The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-09

rather odd comment upon my narrarIve.
and then, looking me straight In the face.
she added calmly but a tFiffe sternly. "Sir
Horace must not die just yet"
fBut, my dear madam, he Is dead re-
monstrated.
1T is possible" she continued without
deigning to notice any interruption, that
her may die tomorrow, for his brother, Ad.
miral Sibthorp, Is said to be sinking fast;
still people often inger on longer than Is
expected. It is tiresome to have to enter
into explanations, but suppose the posi-
ton of affairs must be made Ineligible to
you. Admiral Sibthorp, as perhaps you
may be aware, is heir to the baronetcy and
the entailed estates. As he has half
dozen daughters and no son the next In
succession is Dick Sibthorp. the only child
of Sir Horace's younger brother, who died
many years ago. Dick is married to my
sister, and I am very fond of them both;
that, l suppose, is one reason why Sir
Horace has chosen to bequeath his per
sonal property, which is very large. to the
admiral instead of to them Dick is only
to inherit in the event of his surviving his
uncle.
81 may tell you," she added with scorn-
full smile. that am acquainted with the
contents Of my late husbands will. and
that / long ago found my way into this
Bluebeard's closet of his, of which he was
so childishly proud. Since he chose TO
defy me, I thought, and still think, that,
having outmaneuvered him. I was fully
entitled to take every advantage of my
success. Well, now you understand how
~ Of
have made a wiz leaving all that he had to
dispose of to his family. If, therefore, he
survives Sir Horace. his daughters will
divide great sum Of money between
them. while poor Dick will come into
property which be will not be well enough
off to keep up"
81 quite understand all that, Lady Sib-
thorp," replied. What do not under
stand is why you should imagine that l
am likely to assist you in perpetrating a
fraud"
cit shall be made worth your while" she
returned composedly.
"Well, Lady Sibthorp," said l, 81 won't
waste breath by arguing with you, nor will
tell you what I think of your heartless-
ness and dishonesty, for I feel sure that
you are perfectly Indifferent to my opin-
ion. / fatty refuse to obey your orders,
and have the honor to wish you good
"But you must obey my orders" she re-
Joined calmly. ST you don't shall SIM
ply leave you where you are. AS you are
not provisioned, ! am afraid you will be
rather uncomfortable.
"Not half so uncomfortable as you will
be when come out and reveal the truth.
Lady Sibthorp." l retorted.
ooh, am not afraid of your revelations
Nobody will believe that l found my way
In here: still less will anybody who knows
me believe that could behave in such
as you viii represent. Neverthe-
less, trust that you will not drive me to
She now changed her tone and conde- |
scended to plead with me. After all. she |
said, she was not asking me to injure any
body, she was merely assigning to me that |
part of a benefcient manipulation of events. /
Admiral Sibthorp's girls would be amply |
provided for; riches would bring them no |
additional happiness, but poor Dick and |
lis wife were in danger Of being crippled .
Ill their lives long by cruel freak Of fate. |
For herself, she had nothing to gain or to |
ose; her jointure was assured, and not q
penny more than her jointure would she .
'eceive. But since I remained deaf to these
and declined the bride which shs
vas once more kind enough to offer NE,
he broke off the negotiations abruptly
With stamp of her foot.
very WELL then" said she, you may
tay here and starve. You needn't trouble
-ourself to call for help. You might yell
i'll you were black in the face before any
,ody would hear you"
Now, need scarcely say that | had no
Intention of letting Lady Sibthorp quit
hat room without me. If she could get
ut could follow her. and most egregious-
y stupid it was of me to allow myself to
e tricked by transparent device.
Good heavensP' she exclaimed sudden
Y, staring at the curtain, toward which
1y back was turned. What is that'"
Iwhisked around, but neither saw nor
card anything, except a click behind me,
which let me know too late that | had
allen into her ladyship's trap. Well, she
7as gone aud | was once more a prisoner
was furiously angry, but there was no
1ore use in being furious than in attempt
lg-as, Of course, did attempt-to dis
over the panel through she had made her
Kit. ] had to console myself as best
Ould by rejecting 1pon the revenge which
lust eventually be mine, for, Infamous
oman though she was, hardly thought
he would run the risk of letting me die Of
unger. Added to which, my housekeeper
lust by this time be raising a hue and cry. |
l had been awaiting events philosophy
ally for something like three hours, when E
Il of sudden perceived, to my amaze
lent, that one of the panels had moved
lightly back from the beading which sur :
bundled it. l started up. 1t yielded to
~ touch, and in another moment l was {
ut in the open air and face TO face with
ady Sibthorp, who bowed ironically.
You are like the prisoner in Artemus
7ard's book, Dr. Drew" she said Sud
emily bright idea has occurred to you {
1u have opened the door and walked out
How me to congratulate you. am sure
lat you, on your side, will congratulate
e when tell you that Admiral Sibthorp
;pired yesterday morning. They might
ave telegraphed TO me, but they neglected
do so, and the news only reached NE by
e second post. which has inst come in. :
lPs well that ends well You can go
way and tell the whole truth, for you see
,e admiral did die before Sir horace,
tier aH.4
"Do you look forward with pleasure TO
" telling the truth about our recent In
.rview, Lady Sibthorpi" Inquired grimly. :
"You can tell It If you like" she an :
vered But l really think you had bet /
n hold your tongue. In self defense I
rust give you the lie, and think l am t
ore likely to be believed than you are q
esides what will you gain by telling your I
reposterous storye You won't injure me,