The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-09-27
CHAPTER VII.
In the Dead af Nirhf.

In the Dead of Night.
There was very little took place in
the house in Church row that escaped
Luke Abershaw's knowledge. lie was
ubiquitous. and he was always most
anxious to acquaint himself with the
talk and opinion of the Kitchen. There
are certain people who are always in
out anything that concerns their in
terests. and Luke was one Of these.
lie overheard the conversation Just
related between the cook and the but
lcr and it was anything hut conducive
to Ills peace of mind.
Ii there was one person lie dreaded
more than another it was Godfrey
Mcdlicctt. He felt that those frank.
honest eyes pierced his mask of Ivy
porrisy rs though 1t We're glass, not
by any cunning knowledge of the vile
ness of humanity. but from the In
stinct of pure. unsullipd soul that
Shlank from the contact with guilt us
the sensitive plant does at the rude
touch. He fe:.red the inlpetuosity of
this young fellow. who always went
straight to the point. who never
stopped to consider consequences. to
weigh the pros and cons like cider
and more cautious men when his
heart prompted him to act and to
speak.
That lie would come up to town i'm.
mctllatcly upon the receipt of Daw.
sons letter there was no room to
doubt, and from the moment he ell.
tered the house Luke felt that he was
In hourly danger of detection.
What was to be done!
All that day lie brooded over the
question, to which he could lind hui
one solution, and one which filled
him with terror. More than once MIR
Mcdlicott noticed his distracted man
ner and the strange expression Of his
face, little suspecting the horrible
thoughts that We're agitating his brain
aud asked him II anything WAS tho
matter.
"Oh, feel quite well-a little head
ACHE" was the answer.
Poor fellow; you have been work.
ing too hard" remarked Mr.. Mcdli
colt, land feel anxious on my account
You must have n day or two's holi
day. Dawson can see to me. and the
correspondence is well posted up.
shall insist upon it,
Even the secretary's remorseless
soul WINGED at these kind words.
At the usual hour. 8 o'clock, he saw
Mr.. Medlicott to bed, and placed q
jug containing barley water and O
glass filled with the same at the bed
side, 80 that he could help himself
when lie felt thirsty in the night, US
lie usually did.
These offices performed, lie left him
and retired to his own room. He
locked the door, and, drawing chair
close to the fire that blazcd in the
crate, threw himself into 1t and. will
chin sunk upon his breast, and hands
grasping the arms of his chair, sal
g,lzing at the red, glowing GOALS.
Now and again his lips moved, but
no sound came from them, and his
fingers clutchel and worked convul
sively. He had never understood un.
til now the gulf that separated the
planning Of crime from its commits
sion.
Hitherto he had held the balance
between life and death, SO that lie
could turn the scale either way at his
pleasure. He had but to withhold
his hand and Mr.. Mcdlicott would re.
cover, wrecked. perhaps, in constitu.
ton. but lie wonld live. Hitherto Ae
had interposed this knowledge of hie
absolute power between himself and
his conscience. and until now had new.
err looked his crime In the face.
His courage sank at the sight Of 1t,
Well, 1t was not too late. He might
fly the house that very night. And
reltnauish the revenge that lie had
brooded over from boyllood. cast away
the wealth he had thirsted for from
childhood? Had not this man robbed
his father Of his heritage? Had not
his father died worse death than
that he had prepared for his destroy.
err? Were the pangs Of poison worse
than the pangs of cold and hunger
which his father bad endured for
years? Did not the very Scriptures
demand ar eye for an eye, a tooth
for tooth, q life for life? The for
tune this man had left lin was his
own. absolutely his own. Why should
lie feel rcmorsa at grasping It by any
means?
Under the influence Of these refec-
lions he arose from Ills seat, drew
forth bunch Of keys from Ills pock-
ct and approached the door of the
closet which has previously been de-
scribed.
His hand shook SO that he could
scarcely apply the key to the lock.
Within the closet was 2 trunk. This
also had to be unlocked by the trem-
bling fingers. Within the trunk was a
small, square wooden box, which he
drew out and placed upon the table,
and after unlocking 1t drew forth u
tiny yisi With Il glass stopper. which
contained tnil. colOrless fluid This
he thrust into his waistcont pocket.
Then he relocked and replaced the
t0x in the trunk. which. together
with the closet door, he fastened us
before.
Then he looked at his watch. It was
close upon midnight.
BY this time all the household would
be in bed. He opened Ais room door,
peeped out and listened. All was dark
and silent as the tomb.
Throwing OF his boots and coat lie
wrapped himself in a dressing gown
then stood for a moment. II was the
last Of hesitation,
The next moment lie was uoiselessly
descending the stairs, carrying no
light.
Whsn be reached Mr.. Medlicott's
door he paused to listen. lie had
left 1t just ajar when leaving him. but
so closely pulled to that no one would
aotice 1t In passing.
He could hear the occupant within
breathing loudly but regularly. He
was asleep.
Cautiously pushing open the door,
fle entered and closed 1t behind him.
A night iaght was burning on the man.
tle-piece.
Another instant Of hesitation and
the contents Of the vial were poured
into tho glass.
Vhan h0 touched tho S1onnor and