The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-10-04
CHAPTER VIII.
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quitting Mr.. Medlicott's chamber; how
he had been so struck by her terrified
and strange manner that he had called
up the servants, etc.
Before leaving Mr.. Medlicott for
the night" he said, II filled Il large
glass with barley water and placed II
beside his bed as usual. I found the
glass there nearly empty. l ordered
Dawson to lock it up, just as l found
1t in that cupboard. He has the key
and will give it YOU"
The glass was taken out of the cup
board and handed to the doctor, who
smelt 1t and put his tongue to it.
Then he carefully poured out what
was left of it's contents into Il clean
bottle, which lie put in his pocket.
'"Tllere has been foul play, Mr.. Abcr-
shaw" he said. "What remains now
Is to discover the guilty party. Let me
see Miss Rosamond."
"If there be poison in that liquid 1t
must be she who put it there. Would
1t not be better to call In the police ?"
said Luke eagerly.
The doctor turned upon him with a
sharp scrutinizing look, before which
his eyes fell, and he could not help re-
marking the extraordinary change
that had come over this mans face
since he last saw it.
He had never regarded 1t as ii pleas
Ing one; as n physiognomist he had
never liked it.
But now with It's greenish pallor, its
bloodshot eyes, full of the crouching
terror Of the wild beast, and its cruel
mouth, 1t was utterly repulsive.
ave must not be too hasty," an
nounced the doctor. quietly. II wish
to see the young lady"
Then 1t came out that, by the Sec
rctary's orders, Rosamond. after hav-
Ing been informed of Mr.. Medlicott's
death, had been locked in her own
room.
The poor girl was scarcely able to
stand when brought into the room, and
was still hysterically sobbing.
While DR.. Grant was trying to re-
power her by kind and soothing words
Luke AbershaW stole out Of the room.
No one remarked his absence. He was
gone about five minutes. When he re-
turned Rosamond was a little more
composed. The doctor was asking her
to explain her presence In Mr.. Medli-
colts room at such strange hour.
Rosamond told the story just as we
have set 1t down here, so simply and
earnestly that it seemed impossible to
doubt its truth.
II am afraid. DR.. Grant," said Luke,
once more endeavoring to assume his
old suave tones, "that you suppose /
have an animus against this young
lady, but indeed nothing would grieve
me more than to think her in any way
guilty: but my first duty Is to my poor
dead master, and whatever I may do
or say, you must attribute to the over.
whelming grief feel at his untinlely
death. Indeed, I feel at times as
though my senses were leaving me,
Here his speech was interrupted by
faint knock at the door, and his
come in" was answered by the ap-
pearance of Dawson's white face.
"Can l speak to you, Mr.. Aber.
shawl" said the old man.
Come in, Mr.. Dawson" said the Sec
cetary, "what you have to say speak
out, there must be no secrets"
Dawson had been holding one hand
behind him, no now brought 1t for.
ward.
1--WE have searched Miss Rosamond's
room," he said, his voice SO trembling
that he could scarcely articulate, "ac.
,cording to your orders. We found nc
bottles. except toilet bottles. There
were no boxes or drawers locked ex,
cept this little one.'
And with shaking hands he placed
ppon the table q small wooden box
about a foot square.
you found this in my roomw cried
Rosamond. II have never seen it ii
my life BEFORE"
"Mr. Abershaw, you are taking thu
law too much into your own hands,
said the doctor sternly. you have III
right to search this lady's room with
out warrant
~ don't care what do. SO that
can bring the murderer of my poo
master 10 justice. With his own lip,
he told me that he suspected that cir
| Of poisoning him; he ordered me t,
send her out of the house. but I, be
lieving 1t was not possible for sucl
/ fendish guilt to exist under 80 inno
cent guise, neglected to obey hin,
Oh, IL / had done so, he might hayt
been alive now"
Yhis speech was uttered In wild
hysterical accents, and at the end O.
Of it he buried his face in his hand,
and sObbed violently.
AS for poor Rosamond, fairly com
pretending for the first time til,
dreadful crime of which she was sus
| pectel. with faint cry Of "Oh, God!
she fell back 1ainting.
| The doctor rang for q servant ani
4 ordered her to be carried back to he
rooss.
Before We proceed any further.
think that Mr.. Grey had better b,
telegraphed for" said the doctor. "a
q legal adviser he will know bcs
what to do. Has Mr.. Godfrey McllI
colt been teiegrapfled for2'
mot by me," answered Luke; /"
have thought Of nothing.
Except to Ak ths guilt upon tina
poor girl" thought the doctor but h
Kept the observation to himself.
kilograms were at once dispatchc,
b Mr.. Grey aud to Godfrey, to adyis'