Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-14
] l..

That night DR.. Warrington carefully
Analysed both the medicine and the
wine, but without finding the slightest
trace Of poison in either of them.
81 cannot understand" murmured he
softly THAT burning sensation and
those terrible fits Of coughing are most
suspicious, and yet"
He fell into fit OF musing. for he had
taken a strange interest In his Grabbed
old patient
The Doctor sat over his fire for some
time longer, and then with doubtful
shake of his head went up to his sleep
ing-room. The next morning, however,
according to his promise. he was with
his patient. Hesba was in the room
busying herself with making every pre-
partition for her uncle's comfort. There
we're the same marks of sadness about
her face, but Warrington fancied that her
eyes lighted up a little when he entered.
"Wel, Doctor, observed the old man,
"what news? Hesba, girl" he added,
"see if you cannot find something to do
in your own room. l want TO have some
private talk with the Doctor
81 need not trouble Miss Hesba to
leave" said Warrington. "The expert
ments have made are most satisfactory
and"
own you 90, Hesba ?" growled the
old man, paving no attention to the Doc
tors remarks, and with deep sigh the
girl glided from the room.
"You are unnecessarily harsh to your
niece, Mr.. Ranford." said the Doctor.
LET me assure you that your suspicious
are entirely unfounded both medicine
and sherry are entirely free from any
noxious ingredients.
"See that there is no one listening" "
said Silas, and after Warrington had
opened tho poor and peered cautiously
out the old man continued: 81 am old
and sick, but am not quite fool, Doc
tor. | have seen the sleeps eyes you
have been casting ut Hesba for some
time. Well, l don't mind, for 1 hear
that You are steady young fellow and
have managed to get together tolersbly
good practice. Marry the girl II you
like. and | will give her three thousand
pounds on her wedding-day, but l put
two conditions on my consent. First,
YOU must cure me; and secondly, you
must prove that Hesba is not the cause
of my illness"
CAS- TO her innocence l will pledge
nv word OF honor" began the Doctor.
at won't do, without meaning any
offence to YOU" interrupted the old
man. Unjust have tangible proof IN
the shape of the discovery OF the real
conspirator, for | feel sure that am be-
ing slowly poisoned.
alt is a mere hallucinstion, said
Warrington.
81 tell you. Doctor. it is not" re-
Turned Sias violently. "You know
told you tina. the girl had allowed
villain of the name of Mark Scarford to
obtain a strong influence over her. The
fellow was clever enough at his business;
he was maker of models for ma
chinery, but a drunkard and gambler.
Last night | could have sworn that L
heard his voice outside my door.
at was the effect OF your magma
t;on." reioined the Doctor. You know
Won had the same idea two weeks ago,
and | made inquiries which showed that
there were no dodgers in the house ex-
cent yourselvesand a young iyory-turner
named Adam Crouthwslte, and a most
respectable young man, and that your
niece never had any one to call upon
her"
Sins impatiently, but l am being
k;iIed nv inches, 1 know it. If you
want TO win Hesba, find out some means
of recovering me from my periious posi-
tion."
DR. Warrington thought for a few min
utes aud then replied
"Thcre is an old patient OF mine, a
priyate detective, who considers himself
under an obligation TO me. L Will, II
YOU ike. mention the matter 10 him'
and am sure he would do his best Tor
me-"
Course work done out OF gratitude
il is generally scamped, broke out Silas.
"If he finds out the prisoner Will give
him hundred pounds. Life, as we grow
older. Doctor, is very dear to us. But
who is the fellow? Most detectives are
frauds"
Matthew wenlock is private detec-
tive aud is, | believe, considered very
skiliul. replied Warrington. -,
"Ah, answered the old man. ~ have
heard Of him he solved the .Mande-
ville-Square Mystery Yes ne Is sharp
enough il he will work. oee nin'
Doctor, snd--yes, III give him nan-
bred ANA fifty, but he must lose no time,
for the poison is at work. l am cei.a,n CERTAIN =
~ will see him at once" returned