San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-14
CHAPTER XIX.

of the man outside the door. She must
first obtain his permission.
Her manner had changed. One not
knowing the truth would have still sup
posed we were friends chatting togeth-
er. She looked at me with bright ex-
preston and said:
If you will excuse me for minute?"
Partly rising from her chair, she
awaited my permission.
Most certainly. Consult with your
husband as much as you choose"
IL was critical moment. The door
must be opened to allow her to pass out,
and what would follow?
Perhaps both noticed my extra alert
ness, for she walked into the hall, and
the door was again closed without any
demonstration.
observed delicate vapor issuing
from the door of the stove. It was of
snowy whiteness and must have been
the cause of that sickening odor, which
almost overcame me.
She threw some substance in there
few minutes ago when she pretended
to fix the fire She has kept the win
dows fastened so as to give me the full
benefit of it. She is more accustomed to
it than |, but even she cannot stand it
any longer. Her reason for leaving the
room is not to speak to him, but to OBJ
tain relief from this villainous stuff.
Great Caesar, can't stand it eitherl"
rose and began moving toward the
nearest window on tiptoe that they
might not know what was doing. The
floor oresked under my feet, but 1 could
not take another inhalation Of the vile
atmosphere l must have fresh air If l
had to plunge head first through one of
the windows, carrying the sash with
me.
But had no purpose of doing that.
/ was dizzy and uncertain in my gait,
but reached the window, and laying
my revolver on the table on my right
grasped the sash with both hands to
raise it.
Everything became dark, and an odd
humming was in my ears. l knew
was fainting, and could / have raised
the window would have been revived.
/ reached out vaguely and uncertainty,
but feeling myself going grasped any
thing upon which could lay hands. 1t
proved to be the end of the table. There
was crash of splintering glass as that
and myself went down ON the floor
with violence that must have shaken
every window in the building. I re-
member so much, and then my senses
left me-
From this point, for a considerable
time, my dependence is naturally upon
others for information, but the source
was beyond attack.
The crash and fall caused Darius
Howard, who had made quick return
from his railway journey, to open the
door and peep cautiously in. The racket
also brought Mrs. Bridges hurrying up
stairs, and she followed the couple into
the room.
Bring some water Open the window
or he will die!"
1t was Mrs. Bridges who spoke these
excited words and set about obeying
them herself when Darius Howard
caught her arm:
"You must do nothing of the kind,
good madam"
but that's the only way to revive a
person when he faints."
Ordinarily, yes, but his fainting has
been produced by that odor which you
notice. He will recover after awhile,
but not for half an hour or so. If you
sprinkle water in his face or allow the
cold air to blow on him, it will be fatal.
That is because of the nature Of the
drug"
"Mercyl But what shall we do?'
"You can do nothing but leave him
alone. He will come all right after
awhile.
But the distressed woman insisted on
bringing a pillow and placing it under
my head to make me comfortable when
/ had no more consciousness of comfort
than if the breath of life had wholly
left my body.
There is little doubt that when Dari-
us Howard departed that morning it
was to learn whether any one was shad-
owing him. His speedy return showed
that he had not gone far. When he came
back, it was with the intention of NOV
ing with his wife from the old stone
house, never to return. The occurrences
of the last few days had convinced him
that he had been traced by more than
one enemy thither, and he could not
leave too soon.
He had made his arrangements before
1 entered the house. Trunks were pack
ed, and all the luggage which he intend
ed to take was prepared. He had come
to the place with the intention of having
Mr.. Bridges carry them to the station,
when the old lady impaired the star
Ting tidings that strange man was up |
stairs in the workshop" talking with
his wife.
Howard was frightened and savagely |
angry. He stole up stairs as silently as
he could, but 1 discovered his presence