Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1898-07-09

room softly opened and "a woman enter
ed. Seeing me, but not recognizing me
because of the semidarkness, and evil
IDENTIFY mistaking me for some one else,
she whispered:
" Joel Joel Be CAREFUL They've
brought doctorl' And then she swiftly
glided out through the door again.
"Who was ice? And was this a
warming which this woman was giving?
Who was she, and why did she wish to
warn Joe against the doctor? Evidently |
these were pertinent questions which
must be answered.
81 failed to find trace of the poison
for which 1 sought, and felt slightly
baffied, though the mysterious entry Of
the woman and her strange words only /
made me more than ever certain that /
was in the presence of crime. Turning !
from the medicine cabinet 1 noticed F.
curious old box. the lid of which was /
raised, so that could see that it was ]
used to hold cigars, of which there were I
a goodly nun Der. Being fond of the I
weed myself and something of a judge !
of tobacco, stepped to the table and |
took up one of the cigars, which 1 was
passing under my nose to note the
opened and the valet, Lindley, appear
ed. He seemed little startled to ses
me, or else l misconstrued his action,
but there was little nervous tremor in
his voice when he spoke, though that
may have been due to the suddenness
with which he had found himself in my
presence. What he said was:
g i have brought You the medicine,
doctor Then, handing me the parcel,
he added: Did you wish cigar, siri
The master has some fine ones which he
has imported specially from Havana.
Those, waving his hand deprecatingly
toward the box in front of me, ARE only
| some common things that I smoke my
self
''This could readily believe, and, as
1 had no desire TO smoke cheap grade
cigar, dropped the one which held
back into the box and went again to my
patient. remarking as passed the valet:
90 If MIR. Milton is not better tonight,
/ shall stay with him, and in that case
may accept one of those imported
Havanas.
81 found Mr.. Milton still in stupor,
and, as far as L could judge, neither i'm
proved nor worse. / administered a Sec
ond dose of the morphia, and then es-
sayed little conversation with the
valet in the hope of getting some ad-
mission from him which would impli-
cate him in the plot which had scent
ed. Turning to him, therefore, when he
seemed unprepared for questioning,
asked suddenly:
What is your name, my man?'
'Lindley sir, Robert Lindley.' He
answered readily enough and with ap-
parent trushfulness, for he could not
guess that 1 had hoped to hear him say
that his name was Joe.
"'What do you think is your mas
ter's trouble?' asked next.
We'll, sir, said he, it's mystery.
don't feel at liberty to talk about it,
unless-unless- Did the mistress tell
you about Here he paused, as though,
like good servant, he hesitated to re-
| veal family secrets.
About your masters thieving pro-
pensities?' said I. oh. yes, have been
fully informed, but / would like your
} views. You are his confidential servant,
= and your opinion will be valuable-nay,
} / may say iDvaluable-tO me in deter.
mining the true condition.
. "'Well, sir, said ne, L wouldn't
r like TO say that Mr.. Milton is "a thief
= sir, because he isn't that sort of a mar
l and don tneed to steal besides. But he's
T. changed a good deal since his wife died
s and if his mind is a trifie off, sir, why
that might account for every thing.
L 'Kleptomania;' suggested.
< believe that's the word, sir, salt
= he. 'Leastwise that's what Mr.. JOSEPH
q calls it..
f "Josephi Then there was JOSEPH
or Joe in the housa,
! ~'Who Is Mr.. Joseph?' I asked, try
4 ing not to show any unusual interest b,
: my tone of voice, IN which fear that
. signaily failed.
Mr.. Joseph Milton, sir-son of m
\ masters dead brother. He lives with q
Z from time to time, though the maste
never likes to have him.
III "'WhyS' said L rs ne the blac
, sheep of the familyT
I'll sit wonldn's be right, SIR, for m
TX to call him that, said Lindley, with b.
coming Difference. But Mr. Milton ha
y used those very words. It seems thf
4 the young geRtlemRn's father left b
brother as guardian to Mr.. Joseph, an
, they've had many rows about none
y matters.
Z 81 deemed 1t best not TO pursue th
d topic further, but decided 70 take . GOO
% look at this Mr.. Joseph, should "
"a meet, which did not OCCUR until dinn'
3 time Throughout the meal found hi
+ rather pleasant conyersAsionalist, al
10 spite Of my suspicious against hi
n and prs30dtoe born Of my convexaAkiC
IL with the valet ] was unconscious
IS drawn toward him. In fact, before Il
ID last course was served was compells
le to admit that liked him. Yet Obeer
g cd q constraint about Miss MtItS
which decided ma that abe did .
Continued 7th on Page.)