Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-08-16

me, or eise 1 misccnstruea MS action,
but there was little nervous tremor In
his voice when be spoke, though that
may have been due 10 the suddenDess
with which be had found himself In my
presence. What he said was:
have ! rcsg ght you the medicine.
doctor. Thea. handing me tie parcel,
he added: Did you wish q cigar, siry
The master has some fine ones which he
has imported specially from Havana
Those, waving his hand deprecatingly
toward the lox In front Of me, are only
some common things that smoke my.
self.
"This I could readily believe, and, n
I had no desire to smoke cheap grade
cigar, l dropped the one which held
back into the box and went again 10 my
patient, remarking us ! passed the valet :;
"'If Mr. Milton Is not better tonight,
l shall stay with him, and in that case
I may accept one Of those imported
HavaDas.
Il found Mr.. Milton still In stupor,
and, us far as could Judge, neither i'm
proved nor worse. administered SEQ.
ond dose n 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 / bad scent
ed. Turning TO him, therefore, when he
seemed unprepared for questioning. /
asked suddenly:
What is your name, my many
Lindley sir, Robert Lindley. He
answered readily enough and with ap-
parent truthfulness, for he could not
guess that had hoped to hear him say
that his name was Joe.
What do you think Is your mas
ter's troubled? asked next
We'll. sir. said he, its q 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 master : thieving pro-
pensitiesg' said l. 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 invaluable-to me in deter.
mining the true condition.
well, sir, said he. i wouldn't
like to say that Mr.. Milton is thief,
sir, because he isn't that sort Of a man
and don { need TO steal besides. But he's
changed q good deal since his wife died,
and If his mind is q trifle of, sir. why.
that might account for everything.
'Kleptomania;' | suggested.
81 believe that 5 the word sir, said
he. 'Leastwise that's what Mr.. Joseph
calls it.
Joseph! Then there was Joseph
or Joe In the house.
"who Is Mr.. Josephf Iasked, try.
ing not to show any unusual interest by
my tone Of voice in which fear that /
signally failed.
"'Mr Joseph Milton, sir-son of py
masters dead brothc. Ee ii, es with rs
from time 70 time, though to, r;aster
never likes 90 have him.
"'Wb-y said I. Is he tle black
sheep Of the family:
"'It wcrldn't be right, sir. for me
90 call him that. said Lindley, with be-
coming Difference. But Mr. Milton has
used those very words. II seems that
the young gentleman's father left his
brother as guardian to Mr. Joseph, and
they've had many rows about money
matters
IL deemed IL best not TO pursue this
topic further, but decided 10 take good
look ut this Mr.. Joseph, should we
meet, which did not occur until dinner
time. Throughout the meal ! found him
rather pleasant conversationalist. and
In spite Of my suspicious against bin
and prejudice born Of my conversation
with the valet | was unc0rscicusly
drawn toward him. In fact. before the
last course was served was compelled
TO admit that liked him. Yet obsery-
ed constraint about Miss Milton
which decided me that she did not
share my kindly feelings toward her
handsome cousin, or, at least, so It
seemed to me When the coffee and
cigars were brought Miss Milton left Us,
and had chance to continue my study
of Mr.. Joseph, and in short time my
temporary suspicious had been almost
lulled to rest, when was aroused again
to q keen interest by his asking:
&" Doctor. have you given much at
tention to lcisonsi OF course, ! know
You understand all about the drugs used
in treating diseases, but have you ever
thought about the poisons mentioned so
nysteriously in the old books Of history
and romance-the poison Of the Borgias,
fox example, and other deadly drugs,
which were supposed to kill man and
leave no trace. l confess that the sub
ject has fascination for me and that l
have made quite study of it, What
are your viaws:'
Gould it he possible after all that
this young scoundrel had been expert
menting upon his uncle, risking his
death as possibility which would
place him in quicker possession OF his
fathers fortune! And. II so, could he
be 30 boldly audacious that, seeing me
in the house treating his victim, be in.
troduced this topic to disarm me Of my