The House of the Whispering Pines

eat yo

t so imperfe

tice; nor build

ttering and un

r your quiet,

anhood, hone

u know my

he

nversation about the bottles taken from the wine-vault, was the promising one it had then appeared, or only a fool’s trick bound to end in disaster. I weighed the matter in every conceivable way, and ended by trusting to the instinct which

retch of imagination would be apt to associate this description with Carmel; but it might set the authorities thinking, and if by any good chance a cutter containing a person wearing a derby hat and a coat with an extra high collar should have been seen on this porti

iments would not, could not, strike anybody’s mind. Nothing in the cri

me, or be lost in a maze of speculation. This seemed so evident after a long and close study of the situation that I was ready with my confession when Mr. Clifton next came. I had even forestalled it in a short interview forced upon me by the assistant district attorney and Chief Hudson. That it had made an altogether greater impression upon the latter than I had

too. At least, the latter is willing to give me the benefit of the doubt, which was more than I expected. What do you suppose ha

another cutter besides yours passed through the club-house grounds at the time you mention, it left tracks which all the fury of the storm would not have entirely obliter

lood-guiltiness, and take up the matter as it now stands. Can’t you follow up my suggestion? A witness can certainly be found who encou

p. You have not asked f

hese words testified to the shock they gave

at that will do for us. Her testimony is too important to the case to be ignored. A delay will follow which may or may not be favourable to you. I am inclined to

ts occupant. I saw nothing but the hat and coat I have told you about. It was

control had been called upon by the dreadful experiences of the last few days, I had learned to conceal all other manifestations of feeling except under some exceptional shock. But

ot risen between you and me. This is the blindest case that has ever been put i

umberland house, “have you been to the Hill or seen anybody who has? Can’t you give me some details of — of Carmel

ate brother, you know, but now they cannot get him away from Carmel’s door. He sits or stands all day just outside the threshold and casts jealous and bese

always thought that of the two she

e lies. His duty is to the living, he says; at least, his

ries out

d hear her from whe

t does s

stantly. ‘Lila! Li

, it must have looked as cold and hard as sto

thur — mentio

but she let fall this much: that Arthur felt very hard towards you and loudly insisted upon your guilt. She seemed to thi

him my full confidence. But I would not be driven. I simply r

minating person in the world, and even if she were, her opinion would not turn me from the course I have laid out f

must have occurred between the two, previous to Adelaide’s departure for The Whispering Pines. What that scene was can only be told by Carmel and for

at been

al men saw

etter?” It was more than difficult for me to

to my knowle

the r

ne

rged, reverting to the topic of gravest interest to me. “

She’s a competent woman, of course

ord and marking every gesture of a delirious patient, what might we not fear from her circumspection when Carmel’s memory asserted itself and she grew more precise in the frenzy which now exhausted itself in unintelligible cries, or the ceas

tail of the poor girl’s sickness. You will never regret hu

es, as you

ence, then

rs say. The evidences of death by

signs of some other agency having been at work also. Those tw

more to-day. I shall b

ut the words were kind enough with which he speedily took his le