The Dickinson press., 1894-05-05
a buSba3d'S
~CriMQ.
BY WARDEN.
CHAPTER Nv.
Written In Red


"W7here are you going:" asked Cice-
", in a hard voice.
RadstOck leaned against the bottom
rails Of the Danistels with Il tipsy
smile.
Il am going to libr'y-to ask my dear
nephew for key of cellar. Want t.
tashte that goo Wine he keepsh all to
'mself."
He can't give it to You now; he
doesn't know where it is"
He'll have t find it. that'Sh all.
Shan't leave dear nephew till be
dOesh."
And with another husky laugh. Rad
stock turned and stumbled along ON his
way to the library.
Cicely stood listening while lie OPEN
ed the door. She was loo far off to
hear whether there WAS any discussion
between the two men. Radstock re-
manned in the library about five or six
minutes. and then came out. iingling
a bunch of keys in his hand. She met
him with Il face full of anxiety. and
glanced ut the prize us he flourishe,l it
over his head. The keys both OF the
outer AMI inner cellar were on that
bunch. she knew.
Did Duke give YOU thoSe:" she ask
ed.
'Yesh. Duke gave 'em to mo, my
dear, and told me T. so to d. But
shan't "a further underground vet than
inner sncllar. Got to enjoy m'shelf I'm
here tirst-malle up f'many yearsh pow
erty and o%bshcurity. And dear nepll-
ew pay'sh piper! Out right. qui' right.
Begin with bumper to my own health"
Nodding to her in triumph he turned
to 20 in the directions Of the cellars.
Cicely followed a little way Mt q dis.
lance, wondering whether he would get
down the stone steps. which We're steep
and narrow. without accident. in his
hazy condition. She had not been
there many MGments when the library
door opened again and some one came
out. Could it be Duke? The step was
not like his; it was slow. stealthy. From
where she was she could not see the
library door; she had to wait, wait TN
til the man came in sight.
1t was Duke, but a change had come
over him. What made him creep
through the hall of his own house like
a night thief ?Cicely strained her eyes
to see his face, but his head hung down
he walked with bent back, rs if he had
grown suddenly old. He went to the
dining-room door, stood for q moment
with the handle in his hand, and then
went in as noiselessly rs a cat.
Cicely Sprang TN so hastily that she
When she had disengagcl it she caught
sight of her husband darting out of til,
dining-room like Il different creature
ca ~aril Hx,n,.o' ft, e. CtStnv,s ,,0,, <I,n
she had only time to catch glimpse
he held in his hand.
1t was a knife.
In a moment her head. which had he
came quite clear. She checked the or!
which was on her lips because she re
membcred that it would rouse the ser
wants. and fled down the staircase il
pursuit Of her husband. So %strangel!
alert her mind had grown. that, us sil,
ran along the hall She noticed Il place
GpV5Ns uooq pun 4ulGd lIrM oVp oloVA
glaZed, and thought herself that 1t mus
have been done by Il Icw piano which
had been brought home a few days be
fore. And yet all the time she knew
what it was she feared. and fed i'll til.
Slt:lS VI 1tcF llSUftll(l WIFI u prayer ii
her heart.
Duke had been too far ahead of hel
from the first for her to overtake hin
before he reached the cellar. When SHE
got half way down the steep stone
steps he was already out Of hearing
In her agony lest she should be too late
her limbs began suddenly to shake; sh,
missed her footing in the darkness ant
fell to the bottom. She bruised hcrscl
and grazed one hand on the rousl
stone floor; but she did not know it, die
not know either that she had twisted
her ankle in her fall. and was limpin,
as he pushed open the cellar door ant
ran over the uneven brick flooring
There was light down here from TIN
gas brackets along the wall; only a glin
mer, but enough for her to see her hus
band as he opened the door of the Ion,
hidden inner cellar, and disappeare,
inside
Duke, Duke!!" she cried.
But the sound of her voice was los
upon him. For at the same mOmen
there was Il grOan. followed by a hOars
cry, and close upon this Duke cam
out again, with a white face, q hangin
lip and wild eyes.
The knife was no longer in his hand
On his white shirt-front there was
red stain, and another on his wrist.