Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-03-15

by Tom unconscious IN his room, so
Dyne was found by him. He had
been stabbed near the heart, as it was
found directly Macpherson made an
examination. but there was no sign or
trace Of tho instrument with which
tho crime had been committed.
ON not nervous man by any
means. but will admit that this un-
expected tragedy, added to the faot
that another man was being slowly
poisoned to death in the house, terri
fled me, moro especially whom close
examination of tho promises proved
almost conolusively that nobody could
havo left the house during tho night,
unless they Ind IN accomplish inside
to close the doors after them. Tho
o0tire failure on our pert to think Of
anybody among us whom it was pos
Hible for moment to suspect gave the
two crimes a supernatural appearance,
which added immcasurably to tho tor
ror OF our position. The servants loft
in body, prefcrring the loss OF ON
excellent situation to tho danger of
remniuing in place where such mex
piiceblo things could occur. should
have liked to follow their example,
but felt. of course, that must stand
by Tom. His sweetheart proved her
heroism nnd devotion by forming
similar resolve, and Macpherson took
1t rs O matter of course that he should
remain to watch John Cantyll's illness
and do what he could for Dyne, who
had recovered consciousness, but could
tell US nothing. He had evidently
been stabbed in his sleep. Macpher-
son acemed pleased by tho exodus of
tho servants. "If my patient does
not recover now wo shall find tho
circle Of those whom we may suspect
considerably narrowed down." no
said, cheerfully, as tho cook and
housemaid, who wcre tho lust to go,
drove away in ono cab.
If Lillith andrews had not remained
we should havo had to do our own
cooking. for Deverill hGd very prop
erly insisted on his mother accepting
tho invitation of n hospitablo neigh
Dor until tho mystery of Dyno's at
tempted murder and Cnntyll's illness
was cleared up.
Tho day OF tho discovery and tho
next night passed without incident. I
do not expect that any of us slept
much. 1 know that did not close
my eyes, although shared Toms
room, and Ind Tho door locked and
bolted and tho windows screwed up.
But when in tho morning DIR. Mac
phcrson announced that Cantyll did
not appear to have been dosed since
tho departure of tho eervants, I, for
one. began to feel littlo Of my cour-
ngo returning. Tho holding of IN in
formal police inquiry in tho dining
room in the morning helped TO mako
us feel moro matter-of-fact, and We
grew quito cheerful in tho evening
over Lillith's first attempt ut dinner,
which was very successful. Tom con-
stituted himself rs butler. and brought
in the dishes and tho wine. Ho had
decanted fresh bottle of port, he told
US, in honor of his now position, and
Walked round tho table to fill DR..
Mncphcrson's glass and mino as we'll
Us his own - his fanco only took
water.
''Lct us drink to tho restoration of
Cnntyll and Dyno and tho speedy
clearing up of tho mystery" eaid Tom,
when no seated himself, and We wcre
just raising our glasses to our lips
when the doctor startled us by calling
out with moro excitement than have
ever seen him show before or since
"Put your glnsses down For heavens
sake, do not drinkv'
"What il the matter?' asked Tom :;
and I, for one, was quite prepared for
tho answer. Tho doctor had quite 70.
gained his usual calm, now that we
had put our wine down.
"My glass contains plenty of opium
to kill tho lot of us, he snid, quietly.
81 fortunately smelt it Just rs was
about 10 drink. suppose your
glasses are both poisoned
Tom Deverill's faco turned as white
rs n sheet.
"That means that tho fend is still
in the house." he said. ri dccanted
that wine this morning, just before
the police came"
Macpherson rose from the table.
"Ihen cannot afford to leave Can-
tyll alone for moment. We ought to
take turns Mt sitting in his room. We
ought to have done go from the first. ="
He left tho table rs Ito spoke, and
We threo sat aud stared blaukly at each
other. This new discovery was terri
bio. For five minutes wo did not
speak word, and then poor Lillith
began TO cry Historically. was sur
prised that sho had not broken down
before.
Her lover sprsns up at oncc to try
and'comfort nor, and, thinking that
lie would be more likely to succeed il
they were left alono together, 1 went
off to look for Macpherson.
l walked warily, feeling that ut any
moment I might DO attacked by the
mysterious miscreant who had chosen
to make this peaceful, country resi-
dence tho score OF his diabolical
crimes. AS I reached tho foot OF the
stairs, however, leading from tho hall,
| changed my step, and hurried up
three stairs at time, for on tho floor
above I could hear Macpherson calling
my name urgently, ms if he were in
need OF my help. / ran straight M TO