Middletown transcript., 1891-04-30
And though she knew and I knew

l the poor girl meant ourselves, an
possibly her unknown employer, W
were none the less touched by be
words. The more we studied th
mystery the deeper and less explain
able did it become
And indeed doubt if we shoul
have ever got to the bottom of it
there had not presently occurred il
my patient repetition Of the sam
dangerous symptoms, followed by tn
same discovery Of poison in the glas
and the same failure on the part O
herself and nurse to account for it.
was aroused from my bed at midnigh
to attend her, and as 1 entered hel
room and met her beseeching eyel
looking upon me from the very shad
ow of death l made a vow that
would never cease my efforts till
had penetrated the secret of what GER
tainly looked persistent attempt
upon this poor girls life.
| went about the matter deliberate
ly. As soon as could leave her side
l drew the nurse into a corner and
again questioned her. The answers
were the same as before Addie had
shown distress as soon as she had
swallowed her usual quantity of medi
cine, and in few minutes more was
in perilous condition.
Did you hand the glass yourself
to Addie p
did,"
Where did yon take it from ?"
From the place where you left it
the little stand on the farther side
of the bed"
And dc you mean to say that you
had not touched it since l prepared
it ?"
i do, a'am."
And that no one else has been in
the room p
No one, ma am"
l looked at her intently, I trusted
her, but the best of us are but mortal.
Can you assure me that you have
not been asleep during this time ?"
{" Look at this letter I have been
writing" she returned. cit is eight
pages long, and it was not begun when
you left US at TO-"
l shook my head and fell into
deep reyery. How was that matter
to be elucidated, and how was my
patient to be saved =? Another draught
of this deadly poison, and no power
on earth could resuscitate her. What
should do, aud with what weapons
should | combat danger at once SO
subtle and so deadly? Reflection
brought no decision, and I left the
room at last determined upon one
point, and that was the immediate
removal of my patient. But before I
had left the house changed my mind
even on this point. Removal of the
patient meant safety to her, perhaps,
but not the explanation of her myster.
ious poisoning. would change The
position of her bed, and I would even
set watch over her and the nurse,
but | would not take her out of the
house-not yet.
And what had produced this change
IN my plans? The look of a woman
whom | met on the stairs. | did not
know her, but when I encountered
ler glance l felt that there was some
between US, and was not
It all surprised to hear her ask:
"And how is Miss Wilcox to-day ?"
"Miss Wilcox is very low," l re-
urned. "Tbe least neglect, the least
hook to her nerves, would be
ufficient to make all my efforts USE
ess. Otherwise
"She will get wellY ?"
l nodded. | had exaggerated the
ondition of the sufferer, but some
ecret instinct compelled me to do so.
The look which passed over the wom-
ms face satisfied me that i had done
vell and, though | left the house, it
'as with the intention of speedily re-'
urning and making inquiries into the
romans character and position in the
ousehold.
| learned little or nothing. That
ne occupied a good room and paid
'r it regularly seemed to be sufficient
} satisfy Mrs. Dayton. Her name,
hich proved to be Leroux, showed
er to be French, and her promptly !
aid ten dollars week showed her to
E respectable-what more could any
ard working landladY require? But
was distrustful. Her face, though :
andsome, possessed an eager, fero.
ous look which | could not forget,
nd the slight gesture with which she
ac passed me at the close of the !
lort conversation have given above I
I'D a suggestion of triumph in it |
hich seemed to contain whole q
olumes of secret and mysterious hate. i
went into Miss Wilcox's room very G
loughtful. /
" | am going" \
But here the nurse held up her II
md. Hark," she whispered /; she v
I'd just set the clock, and was i:
'teniug to its striking. {
| did bark, but not to the clock.
Whose step is that p l asked,
ter she had left the clock and sat
,wn.
" Oh, some one in the next room. II
he walls here are very thin-only a
ards in places" al
1 did not complete what | had be- IL
N to say. If | could hear steps IL
rough the partition, then could our ol
ighbors hear US talk, and what l al
d determined upon must be kept Pi
,ret from all outsiders. I drew a II
eet of paper toward me and wrote: &C
:" | shall stay here tonight. Some- OF OF
ing tells me that in doing this tn
all solve this mystery. But | must u;
pear to go. Take my instructions
usual and bid me good night. Lock
, door after me, but with turn of bt
; key instantly unlock it again. ] a
al 60 down stairs see that nv car m
ge drives away, and quietly return. W,