Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-02-28


he sat down in the darkness and
waited.
Half an hour LITER two people en-
tered the room, which was, as may
| have been readily surmised, parlor B.
two men who talked in low tones and
locked the door after them! The
trained senses Of the detective in room
II were on the alert. No word escapsd
him.
Its shameful conspiracy" said
one Of the voices in parlcr b; moth
ing like it has been known in modern
times. 1t will be a startling revela-
ton to society people"
"How did You happen to suspect
him?"
II heard him talking and muttering
to himself He said: i hate him !
wish he was deair Then he sent the
| boy to his house on an errand. He re-
turned with two bottles of wine, some
! choice vintage he brought from a mon
astery in Italy. | have heard him
praise it to the skies and say that it
was worth its weight in gold. When
the wine came he sent the boy away,
and poured out glass at the side
board in his office linen heard him
say: IL one of us were dead she
would marry the other
Referring to the beautiful widow,
Mrs McTavish?h
Referring to the beautiful widow
| m, 4, I th,+ ha
had poisoned the wine, and sent off a
messenger in hot haste with note to
Mr. Armitage."
"What did you tell him?"
81 said, Sir, your old friend Powell
Plummer sends you two bottles of
wine. For Gods sake do not touch
them; they are poisoned. Keep this
knowledge secret for few days, and
believe me, sir, a true friend. :"
"You signed your name to it?"
ayes, / did"
"Wonderful. Eugene, you have
given me lift shall not soon forget.
Why, man, do you know what this
means to me? A trip to Europe on my
share of the dividends.
What markets can you control?"
Chicago, Milwaukee, St Louis, San
Francisco and dozen Others"
make list. We must have this all
down in business way. 1t is tie
enterprise of it ] am looking at We
will be pointed out as two OF the ris-
ing"
Hist thought heard some one in
the next room"
Nonsense. If anyone is in the next
room it is some guest of the house. 1t
is not Powell Plummer, the poisoner,
nor his friend Philip Armitage, the
poisoned
mo; believe me, Glenn, millionaires
are not in hurry to shuttle off from a
world where they are having such a
good time. He, too, desires to live for
Mrs. McTavish."
when will you see Mr., Armitage?"
inquired the one addressed as Glenn
"We will go there tonight have
ordered a carriage to be here at ten.
He expects us at half-past that hour. ;"
At that moment there come knock
at the door and the carriage was an
nounced.
When they were gone the detective
in the next room lighted the gas, re-
placed the chair in its proper angle
and walked deliberately down the
staircase TO the office, where he waited
long enough to light a cigar.
Business good these days?' asked
the clerk, carelessly.
Booming" was the unusual reply.
Us with no other word the taciturn in
dividual walked away.
Philip Armitage. the well-known
and much beloved millionaire second.
was walking the floor of hi library in
y state of the widest agitation. lie
almost wished now that the letter
warning him Of the poison in the wine
had never been received.
II would rather at this moment be
lying cold in death than know that
the friend have loved and respected
for SO many years could have done
such terrible deed / fondly be-
iieved, rather, that he would have
died for me. as would have died for
him.
Two gentlemen, sir, who say they
have an appointment with YOU" and
servant handed in couple Of cards.
Bring them in here, Simpson, and
see that am not disturbed
The two young men who came in
were gentlemanly-looking young fell
lows, with the air of men who were
accustomed to make their own way,
and who impressed even a casual OBJ
server as being more than ordinarily
intelligent and shrewd They were
grave and respectful in their manner,
while laboring under repressed ex-
element
This is bad business" Mr.. Armi-
tage said, mournfully, wringing his
hands in transport of pain.
Terrible, Sir" answered the one
called Eugene, who was no other than
Powell Plummer's bookkeeper, Eugene
Hunter; II have brought this gentle
man, friend Of mine, with me to
hear your side of the story, and know
what you wish me to do in the mat
| ter"
Nothing, absolutely nothing" was
the quick reply, mot for worlds would
! | have had IL harmon Int not for