Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-08-08

but that looked elderly 10 IneS6 DOyS u
, wenty-five-should dare to love Isa-
bella Dallas, was thing unheard OF.
She so young, so beautiful, so full of
divine youth and d'viner womanhood;
he so sombre, pale, ana worn with in
tellectual vigils; with mysterious
past, a doubtful presence, and prob
| lematic future.
Maurice and David, divided the one
against the other by their passion for
the same woman, united in a feeling
of rage and contempt against this in
terloper, who dared to make third in
their worship of Isabella, They
looked at Etwald, they looked at one
another, and finally both began TO
laugh. Jen frowned at the sound Of
their mirth, but Etwald in no wise
discomposed sat unsmilingly in his
seat waiting for further developments.
ooh, it is too absurd" said Maurice,
resuming his seat.
"Why?"
Etwald put the question with the
greatest calmness, stared steadily at
the young man, and waited for the re-
ply, which he knew would be difficult
to make.
"Oh, because-because-"
Never mind explaining, Mr.. Alymer.
can guess your objection. am too
old, too plain, too poor for this charm
ing young lady. You, on the contrary,
| are young, passing we'll off, AID hand
some; all the gifts of fortune are on
your side. Decidedly" added the doc
tor, you hold the best hand. Well,
we shall see who will win this game
as we may call it."
"And what about me?" said David.
"You forget that l am third player.
Come, Etwald, you have prophesied
about Maurice; now read my fate"
No" said Etwald, rising, I'VE have
talked long enough on this subject 1t
is plain that we three men are in love
with the same woman. You can't
blame me, nor | you. Miss Dallas is
a sufficiently beautiful excuse for our
madness. l spoke out, simply because
l want you both to understand the
position. You are warned, and we can
now do battle for the smiles of this
charming lady. Let the best man
win"
Nothing could be fairer than that"
3 SdIu -lNhJ QOANhAg Jul cSl &C Will
you, doctor; that the affair has been
sufficiently discussed; but, indeed, if
you will pardon me, saying so, it
should never have been begun. Let us
go to the smoking room" H,,
Thither the three men went ifNthe
wake of the Major 1t was comfort
able room, with one wide window,
I which at the present moment was
open. Outside the light of the newly
risen moon bathed lawn and trees and
| flowers in flood of cold silver; and
the warm radiance of the lamp poured
, out rays of gold into the wonderful
white world without. The three men
sat down in comfortable chairs, and
the Major went to get out particular
brand OF cigars which he offered ia
Vored guests.
Self-constrained as ever, Etwald
looked up at the wall near him, and
seemed to be considering decoration
OF savage arms, which looked barbaric
and wild, between two oil paintings.
| When Jen came back with the cigars,
his gaze followed that of his guest, and
he made a remark about the weapons.
"All those came from Ashantee and
the West Coast of Africa" said he,
touching a vicious-looking axe. This
is a sacrificial axe; this murderous
looking blade is the sword of the eX-
ecutioner of King Koffee; and this"
here he laid his finger light upon
slender stick of green wood, with a
golden top set roughly with turquoise
stones, sis poison-wand.
"a nnicnn t1ronH - anhna1 n
sudden light showing in his cold eyes.
Il never heard of such thing"
David, who was watching him, felt
an instructive feeling that Etwald was
telling lie. He saw that the man
could hardly keep his seat for his
eagerness to examine and handle the
strange weapon. However, he said
nothing, but watched and watched,
when Maurice made a remark about
the stick.
"Oh, that is Uncle Jen's greatest
treasure" he said, smiling. He can
tell twenty stories about that limo
cent-looking cane"
"lnnocent-looking," echoed Jen, TAX
ing down the green wand. How can
you say such thing? Look here, Et-
valid" and he laid the stick on the
table. No, don't touch it, man." he
added hastily, there is plenty Of
venom in it yet. IT'S as dangerous as
a snake bite. If you touch this slender
iron spike projecting from the end,
you die"
Again David noted that the tigerish
light leaped up in the eyes of Etwald,
but he had sufficient control of his
features to preserve a look of courte-
Gus curiosity. He carefully handled
and examined the instrument of death.
1t was little over a foot long, of a
hard looking green wood the handle
OF gold was coarsely nodded in a bar
barrie fashion round the turquoise
stones and these, of ell hues from
green to the palest of blue, were en-
bedded like Jumps of quartz in the
rough gold. Round this strange i'm
plement there fingered a rich and
heavy perfume, sickly and sensuous.
See, here!" said Jen, pressing, or
rather squeezing the handle. az
tighten my grip upon this and the
sting of the serpent shows itself"
Whereupon Etwald glanced at the end
Of the wood and saw a tiny needle of
iron push itself out. When Jen re-
Taxed his pressure on the gold handle.
this iron tongue slipped back and dis
appeared entirely.
1 got this at Kumassie," explained
Jen, when he had fully exhibited the
gruesome mechanism of the devil
stick. 1T belonged to the high priest.
Whenever he or the king disliked any
man who was too powerful to be open
lY slain they nsad this wand What