The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-25

her that she must carefully avoid any
Shock
But she must know the truth tomor-
row. observed.
"Will you break the dreadful news to
her," she urged. GAS her betrothed. you
perhaps, can tell her better than anyone
else.''
Unfortunately I shall be unable,
said. "Ihis evening received very
urgent telegram which recalls me to
town, and having now lost my last train,
1 must go by the 6. 30 in the morning. ]
cannot get back before late in the even
ing, or it may be next day. But as soon
as possible will return straight here and
render you whatever assistance is in my
power.
"Thanks. But is your business so very
Urgent she asked.
sFOf greatest Importance. Poor Dud-
ley's tragic end has delayed me, and even
this brief delay may be Of most serious
consequence"
"Ahl you men in the Foreign Office
are always full Of deep schemes and clever
diplomacy" she smiled. toying with her
mass of rings.
I laughed, but did not reply.
lis it on Foreign Office business that
you are compelled to leave us?" she per-
sisted, glancing at me keenly, thought,
as if intent upon ascertaining the purport
of the telegram / had received.
"Yes,'' replied, in wonder that she
should thus evince such strong desire
to CLEAN the nature of my business. But
next instant it occurred to ME that posi-
bly, she might suspect me of being impli
Gated in come mysterious manner with
my friends sudden end, and that beliey-
ing I desired to escape was determined at
least to know where I was going, and
upon what Grand
AT that moment Beck crossed to us,
saving:
i.This affair is certainly most distress
ing, Mrs. Laing. Dudley was such an
excellent fellow that we must each one of
us regret his loss very deeply indeed. l
have Just been discussing the matter with
the doctor, but of course ne can at present
form no conjecture as to the cause of
death. -
Natural causes, no Doubt chimed
in the medical man, in dry, business
like tone 81 think we may at once dis
miss all idea that violence was used
"You think so?'' inquired Mrs. Laing
with eagerness. You don't believe, then
he has been victim of foul plays"
= "Not at ALL Beyond the bruise on the
forehead, evidently caused by the fall
upon the gravel, there is no mark what
ever the doctor answered. Until l
have made a thorough examination
cannot, of course, determine the nature
of the fatal cause. By noon tomorrow we
HE must have fallen and expired
within ten minutes of leaving the
house, Beck exclaimed. "Yet when he
shook hands with us he was in the highest
possible spirits. How terribly sudden his
end was
"Terribler' exclaimed, myself dazed
by the peculiarly tragic and mysterious
manner OF his death. ''When he wished
us adieu he could not have dreamed that
his life had SO nearly run it's course.
HE complained of no pain during the
evening, SUPPOSED" the doctor inquired
s'Not to my knowledge, Beck answered,
and this statement was compelled to
endorse.
"He dined here?'' DR.. Allenby ex
claimed, turning to Mrs. Laing.
eyes"
1:There are some remains of the food
left, presumed"
"No doubt" she answered quickly.
"But-but what do you suspect? Are
the symptoms those of poisoning?' she
gasped.
81 suspect nothing" replied the doc
tor. with hesitation. "The fact that the
hands are tightly clenched suggests final
paroxysm of pain (which might possibly
accrue from poison. The remains of the
din ner may be required for analysis,
therefore it would be advisable to keep
Them
every WE'LL" she answered, shadow
of annoyance upon her face, "I'll give
orders to that effect. But surely, doctor,
you do not think poor Dudley can have
been poisoned in my houseY 1t anything
we had for dinner had been deleterious,
all of us must have suffered
"No, pardon me for disagreeing," he
answered, politely: "In many cases
known to Psychologists families have
eaten of the same meal and one person
only has been seized with sudden Illness
that has proved fatal. By analysis, we
may obtain some clue as to the cause of
Mr. Ogle's unfortunate end"
Mrs. Laing's thin lips moved, but no
sound escaped them; at last, turning sud
denly, she covered her face with her
the white, haggard countenance she had
so recently looked upon.
"Come," exclaimed the doctor. sym
patheticalIy, laying his hand upon her
arm. "You are trembling. This unfor-
tunate occurrence has no doubt upset you,
but you must bear up. Immediately l
get home shall send you draught that
how the sad news is broken to Miss Ella.
The slightest undue excitement may
affect her very seriously"
81 have not forgotten your words yes
terday, DOCTOR she replied. "You are
very kind. Goodnight. -
In6y SIOUX uduuS, aIu LII. AlioHcy,
taking up bis hat, and left-an example
Beck and soon afterwards followed, pass
ing the night at the Angel Hotel.
Throuhgout the dark, breathless hours
sleep came not to my eyes, SO full was my
mind of tho tragic discovery. AS lay
awake hour after hour, listening to the
Ginning bells and watching the dawn
struggling in between the curtains l re-
fected deeply upon the strange events of
that evening, and the more l pondered.
the more mysterious appeared the circun
stances. Foremost in my mind was the
strange, inv iolable secret that felt con
WINGED existed between Ella and Beck.
Although strenuously denied by her, she
had nevertheless admitted her unworthi
ness of my love. Yet 1 adored her. No
woman had ever stirred my soul as she
had; no woman had SO completely held
me under>her spell. I remembered how
she had seemed trife wan and dis
tressed; yet that look enhanced rather
than detracted from her refined beauty.
Her steady refusal to enlighten me regard
ing the subject of her earnest converse
ton with Beck when had watched them
in the garden, and the significant glances
she had exchanged with him across the
dinner table, had aroused within me a
IL