The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-04-30

conscious-in fit think. There is not
moment to lose. Don't stop to tell your
wife now, it would only alarm her. She
can be summoned later on, if necessary. I"
care you,' l gasped, Miss Ravens
dale?"
"Ies-but come come
Mechanically, put on my hat and fol-
lowed her into the street.
"Now," said, briefly, "can you give
me any additional particulars?"
"Not many" she replied. al had been
out and returning to the house, went into
Lena's bedroom, where found her on the
sofa, as l have said, unconscious. She
seemed to have been seized with faintness
while dressing, at all events her hair was
dishevelled. | tried to bring her round,
but my efforts were quite futile. So
called the servant to remain with her, and
came off for you"
| asked one or two further questions, but
she added nothing of Importance and a
few minutes more brought us to the house
The girl who opened the door said there
was no change in the condition of her mis-
tress and we made our way Immediately
to the bedroom.
Lena, her luxurant hair awry and her
! eyes closed, lay on a couch by the window,
so still that at first | feared she was dead
But even as | crossed the room her whole
frame shook in a sudden, convulsive move
ment, which, however, only lasted mo-
ment. / bent down to examine her more
closely, pushing back some of the loose
tresses which strayed over her white fore
head. My hand coming in contact with
something moist caused me to withdraw
it quickly. Then started violently. Ny
fingers were smeared with blood
Without word hastily raised the half
lowered gas, aud, with the aid of the
stronger light thus afforded, l saw for the
first time beneath the hair just above
Lena's brow, a long irregular scratch
trembled involuntariy.
Lena's symptoms were those Of curare
poisoning.
l pushed the electric bell, wrote few
words on sheet of paper torn from my
note book, and, giving it to the servant
who answered the summons, told her to
take it Immediately to my surgery, hand
it to my assistant and wait a reply. Then,
uncertain what to say or do, | turned to-
ward Mildred Ravensdale, who sat silent
and composed on chair near the couch.
"This faintness," | ventured, at last,
seems serious alarming even"
'Indeed? am so sorry What can il
be? Failure of the hearth"
"No, rejoined, looking fixedy at her
III should rather say it is case of poison.
ing"
She met my eyes with a cold, incredu,
lous stare, hut gave no reply.
"Did you ever hear of poison called
curare?' I went on.
''Never, she answered, calmly.
reflected moment. Should tell hel
what Ella had revealed to me, and chal
lenge her to deny it? No, not yet, | de.
cided
All this while had been chatting Lena's
hands, but now let them go, and walked
uneasily around the room At the dress
ing table stopped. On it l noticed alb.
stractedly, toilet case-my wife's present
and beside the case an ivory comb.
There was something about the latter
which caused me to look again, and with
trembling hands to open the case. All! !
could hardly repress cry-the comb be-
longed to it; and on the comb, tightly
fastened to one of the teeth by piece Of
thin wire, was a pin with discoored
point | had discovered the explanation
of the scratch.
Yes, this woman was acting part; she
must be unmasked! A means-not per-
feet, but still worth trying-suggested
itself to me, even as beads of perspiration
broke out on my brow, and my heart be-
gan to beat with painful rapidity.
"Miss Ravendale," said slowly, twill
you please let me pull this comb through
your hair"
She sprang to her feet. "What an
extraordinary request"
"Then you decline?" | asked exctedly.
"No," she said, with a grim smile
'Oh, no. Do as you will" She removed
the hat she had been wearing and came
and stood by my side. Come" she
added, 81 am ready"
'T-I have changed my mind" muir
INJURED, weakly.
She turned, and before / could stop her,
wrenched the comb from my hand, drew
it through her hair several times, and flung
it on the ground. Then she said, in a
fierce, low voice.
''If death does occur, il l were you, l
should certify it as due to failure of the
hearts action. That would avoid an in
quest, which, under the circumstances, is
most undesirable. For your wifes sake,
you know
DOCfNrc7Caxy.