St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-22
SHE WAS PRETTY.
London EiirtatiOn--Drugge ana
Isnhhed..The Final Capture.


Itwas Norton's birthday. Most OF you
know dear old Norton, who's in America
lust now. worse luck. His birthday falls
on the 9Th of June, and we arranged to dine
together at the restaurant from which we
have Just come. 1t was a blazing day, and
the night Just as hot as they make 'em. L
was q medical student then and awfully
hard at work. and right glad l was when 1t
came time to meet Norton and have dinner.
You know how nice the Windsor looks IN
The summer time with its fountains ana ltS
lowers. Well, | met Norton at z. Inc
place was awfully crowded and we had to
share our bower Of delight with two other
persons. However. we didn't much mind,
Tor the man looked gentleman and the
woman was pretty. Indeed she was almost
beautiful. She was rather tall, with
beautifully defined figure; the face was
pale. but not unhealthy SO; she had gray,
auiet eyes. in which to look was really a
rest. / don't remember at this time how
we got into conversation, but we dlu, anu
a very pleasant conversation 1t was. we
knew and admired the same authors, we
had been to the same places. They were
good enough to take wine with us quite III
the old-fashioned way. My lady mad on
an evening dress, which, while 1t revealed
about the best arms and shoulders it has
been my good luck to see, was hardly the
costume in which to dine at restaurant,
and that troubled me rather, because she
seemed to know what was proper. Norton
and were young then. There was no mad
thing Of which we were not capable III those
days, and now he is in America and have
the govt in my left hand, let you fellows
laugh as you will.
Well, it ended in our acquaintance ask
ing us if we would waive ceremony and go
round and take tea at their rooms. Their
rooms happened to be close by the Windsor.
| didn't care much about going, but l saw
that Norton, who had taken, perhaps, one
more glass of champagne than was abSO-
lutely advisable, was rather hit-Of course
by mere way OF Irritation. So l caved i'll,
and not with very much reluctance either.
| remember how warm we felt as we came
out of the Windsor. Our dinner acQuaint-
ance had given ne his card, on which was
engraved J. G. Branlstone The address,
Is Great Russell street, had been added in
pencil | walked with Brankstone, who
kept me well entertained, while Norton
walked with the lady, who was doubtless
BrankStone's wife. Dear old Merton! you
remember how very gracious he becomes
under certain circumstances. L found
Brankstone a very intelligent person. He
had low and very pleasant voice. We
walked together, Norton and Mrs Drank
stone going i'll front. l suppose the
unusual situation in which I found myself
impaired something of magic to that night,
but London seemed to me a city of erchant-
1nent, quite different to the work-a-day old
place | knew SO well. There was a sense
in oir 4 v-aI of
we found ourselves in a modest but pleas
antly furnished apartment. The room was
pervaded by perfume at once delicate and
potent, which suggested Mrs. Brankstone,
though one could hardly tell why.
do you like music?" she asked, throw
ing her hat and gloves aside.
We both responded i'll the affirmative.
Then [ will play to yOu,' she said, and
,drifted into one of the most dreamy Of
Chopin's nocturnes, one Of those pieces SO
suggestive of water under moonlight.
Brankstone explained to Inc that as they
were at present wandering about he had
Warehoused lis books, but he had with him
two OF three interesting volumes, which he
produced for my inspection. 1t being
thought too late to trouble the people of
the house for tea, spirits were produced,
Norton and gladly splitting brandy and
soda.
Pm glad you like it." said our host.
For my own part I'd as soon drink
poison" and he filled his glass with wine.
Mrs. BranllStOne accorded us permission to
smoke, and things seemed TO grow more
dreamliAe every moment. The street of
Great Russell is quiet one, in which small
sounds assert themselves and that night
had for me a strange significance. Thus
the late knock of the postman seemed
thing Of mystery, and the mutterings of
two men leaning against a lamp-post sug-
geSted consplratorS and heaven knows
what.
Don't be foolish" heard Mrs. Drank
stone say. She and Norton were sitting
together on sofa. ''Of course YOU will
when she added, turning to Brankstone.
s'but all men are faithless, are they not,
Charley?"
Il hope you don't speak from expert
ence, my dear child" he answered. coming
&c where she was sitting and passing his
hand over her hair. ''Now sing US some
thing" She rose and began to sing
Break, Break" by Tennyson.
''You sing it divinely."I heard Norton
say. l was distressed to hear in his tones
the effect OF alcohol. II think I'll sit
down. he said. stupidity, and collapsed On
tie sofa. l began to wonder if / myself
might not have taken too much wine at
dinner. l felt kind of StupefactiOn steal
ing over me. 1t then occurred to me that
if we stopped there any longer we should
be making fools OF ourselves, and, jumping
up, l staggered across the room to where
Norton was half reclining On the sofa, with
his eyes closed and breathing heavily.
1--WE will go now" l said, having to
choose my words painfully. 1--WE seem to
have taken too much wine. Wake I'D, old
man." trying to raise Norton.
''Oh, let him have his sleep out. " [ heard
Mrs. Brankstone say; land you will be all
the better for hap. We don't mind.
There. will sing you something" mo-"
l said, 1--WE will CO." Then l was aware
of warm arms clinsing about my neck and
subtle perfume all around me. The next
moment | had dropped into chair. Then,
by lightning flash, saw danger Iknew
that we were drugged, and suspected with
what drug. 1t was one with which I had
experimental great deal Hence the
reason it had not overcome me as it had
Norton. In a few minutes I feigned sleep
as deep as his, while fought to save my
self from the abyss of sleep into which /
felt myself sinking with dreadful rapidity
But braced every nerve and held on. 1t
seemed as if nothing would ever happen.
At length felt fragrant hand pass over
my face and heard the woman's voice say:
'sIt's all right now, Charley. He's done
for now till morning" Then I felt a
rather valuable ring being removed from
my finger, after which 1 was relieved of
my watch and purse, the woman humming
all the while the air of Break, Break"
care we ready?" said the man.
EYES," answered the woman, don't for
getto bring the brandy this time. You goi
US nearly found out in Paris by leaving il