Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-19
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Professors New Terror.

side down at arms length. She started
to scream, and the doctor held up one
hand commandingly, pointing with the
other to the bed. He then closed the
door, and while he was doing so Betsey
glided up to the table, and replaced
the empty bottles. Her face was
ashen and her hands trembled.
What were you doing, Mrs. Hub
bard?" asked the doctor in a low tone.
He placed himself sQuarely i'll front
of her, for she showed disposition to
glide out.
Betsey glanced helplessly at the bed,
crossed her wrists, and clutched at her
dress.
Il wanted to make sure, she
faltered, and l couldn't be exactly
certain which bottle twas in
What do You mean" whispered the
doctor sternly. What was III the bot
tie that you We're throwing away
She stared at him silently, save for
a choking sigh.
why did YOU throw away my medi
cines?' asked the doctor more calmly.
you must tell me, Mrs. Hubbard.
Il thought you could easily get
more" she replied.
so | could. But why put me to the
trouble? Don't you want Miss Willis
to get well?"
Yes, indeed | do! Isn't one enough?
That's why threw away the stuff.
Betsey raised her apron to her eyes,
and began to cry.
Mrs. Hubbard" said the doctor,
laying one hand on her shoulder and
speaking gently but very graVely, you
ought to know that you can trust me.
Was something put into one of these
bottles while | was downstairs?'
Betsey nodded her head, and between
her sobs murmured something about
not being sure which bottle it was"
81 don't need to ask who did it,
suppose" cotinued the doctor. as if
speaking to himself, cor what it was,
or why it was put into the bottle
mo! no! don't ask me-" returned
Betsey with shudder, Shed tell
him. and he'd kill met
He won't do anything of the kind,
Mrs. Hubbard"
The doctor spoke emphatically, and
having said so much he stopped TO re-
fleet He was particularly struck by
Betseys reference to Mrs. Apple,on,
It was a question whether he should
try to get enough information
from Betsey on the spot TO serve as
evidence in the event of a legal in
0uiry, or whether he should continue
the plan of watching and waiting The
latter course was intolerable. Some
thing ought to be done now.
you don't know him, Doctor Will
'iams." said Betsey, letting down her
gpron, and speaking hurriedly. He
knows everything, and he has all kinds
of ways for doing away with people.
You know what told in court?'
Yes, Mrs. Hubbard What of it?
The doctor was keenly anxious for
the revelation that he expected her to
make.
1T was lie, Doctor Williams, an
awful lie, and he forced me to it
q am not surprised, Mrs. Hubbard.
| never could believe that part of the
story about putting Starkweather in
the little chamber"
But that's true, sir, every word of
it,"
DR.. Williams frowned in displeasure
and disappointment.
Then what part of your story was
a lie?" he asked.
About Mr.. Starkweather's troubles,
sir. He never gave me any hint such
as l told the Judge, and it's my firm be-
Vief that he never intended to make
away with himself"
Then you believe that Professor
Drummond killed him.
Betsey uttered a frightened OH
and looked at the doctor aghast.
Now" he said almost roughly Tets
understand Just what you mean If
Starkweather didn't kill himself, | as
a physician know that somebody must
have killed him"
ut seemed so awful to hear you say
80 in so many words" responded Bet
sey.
Mrs. Hubbard, did you see Profess
sor Drummond kill Mr.. Stark
weather."
"Lor' no, sir" she replied, begin
ming to cry again. 81 don't know how
twas done l only know the profess
sor worked over the floor by TIE door
to his shop late the night before Mr.
Starkweather fell dead there, ! saw
him, and when the dreadful thing hap
pened ! suspicioned. That was all.
The doctor felt the old exasperatng
Puzzle Irvine its meshes about his mind
again, He had never believed for an
il slant that Betsey told the truth in
any essential particular at the inquest
and had chung to the conviction that II
she should tel the truth much that
vas mysterious about the Fairyiew
tragedy would be cleared away. Now
she insisted that the original version
of the chamber incident with its mar
velous disappearance was correct
What was he to think? In tho brief
instant while he Was pondertng the