Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1890-09-25

had heard Of such things, but dis
missed the idea as too utterly improba-
ble Whitney could never be re-enact-
ing in the nineteenth century the crime
peculiar to the age which produced the
Borgias-he could not be slowly killing
this man by poison.
''But though dismissed it the idea
returned to me with tenfold force that
night as I lay in my narrow cot. AL
though it was long past midnight, l
could not sleep. 1t was a very close, sui
try night. l arose and opened the door
of my room to have more air.
las l did so l caught the sound of
voices.
What was that% It was Mrs Whit
ney who was speaking.
Nothing replied her husband.
But heard noise.'
"It is nothing, I tell you; rats or
something like that. Go to Sleep
"The Whitneys were lying in bed,
awake, and their door was open. Beyond
it was the room of the sick man. An ir-
resistible desire to hear further prompt
ed me to steal softly from the room into
the passage way. Ny foot caught in
the mat. | could hear Mr.. Whitney
raise himsel: up in bed:
"'Who's that?' he called out.
''My heart stood still for a moment.
It's Emma, sir! I replied.
"'What are you doing out in the pas
sage this time of night?' he asked sus-
piciously.
why, amt in the passage I re-
piled. 1T was hot and just got up to
open the door,
"'Well, go back into your room,' said
Mrs. Whitney, and don't let me catch
you out of it till morning.
'But would not go back Something
Icould not define recalled my suspicious
of previous evening. felt intuitlvely
that they meditated some evil against
my uncle.
What are you standing there for?
Why don't you go back into your room
again? called out Mr.. Whitney.
ut was trying moment. I knew
that if once shut the door could not
| reopen it without making some noise,
which might lead to suspicious, which
suspicious might lead to an investiga-
ton of my trunk and effects which
would be only sorely discomforting
Yet as it was I ran an awful risk. I
stood here my natural self, no rouge,
! no wig, no spectacles, just as had risen
from my bed. Every dictate of pru-
dence told me to go back; yet an inner
consciousness whispered: Go forwardr
care you going to stand there all
nightS' came the now exasperated voice
of Mr. Whitney.
"No, I'm not, ! snapped out; but
it's hard poor servant gal can't get a
breath of fresh air. And l banged the
door to with much unnecessary violence,
as if had got out of temper.
"Had l retreated into my room?
''No. I had resolved to brave every
thing. In that brief moment of time
there had come a vision to me of my
poor helpless uncle in the power Of
these wretches. l had banged the door
to, but had left myself outside stand
| ing in the passage. with beating heart
and limb which trembled, for knew
| that the flash of a light might reveal me
at any moment, and I had learned by
this time the desperate character of
these people, the Whitneys. Beyond a
doubt of it they were slowly poisoning
tho man whose wealth they coveted.
''It had been impossible to get to the
sick chamber; it was too we'll guarded
for that; but had had to wash some
medicine glasses, and had drained in to
little vial the contents of one not en-
tirely swallowed. A local druggist
whom took into my confidence had
told me it was undoubtedly arsenic.
"'Well, that hussy's out of the way
l heard Whitney remark, when I had
shut the door. DO you know, l don't
like the looks of that girl Discharge
herv'
discharge herr said Mrs. Whitney.
4 wouldn't do that. She's the best girl
I've ever had, and she's such fool, too
I'm sure she suits in every way
IF l thought she suspected any
thing, growled Whitney, I'D soon set
tie her. Doyou think she's asleep yet?'
"'Why, no, give her little time re-
piled Mrs. Whitney. How impatient
, you are. Wait ten minutes
| .sI am impatient; wouldn't you be?
Think of all have put up with from
! that old dotard in the next room. The
years oflabor, Of weary waiting; the in
dignities to which he has subjected me;
how have had to toady and cringe to
him to get small share in the business.
OF course, I'm impatient Will he never
drop off, / wonder. That last dose
should have done it
.'All this time was standing almost
paralyzed with an unspeakable horror
| An indefinable dread took possession Of
me, deadly terror seized upon my
heart, my knees trembled, I dared
scarcely breathe. To stand alone thus
at dead OF night and listen to those
wretches plotting how to encompass the
more speedy death of helpless man.
ITO remain where I was was to court
discovery, and something told me hor-
rible death. 1t was equally impossible
to retreat, for the noise of the opening
of my room door would be the signal
for instant investigation by the already
suspicious Whitney, and had no time
to suddenly assume my ordinary dis
/ guise. There remained but one course
to pursue. 1t required the exercise of
the greatest caution and more courage
than believed possessed.
! "There was small empty room be-
yond the apartment of the Whitneys
which commanded full view of the
sick mans chamber. Once there
should be com paratively safe.
! ''But to reach 1t must pass the door
! of the room where. the Whitneys lay
Carefully posing myself essayed
to pass across the intervening space
! Slowly l advanced, moving first one
limb and then another, hardly daring tc
breathe, and feeling forward with my
hands outstretched lest should sud.
d denly encounter some unexpected OBJ
4 stacle.
II had safely passed the open door OF