Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-25
CoNcLUDED.

~,
As Colonel West passed from the room
after dealing out to Mrs. Macdonald the
terrible accusation that she was engaged in
practising against the life of her husband
he encountered in the veranda that ran
round the building the faithful Ali Sen, the
Majors servant, bearing in his hand a
steaming bowl of rich savory soup which he
had prepared for his sick master.
The Colonel was, ordinarily, the least sus-
picious of mortals, but when once the demon
OF doubt obtained possession of his mind il
was not to be easily exercised. 1t flashed
upon him suddenly as possibility that the
man might be in league with his mistress
in q scheme to abbreviate the life of Major
Macdonald, and, quick as thought, he re-
solved to put his new suspicion Immediately
to the proof. Turning hercely on the Hin
doc he abruptly demanded for whom that
mess" was intended, and learning that Ali
had prepared it for the Major by Mrs. Mac
donald's orders, Colonel West, fixing the
man with a penetrating glance from his
deeply-set eyes, quietly remarked:
''1hen I think L will taste the soup, if
yon have no objections, Ali," and without
waiting for reply he took the soup from
the mans hands.
''The sahib is welcome to my poor ef-
forts, the Hindoo said, making profound
salaam as he surrendered the decoction.
"The soup is good. as the sahib will find. !"
There was a garden seat in the veranda,
on which the Colonel Immediately seated
himself.
''It smells good" said the Colonel, as he
seated himself and prepared to attack the
savory brew eff it only tastes as good as
it smells it will be capital" ="
If Ali Sen expected that the Colonel
would have eontented himself with one or
two sips of the beverage he was disap-
pointed. Colonel West began his expert
ment cautiously, as, indeed, he had need to
do, seeing that the beverage which Ali had
prepared was piping hot But, to the in
tense satisfaction of the Hindoo, he turned
each spoonful over his palate with the gusto
of an epicure enjoying his favorite dish,
though there was an ominous frown upon
his brow. The Colonel, in fact, was puz-
zled. He could detect nothing objectiona-
bic in the taste, and electing to 60 through
his part to the end, he did not pause until
the whole was swallowed, when he quietly
handed the empty bowl to Ali Sen, remark
ing with significant emphasis as he did SO:
The Major ought to get well quickly on
Indl. 1ne 0aVOr is e4celleQI, ana reuecLS
great credit on your cooking"
Another profound salaam from the Hin
doc greeted this observation, as the man
receiving back the empty bowl retired to
the servants quarters, to prepare another
portion for the sick Major.
Happily the Colonel suffered no i'll effects
from the experiment he had made upon
himself, circumstance that perplexed him
not little, and left him wondering at what
point in its transition from the servants
quarters to the Majors bedside the sick
iman's food was tampered with. That it
YVES adulterated with some slow poison be
fore it reached the Majors lips was clear as
da1light to the Colonel's mind.
As soon as the man had retired, Colonel
West paid visit to his friends sick room.
A chill struck the heart of the brave SOL
dier, as at one glance his eye took in the
ravages which the mysterious malady had
worked on the powerful, herculean frame
of Major Macdonald. The Major, who was
attired in civilian dress, lay extended onsa
couch scarcely able to move hand or foot.
A clammy perspiration covered his face. and
hung from his pallid lips. He complained
much of feeling cold, though a num-
Der of warm rugs were piled upon
him, and of terrible nausea, with burn
ing heat and construction in his throat.
His circulation was languid and poor. and
his clothes hung baggy and loose upon his
shrunken limbs. The Colonel made no pre-
tense to a knowledge of medicine, but as he
listened once more while his friend detailed
the symptoms of the mysterious malady that
had brought him so low, he could not resist
the conviction that, although many of the
symptoms described might be traced to that
disorganized state of the liver from which so
many Anglo-Indlans suffer, the disease was
not running an ordinary course; in short.
that his friend was being slowly done to
death.
Colonel West. however, wisely kept the
suspicious that were working in mis- mind
from the Majors knowledge. He sat by his
bedside pouring words of cheer into his ear.
which the Major, to do him Justice, was not
slow to accept and respond to; affirming that
although he felt as weak rs cat there was
nothing the matter which sea voyage to
England and a short furlough on the breezy
moors and hillsides of Clansyde in his native
Scotland would not soon put to rights
Colonel West considered that he, at any
rate, possessed better reasons for the conf
dence which the Major felt in his own re-
covery.
"Egad," he murmured to himself as he
went away to his own quarters, leaving the
Major inclined to sleep, she will get better
fast enough now-never fearl His wife
will not dare to go on with her fendish de-
sign now that she knows that she is sus-
peeted and watched. As for Ali, he will
put no natives poison in the messes he
makes, when he knows that may spring
upon him at any moment unawares and
want to drink the lot myself" And the
Colonel chuekled as his mind conjured
up the humor that was blended with the |
tragedy of the situation. l
Whether the Colonel's suspicious were
well or ill-founded, it was certainly singular
that the antlcipations he had formed of the |
recovery OF his friend were justified in an ]
altogether remarkable way. From the day 4
when he lnterfered, as he afterward put the !
matter, TO save the life of my friend"
Major Macdonald began to mend. He |
ceased to complain of being chilled Tho |
nausea and that terrible burning heat in
his throat, which had DESTROYED his appe- |
tite and rendered the passage of food pain |
full 10 him, soon left him. His appetite re-
turned, and as soon as he was able to epioy |
his meals with his wonted relish he began
to put on flesh and his strength returned to
him gradually, so that when the news came
that the furlough he had applied for had
been granted he was able to make the neces-
sary arrangements for his departure himself.
And what Of the beautiful siren who had |
drawn down upon herself the dark suspicious
of Colonel West? Day and night she hung
round the couch of her husband with a
Wifely devotion that touched the simple
heart Of the Major even more deeply than
her beauty had in former days fascinated
him. He was proud of her beauty still. and
fondlv dotted on each peerless charm of hers. |
as she smoothed his pillows for him. or with
easy grace and noiseless step moved about