Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-12-12

her death aud In the death OF ner
fnthers"
Speak out. l beseech you, sir said
MontrOse, with n vague but awful pre-
sentiment of what was coming.
Three months ago | attended the
deathbed of the late Lord Leat0n. l
gave it as my opinion then, | hold 1t
as my opinion now, that his death was
accelerated by poison. The coroner's
jury came to a different conclusion,
and their verdict, taken together with
the fact that the pOst-mortem examin-
alton detected no trace of
poison. | am free to confess, shook
my faith in my own conviction. To-
night | have been called TO the bedside
OF his only daughter; / have looked
upon her dead body. and heard an ac-
count of the manner in which she had
died. And now. Mr.. Malcolm Mon
troSe. | positively assert that Agatha
Ieaton came 10 her death by poison.
administered in the tamarind-water of
which she drank some five or ten min
uteS before her death-and stake my
medical reputation upon this issue
My God! it cannOt DO true!'' ex-
claimed Malcolm M0ntrose, starting up,
and gazing upon the speaker in the
t-AiitLnAly VI IoIIoI anu SElel.
MIR. Montrose,' said the doctor. i'm
prcssively, taking the hand of the
young man, and forcing him back to
his seat, the widowed and childlest;
head Of this house is now in no con-
dition to meet this crisis. You are
her natural representative. You must
summon all your firmness and take
the direction of affairs. l shall remain
here To assist you. / have already
taken some steps in the matter; |
have secured the jug and glass of
tamarind-water to be analysed. / have
also telegraphed for the family solici-
tor to come down, and / have sent for
the coroner, and for a police force to
! occupy the house, for no one must be
permitted to escape until the coroner's
inquest has set upon the deceased
and given in their verdict"
But, good Heaven, DOCTOR" exclaIm-
ed the young man in horror and amaze
ment; who, who could aim at so
harmless and innocent a life?'
Who" repeated the doctor; "who
had the greatest interest in her death.
and in the death of her father before
herr"
None. no one on earth, Who could
uaFc DtSSiDiS u SuNu al iuttl cSl
cried the young man. shuddering.
''Who is the next heiress to this vast
estate after Lord Leaton and his
da~ughter?" said the doctor, looking
fixedly in the eyes of his companion.
Malcolm Montrose started up, threw
his hands to his head, and her Keeling
back, dropped into his chair again,
and remained gazing in horror upon
the speaker.
Who" pursued the doctor, with a
merciless inflexibility, "who had on
slant access to the bedside of the late
Lord Leaton ?-who prepared his food
and drink?-who has been the constant
attendant of his invalid daughter?-
who watched by her side last night
whose hand was it that placed at her
lips the fatal draught that laid her
dead?'
MY God! my God, doctor, what hor-
rible monster Of suspicion has taken
possession Of your mindl Give it a
name" exclaimed the young man. as
great drops OF sweat beaded upon his
agonized brow.
"Eudora Leaton. Her hand it was
that prepared the death-draught for
her uncle! her hand it was that gave
the poisoned draught to his daughter.
1t Is a terrible charge to make, | know;
but we must not deal h~esitatingls with
the et poisoner," said the doctor,
solemnly.
Great Heaven! II cannot belt can
not be-. groaned the young man, in
mortal anguish.
The doctor rose TO his feet, saying
II leave you, Mr.. Montrose. TO re-
cover from this shock, White | go 10
put seals upon the effects of this girl.
ana 10 prepare for the Investigation
that shrall bring the prisoner to JUS
ticc.