Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-24

"Then he must be arrested immedi-
atelv."
"Yes, or as near Immediately as posi-
BILE. We will 90 back and warn DR..
Kincaid to keep sharp eye on him to
prevent his destroying that paper, while
you get an officer. That is, if Kincaid is
still there.''
ooh! Heavens! Don't suggest the
thought that he might have left. If ne
should go away Ladue would finish his
wife with the atropin, Burn the paper and
then-where would l beW
Happily, they arrived at DR.. Ladue's
house in time TO find DIR. Kinoaid still at
his post. He came out to them in the
hall, leaving Dr.. Ladue and the old COL
| ored nurse inside the sick room, and re-
ported that-thanks to prompt, energetic
treatment and perhaps incidentally to
| PTovidence-the prospect for saving the
| patient was very good. Then in hoarse.
hurried whispers Mr.. Yardley told him OF
| the appalling discovery that had been
| made, aud told him what was required of
| him, to which he readily assented. In
| their excitement the men in the hall I'M
| consciously raised their voices. so that
| some OF their words were audible TO DR..
| Ladue, whose suspicious were all alert.
| and who fingered near the door trying To
OYerhear them. He heard enough to
| awaken his keenest anxiety. They had
| discove, ed something, how much he, OF
course, could not know, but evidently
| enough TO arouse suspicion of him.
When DIR. kIncaid returned to the room
DR.. Ladue asked him, with assumed indit-
| ference:
"Wh0 was it?"
sob! Merely Yardley, the druggist.
he is naturally somewhat anxious
eyes, suppose so. He should be-"
Though he spoke calmly and tried to
appear as much at his ease az possible,
he felt in his heart that nis colleague was
| regarding him with a suspicious air, and
that his voice had a changed and con-
strained tone. His mind was in no con-
dition to reason upon his chances or cal
culate what burden of proof could be
brought against him. Two thoughts only
presented themselves; he was justly sus-
pected and he would be arrested. He was
a gambler and imbued with some of the
gamester's superstitiOns, one OF which
now pressed upon him. He had played
for certain stake-the death OF his wife
and had lost; fate had declared against
him; his luck was pad and there was no
knowing how bad. The State prison and
The gallOws now doomed up before his
mental vision as among the possibilities
OF the near future. Clearly, he must take
to flight while there was yet time.
If he waited until morning he would
doubtless be arrested.
All these ideas and fancies, rather than
thoughts. tumbled through his mind,
jostling each other until but one thing
WAS clear to him-the necessity for in
slant flight. DIR. Kincaid, he felt sure,
was watching him. Once, by way OF eX-
pertinent, he went into his own room upon
some trivial excuse, and within a min
ute DIR. kincaid called him to assist in
something about the patient. Would he
be allowed to escapeI He returned TO the
sick room. His face was pallid, his
fingers trembling, his throat dry and a
cold Precipitation believed mis- brow.
Lifting graduating glass, he let it fall
and said, with forced smile:
"My nerves are more shaken than /
thought. i think | shall have to brace
them up with little stimulant. II you
will be SO kind as 10 watch Mrs. Ladue /
will run down to the cellar for a bottle OF
brandy. 1t will dOu us both good"
"Why don't you send auntyW suggest t.
ed DR.. Kincaid, doubtlully.
"No, no; 1 carry the keys myself. pll
only De gone minute;" and before his
colleague could utter another word of OBJ
jectlOn DR.. Ladue was gone.
But that minute and many more were
slowly licked out by the tall old clock in
the corner aud he returned not again.
Yardley and RenireW came with an Off
Ger to arrest him and searched for him
diligently, but in vain. He had van
lsbed.
Mrs. Ladue rallied from the effect OF
the poison, and under DR.. Kincaid's care
soon recovered her nealth. She was in
deed quite we'll and happy in the con-
tluued absence Of her husband, when one
day word was brought to her that she was
awidow.
Some boatmen had found, upon little
island in the river, few miles below the
town, the corpse OF a well-dressed man
past recognition, except by its clothing,
but that enabled It's Identification as the
body OF DR.. Ladue. That he had escaped
in his boat, which was ordinarily kept
moored at the foot of the lawn, had long
since been settled, but that which had
not been suspected until now was that Ia
his hurried flight in the darkness he had
trOdden upon some yen0mous reptile,
probably a moccasin snake, and received
It's fatal bite. A handkerchief, knotted
and twisted tightly about his right leg,
showed he had sought to keep the poison
from mounting In his veins. To arrange
this he had doubtless landed on the island
and there died. In one OF his vest pockets
was found, just Is the reporter had ex-
pected 10 TO be, the crumpled wrapper
with its label plainly written In English
by AIR. Hardley's hand;
'oulphate OF morphia, 10 grs."