Show I The he House of ot the i Pines Pin B r i 1 By Byl Anna Katharine Green 1 L Kf Jt r PUTNAM'S tra SONS Copyright copyright 1910 b by by 9 joS rok alI nd London on o oD ANNA KATHARINE f CHAPTER CATER Had Said Nothing 1 I I Sad 0 O my souls soul's Joy joyt tempest st come such calms calm f come wok wok- w till the they have bloW ti Othello l 4 alwaYs loved her that I 1 knew hour nour of my darkest sua sus sus a but ut the tho now nO I felt freo treo reo to worship J thought pene penetrated mv my A As' As being the it made mad tho thu D night ht glai- glai lad clad Whatever awaited her whatever awaited mo ma whatever Arthur 1 a. a Id d Arhur re regenerated me me A chan change o Lace fee that ni night ht in n my na naf na- na naL lc f aspect of life and my view L 1 fl e-fl my 57 Ono One On fa t rod triumphant le considerations ons and pos ill all other 15 11 stresses s. s Fa Fate I cI I was s more in in- in noW Dow to call cl it providence had providence bad 55 the heart of a great rea and true mo me dI was free to expend all al V l imp impulses ws in honoring her and her whether er sh she ever looked my h r received or even oven rain lain laiD out of or such is as a homage I r bad done donol growing her and her h r un un- unite I sister It set zet a star in I my m ite ait It turned down all all' 31 tho iiiI illand ill ill- i. i I I an and besmirched leaves in m ray my r md opened up a new page e eh eli h her hr ad r name namo written in n jetters letters lotters demanded clean work in in I the theand 11 1 and ind nd a record which should not ot th the aura inra surrounding that pure Sorrow for the past dread of ire both both were lost in tho the glad gladi d i Of my distracted soul The Thera hc nu m ra i dedicated to joy and to 10 oy next ext day being Sunday I had tj tm e for the he reaction bound to t o I had hadi hadt hours boura of such on t h kurs i for tor company I even denied to Clifton The sight of a huce hut hu- hu t Clfton than I could bear beart t ce was was more Lt ee t were the one ne face faceS and that bat I Ilot ot lot ere hope for But the desire deslo to toto to to- hoar hear her from her her if if only to air t. t the sho had hd endured the bitter biter OW the day before soon before soon became o ble ible I must know this much at att tt tto t to her ber feelings s or mine line a struggle le with myself tap flap Dr Carpenter on tho the tele tele- tle Prom From him I learned that she prostrated but still sti ce clear r fly LI 1 and ad satisfied of her brothers brother's te Ete an This latter latter statement m might ht f but imparted by him hun it seemed to be capable of but buter I must be prepared er distrust of myself this con eon earned carried with it wred mi was Wi intolerable I had bad to toI toI I had ba to inquire if she had yet yete he e bd real rel re reason son why I was thebe thebe the tho be bs arrested acted No Nou cut short that I could ed breathe again and prof h bl ble request ir I cannot approach her heri I Iea Ien Ien en ea it write write write-it it would t beem er too ions But tell tl her as you ou DU how I honor lonor her ler er I t her bel remain under the im- im at lat I 1 am not capable of truly hat ht she se has borne bore and must r. r H rdo ill do What t I can was his hia ud he mercifully cut short the toD iras the event of the morning mornin B af afternoon mOn I sat in iD my mv window windoW Ie I r. r My y powers of res reasoning had bad 0 1 ad and the tie insoluble problem aides aide's murder occupied my lay mind Bind With Carmel Cannel Carel innocent ea J there left lef to t suspect Not ls His fingers were as guiltless wa swa of tf f those marks on her throat 4 1 I was wa convinced difficult as f f future ture My mind refused taut flirt 1 in a man visa who could meet meetS S with jut juit the look h ho he gave mo me moue ue the courtroom at tho the conof con con- LOf nl io of hia Ms hi sisters sister's triumphant ex ex- I was It-was wa a momentary glance t tIit d it I am ama sure quite Quie trutha truthe truth- truth eg e a te man it said bu but buI not notI I wi cd d bitter and revengeful way wy br by-bh by uh th tn tongue e before wo we came canto camer t. t r In the one effort to sa save vc Car Car- W lt in pur our efort sightedness short 1 of her character looked i ked ke upon as the worst of ci II and the te most desperate of Ire Ire- ee was wag sadness in his cona cond con- con Wd d a an a honest honet mans man's re regret regret- ret ret- r I noted IDU d by b those those- about us was us-was was dangerous NI fc to my mv good name denunciations or the it of assaults assault It I put h worst wort of positions But one reined ried for me inc now DOW I ret man maD of guilt git mi might ht yet but how or through whose I found myself lf unable to conI conI con con- I I 1 had a neither my the wit nor DOr the tho thoO O to o untangle lo this confused O U I fn find the law in shape to toa Ith a it ul It A A few days dars would showe show v. e e termination of Arthurs Arthur's trial o J y of or of my future would be begin in be ine 0 I 1 must have patience and t. t th as could bo be bl got ot from from the ithe lothe the afternoon passed Uh fine tho coming on of night my Sly I wanted air move movement ent te s of my ray rooms had had become ble le As A soon son as the lamps amps were te Street arcet I I I. 1 started out and I ard the cemetery Io no motive in choosing this di- di I lor orm walk ay Tho The road was Vins ane an au Cle J e i and I should uld h neither a oid n-oid oid 1 jor t ape the tho chilly blast blow blow- r WhY in i In my face from the u. u or shall I not sa say bay true tue re ne mo rae there though I Ithe Wi was all al the time tinie ot or r a i troug I re U P. P Ella Fult lla Fulton 1 n and learn from of of affairs whether affairs U peace peee e or in utter titter disgrace 1 uter Ii 1 Parents ren Wall joW Jl cold ni night ht as I have said i J but few Peo people le in the thc n On 4 the G boulevard I met no no- eAB T seared neared the cemetery I a Jf a tn otherwise I was to all tk alone e on n this remote ave s. s h L effect was sinister or m my S. S e it l O yet et I T did not hasten batten ha ten v tr hours hour our ti midnight h had hadt t tU h In some Bomo way and andi th JI No Ni o companion would r 11 welcome S-welcome i come come- ome and 1 had hd the soli- soli Bol rM cl r c I should hould have hare it t e of intrusion Bates cs w were re shut This Je ted u t I did not need t to have a view vies of j u. u ve The Tho Cumberland lot lotic ic Ba l In an c co Close e Proximity to toI toja I c cl ty Y only ODly intention had t tib ja in i II spot and Ind cast one on thi e j emory mor o of Adelaide To Tot t and aDd ow ver I T had hail to turn 1 t n dOIng so 80 I saw good od Jat ou b. b for not carrying i 11 at thi especial time not recognize him reO I t i had d-had tz had forestalled II Ib was 8 a dark daik one nc C the t scattered I lA t. t Bide aide of the tho way for me mp to discern his intent gur turo crouching against in t tho oars Drs' Drs anc and 3 in gt gJ r. r with an intentness 1110 nalo him entirely oblivious of my presence e at the plot plot and and on the very P on ver very verj crave which I which hail had been the end d of mown m ny 1 own rn So motionless ss ss o l-o 1 stood lod anil tn I I myself li h uJ nl at at this d and und t s ln that I presently imagined ined I r could hear his sighs in the dread IJ quiet t into ito which the whole hid bid sunk Grief Gref d deeper than mine inin spoke pl in those laboring breaths Adelaide wr wr was i mourned by bj- some some ono as I for all al m my remorse could n saver never cr mourn herAnd her And I did di not know the man Was WS not this enough to rouse my ray wonder I thought ht so and was on tl the point i of satisfying this won wonder er by bv a quick advance advance ad all vance nce unon this thie stranger when there happened an uncanny thin thing which held me in check from sheer er astonishment astonishment Iwas T I was as so SQ placed in in n reference to one of th the street lames lamas I ba have already mentioned that m mv my shadow hadow fell fl before me mc plainly along the snow snoW This lu had r not attracted my attention attention until at the point point of moving I ca cast t my eyes down and saw two shadows where only one should be As I heard no one behind me imie me and had myself entirely alone supposed I with the man absorbed in contemplation i tion of Adelaide's s grave rac I 1 experienced I a ton L curious sensation which without being he be in ing fear held hold me JC still sti for a moment with m my eyes eNI on this second shadow I It I did not move an any an more than mine did This was significant and I 1 turn turned cd A man stood at my back back not not looking look lug ing at me but at nt the fellow in in front of us A quiet hush bush sounded bounded in my ear and again I stood still eti But only for an instant The man maD at the fence fence aroused aroused by my mv movement perhaps had Perhaps had turned and seeing our two figures started to 1 fly in the opposite direction Instinctively Instinctively Instinct Instinct- ively cly I darted forward in pursuit but was was soon oon assed b by the man ninn behind me This caused me to Blacken for I had recognized reco this latter as he lien flew by as Sweetwater tho the detective and knew that he ho w would uld do this work better bet bet- ter tel than myself But I 1 reckoned without my host bost He went only as far as the spot spot- where the theman theman theman man had bad been standing When in in inUi Ui my astonishment I advanced upon him he be wheeled about quite naturally in in my direction and accosting me bYname by byname byname manner name remarked in his genial offhand There is no zo o need for us to tire tre our legs in a chase chae after that man I 1 know less him well wel enough And C nd who who who- I be began an A quizzical whO smile mie answered me inc The light wa was now in our faces and I had a perfect view of his his Its Is expression quite disarmed ine me but I knew as well wel as if he he- had spoken that that that-I I should re- re no other reply to my half formed question Are Are you OU going back into into town 7 ho he asked as I paused and looked down at atthe atthe the thel umbrella swinging Jn in rn his hand I Iwas Iwas was was sura sure that he had not held this urn urn- ur arella brella when ho be started by me ne e on on the brela run If I BO so 80 will wi you ou allow BIow me inc to walk rn beside you ou for a little way way I could not refuse him bim besides I 1 Iwas Iwas was not sure that I wanted 10 tOo to Homely as is any man I had ever seen there was wasa wasi his voice and a i magnetic quality in voice manner that affected even ono one so s fastidious fas fas- as 38 myself I felt fel that I bad had rather talk to him a at that moment than ihan to any other person I knew Of course course curiosity had something to do with it it and that community of inter inter- eat et st which is the tho strongest bond that can an link two people together You are welcome said sid I and again cast my eye 6 at the umbrella agin You You are arc wondering where I 1 got ot this his he ho remarked looking lookin down at atit it t lt in his turn I found it leaning the fence If IV It gives me mo all aU the clue lue I need to our footed fleet friend Mr Sir Ranelagh will wi you credit me mc with good lood intentions if 1 I ask a question Queston or Two which you may mayor or may not be le willing villing to answer answer answer- You ma may ask what you will wH said I. I I have nothing to conceal since hearing Miss iss Cumberland's s 's explanation of hearn f her presence a at The Whispering Pines Ah Ah The ejaculation was eloquent So was wi followed it Without With With- the he silence which Wih out nit good reason perhaps I felt tho the strain upon my heart hear loosen a little Was IVas it possible that I should find a friend in this man mon The Tho C The question I am going o ng to 10 ask he 10 continued queston presently is one which may consider unpardonable Let you pou me no first express an opinion You havo have not lot told all al that you ou know of that I doings evenings evening's e This called caled for no reply and anc I made mado none lone I I can understand your reticence if your knowledge included the fact of Miss Mies ss Cumberland's heroic act ac and her sisters sister's manner of death det at the club club- house ouse But it did not I asserted with deliberate emphasis I knew nothing noth ing of either M My arrival arival happened later Inter Miss Cumberland Cumberland's 8 testimony first enlightenment on gave mo me my these points But I did know that the two sisters were there to together ether for I had bad a glimpse of the oun younger cr as she was leaving the house You had had And are arc willing nilling to state it now Assuredly b But an any testimony of I th that t kind is JS is' is for the defense and your our our interests arc all al with the prosecution Mr Moffat is tho the man who should talk to me Does ho he know it it I Yes 1 T Who told him T I did I You You it was it-was duty dub Yes res es a my c You You are interested then in seeing Cumberland freed young I must bo ho he is is innocent innocent The Tho man 0 at mv my side turned shot at atme atme atme m which I calmly calmly calm calm- me one glance met met qui o ly then regulating his step by mine moved on silently for a moment think moment think thinking lag ing as it appeared to me me some very serious ina thoughts It I was not not until w n- I had traversed a whole block in this way ay that ho he finally put his question queston Whether it was the one he had first hadin hadin had hadin in mind I cannot say any Bay Mr Mr will wi you jou ou tell tel me why when you yon found yourself in sucha smitha such smith a dire extremity as to to be arrested for this crimo crime on evidence as startling as asto asto asto to call cal for all al and every possible testimony testimony test mony to your innocence you OU preserved silence in regard to a a. a fact which you must have then felt would have secured you a most invaluable witness sT 1 can Can understand why Mr Cumberland has been bon loth loth to speak r of hi his younger sis sisters sister's sisters sister's ter's ter presence in n the clubhouse use on that night but his reason was not your our rca rea son Yet YOU havo been as al hard to move on this point poi t as he Then it was I regretted my thou thought thought- less loss promise t to tb b bo be candid candid with this man To answer were impossible yet ret silence has hns is its confidences too In my dilemma a I turned towards him mim im and iu just t then wo we stepped within tho the glare o OI ot an electric light pouring from some open doorway I cau caught ht his Ins eye and Rud was wal I astonished at the change which took took place in iii him I Dont answer he ho muttered volu volu- I b bly 3 It I isn't necessary I 1 un understand understand under under- cr I stand tho the situation situation now and you OU shall never regret that you von au met Caleb Sweetwater Sweetwater Sweet Sweet- water Iter on your our walk wak this evening craning Will you YOU trust me me sir sirl A detective Wi who oves loves his profession is no Your secret is is as ns safe with ith me mo as DS if it you had bad buried ed it in tho grave And Aul I had said spid nothing Ho lie le started to go then he stopped ho-stopped suddenly and observed with one 0 of his Iiii wise smiles I I 1 o co spent several minutes in Miss Carmel Cannel room and I saw aw NW a cabinet cabinet there which 1 found it i cry very hard to understand But its it meaning came to mo nie 11 later I could not nut rest rost t till tillit it did I At M time the next next- moment he ho was half halt way ar around ind a corner and n 11 n another out of si sight ht This was the evenings evening's event ont I To Be Continued I |