The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-05-27

y
jain Nsedhc,rs prepares for his last hours.
He knewthat Byles Grant & Byles would
hnye to send a confidential messenger to
Dublin for the evidence Of his guilt and
that by Monday they would be in position
to order his arrest. He foresaw the long
train Of other frauds which their discovery
would bring to light, and he knew there
was no chance of compromise.
At first he thought of fight; but flight
demanded energy, AMI he was tired, beaten,
ont of hope, out Of spirits. Flight would
mean pursuit, and pursuit capture; but,
above all, it meant action, energy, ply cal
grip, and he had lost all this with his last
move, played unsuccessfully in the private
counting house of Byles, Grant & Byles::
The expression Of surprise in the face OF
Byles, senior, and the peculiar and doubt
ing remark Of Grant had dropped his hopes
down to zero. The ax was at the tree. He
knew it must fall. In short, be had had
enough; he was played out; and in this
frame Of mind he went home, revolving O
plan Of suicide.
It was hot summer day. June was just
merging into July. The London season was
waning, though to all appearance it was in
its heydey. St. PauPa was booming the
hour Of four as his single-horse brougham,
which he used for city work, pushed its way
through the yehicular traffic of Ludgate
Hill and Fleet street towards the West end
The jaded banker and member Of parlia-
ment noted, in q dreamy way, the lauguid
manner Of the pedestrians, so unusual in
London; but eighty degrees in the shade
was serious tax upon street energy. At
Charing Cross he saw two parliamentary
colleagues walking leisurely to the house,
and in Regent street cabinet minister re-
turned his nod ,and inwardly Thanked his
official stars that Mr. Needham was not
quite out, of the political running, for tia
government could not afford to make seri-
Gus mistakes Of any kind. .';iia&""i
;,rAt Piccadilly circus Mr.. Needham pulled
the check-stringat druggists, and entea-
ing the store asked for speedy means Of
death, as Romeo had asked of the epothe.
cary in Mantua. But there, was nothing
picturesque in the bankers approach to the
London drug seller; nor did he confide to
the modern tradesman the need he. had
for tho mortal drugs. It waass veSy pro-
sale request that Mr.. Needham preferred
"a large bottle of essential oil Of almonds" )"
30 said his groom wanted 1t for the
horses, hs2 prasanied. Il The rctemiist sug-
gested that arsenic was the only drug he
knew of that was given to horses, and then
only in very small quantities. u think my
groom says it is for dressing," said Need
ham, 'but ! shall see to that myself; my
stud groom is very clever fellow and is
advised by an experienced vet" ut Is q
deadly poison" said the druggist. "Not
more so than arsenic" answered Needham.
'sThey are both severe enough" said the
druggist, "but how large bottle do you
wish forY' "About half q pint" said the
customer. The shop keeper conferred with
some other person for few minutes. The
customer seeing. as he thought, some hesita-
tion in regard to serving so large guam
tity, said, "Make it up and send it to my
house-Mr. Needham, Portland place.. The
name and address had their due weight
ssSend it this evening lam going to Leigh
ton Buzzard in the morning and want to
take it with me-"
The druggist was 20 bit of sporting
man." had ridden to hounds now and then,
and had heard of the Needham stud. He
was, on this account, all the moro impressed
with his new customer, and said the drug
should be sent at once. MARK it poison"
said Mr. Needham ''Of course, sir" said
the druggist; "thank you, sir" And MIR.
Needham drove home. Portland place was
more or less en- fete with afternoon recep-
tions, as it would ba later with dinner par
ties, and later still with gayer throngs at
evening ''routs and Dances" for the season
was particularly gay one, and Portland
place was the headquarters Of one of the
most snowy and interesting of Oriental en-
bassies.
"a messenger, SIR" said the butler,
shortly after Mr.. Needham had entered his
study, with parcel be must deliver only
toyou." -.....s... 49,. ~...
IA parcslr'
lit is from the chsmists."
''Oh, yes; show him IT," said MIR. Need
ham. "Dick wants some oil Of almonds
for the horses called to order it, and it
is strong poison, and there is so much Of
it they don't like to deliver it in q general
kind OF way. Show the young man in"
II was only to deliver it to Mr.. Need
ham," said the messenger.
'JulIe rlSut, slu tue Lauher. Il sup
pose there is enough to poison the whole
streetr'
"Yes, sir" said the messenger II
brought it myself that there might be no
mistake"
''Thank you very much," said Mr.. Need
ham, taking the bottle; and then turning
to the butler he remarked, "We will lock it
up. eh, Johns'
"Yes, sir"
'Tn my desk"
"Yes, sir"
Mr. Needham handed the bottle and the
Keys to the butler, who placed it in the