopped in
front Of the house.
About l1:10 they saw the fire.
At l1:l9 exactly, the alarm
was rung in. The apparatus ar
rived at exactly 1923. Mrs.
Tame and Asa arrived at the
fire about 11:2l.
At exactly 11:51 Mrs. Taine
put In a call for Providence to
her son.
While June and Clint studied this
schedule IN silence, Tope explained:
You know when you went up
stairs, and when you went out to
meet Clint; and I've guessed at the
times before that. I know when
the alarm was rung in, and when
the apparatus arrived; and by al
lowing for all you and Clint did after
you saw the fire and before the ap-
paratus arrived, I can figure out
about the time you saw the fire."
Yes" June said. This seems
about right"
1--WE a record of the call to Prov
idence," Tope added. How bad
was the fire then-when your aunt
went to phone?"
The whole house was burning"
June decided.
Tope nodded. There's one other
question I've got to ask you," he
said gravely. do you think any
one of-your relatives might have
given your mother poison? Or set
the house on fre?"
mo, no." June whispered. "They
were hard and stubborn; but No.
No"
Did any of them except your
mother ever take a sleeping-pow-
der?" he insisted.
She hesitated. why, yes" she
said doubtfulIy. Uncle Justus did"
And she explained in faint amuse-
ment: He really had insomnia,
sometimes. It seems odd, because
ne could always sleep In a chair;
but sometimes he couldn't sleep in
bed Doctor Cabler gave him some
tablets once; but Aunt EVE took
them away from him, wouldn't let
him use them. So poor Uncle Justus
used to ask me to give him tablet
out of Mothers bottle, now and
then; and / know Rab took some
for him once"
'sWhen was that?" Tope asked
gravely.
About a month ago." June re-
hected. 81 found Rab in the bath
room; he told me-"
Tope wagged his head; but he
did not push this matter further.
Ibid you know Miss Thayer?" he
asked. Her names LISA"
"Yes," June assented. THAT is,
] saw her sometimes, when I was
walking In the woods"
did you ever see your cousin
Asa with her?" Tope asked. The
girl shook her head; and Tope ex-
planned:
81 saw them kiss each other to-
night, at the fire. They were back
In the shadows, but 1 saw
'1Asa?" June cried incredulously.
"Yeu never knew anything about
that?"
''Oh, no." she declared. "But if
Asa loved her, he wouldn't have
dared tell anyone. They'd have been
furious. Aunt EVE, and Grandma
Bowdon, I mean"
"You think so?" Tope prompted
her.
Eyes! Mother used to tell me"
She hesitated, went bravely on:
Mother used to tell me that if I
married without their consent, they
would crush me. They did crush
her, you know"
Inspector Tope nodded; and he
picked his words with care. You
remember Mr.. Glovere, who lived
IN the cabin In the woods-the man
you called Uncle Jim. You liked
him, didn't your"
"Yes," she said. $50 much. He
went away, after Mother died"
Hes come back" the Inspector
said.
where is hep" she cried eager
E.
Tope hesitated, he confessed at
last: Inspector Heale is holding
him"
"You mean-arrested him?" Her
cheek was pale.
"Heale thought he might have had
something to do
"Oh," she protested in loyal pride.
'sUncle Jim wouldn't. No, no."
HE came back at noon today"
Tope explained. "Came back ask
ing for you Miss Leaford, I
used TO be a policeman. I'm trying
10 find out what happened out there.
You understand that we are sure
your mother, somehow, was poi
soned. Someone put some extra tab