The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-07-13

suddenly Dechine aware OF u DuZZluB
sound in the room, which I presently
traced to another wasp which had
somehow found its way in.
Now, 1 have an intense dislike to
wasps. 80 when, after few circuits OF
the room, the insect found the remains
of the jelly on the plate by the boys
bedside, aud settled down to enjoy
this, l killed it with flick of my
handkerchief. Hardly, however, ha d
l done so when l again heard buzz
ing, and it seemed to me that this
time the sound came from behind q
wardrobe in one corner; it was not
continuous, but was intermittently
sandwiched in between intervals of 81
lence, as though another wasp were
imprisoned there, and we're making
spasmodic efforts to get out. went
to reconnoitre, and presently the yell
low insect crawled out, and escaping
the blow which 1 aimed at it, started
in its turn to perform the irritatingly
sonorous voyage Of discovery round
the room.
Then strange thought struck me.
Why should there be this succession
of wasps coming thus mysteriously
into bedroom long after the hour
when these insects, in the ordinary
course of things, would be abroad
And why? 1 looked at the jelly.
The third wasp had already settled
upon it. Great heavens! was this the
clue for which / had been seeking?
] examined the wardrobe5again. 1t
concealed door which communicated
with the next room-Mr. Sugden'sl
My suspicious were being rapidly con-
firmed.
With q feeling almost of elation ]
took an empty tumbler, and carefully
inverting it over the jelly dish, i'm
prisoned the busily feeding wasp.
And then rang the bell.
Mrs. Wolford answered the sum-
mons herself. showed her the wasp
aud explaining that / had formed a
somewhat strange notion about it,
asked her to stay with Ronald while l
went to my room to test my theory.
Ten minutes later 1 was in Sug-
den's room. l went in without know
ing and, taking no notice of his pres
ence, walked straight up to the door
Of communication between his room
and Ronald's aud examined it. Fixed
in a corner of one of the panels ]
found funnel shaped piece OF tin.
My hypothesis was almost proved now,
for this plainly was the path by which
the wasps had entered, and the an-
alysis l had hurriedly made of the
fragments of jelly told me only too
clearly the murderous errand on which
they had been sent.
A low, chuckling laugh behind me
caused me to turn sharply round, and
Gold shiver ran down my spine al
what saw. Sugden was covering me
with revolver, aud the cleaning bar
rel was within six inches of my face
80, DR.. Meldrum," he began,
slowly, Watching me the while with an
evil, cat-like alertness, "you have been
spying upon me? No, 1 wouldn't try
a rush, il were you; you might get
hurt. This revolver is really loaded. "
de spoke quietly, but there was O
CLEAN in his eyes which I knew and
feared, for l had seen it once before
in time of danger shining in the
glances of homicidal maniac.
81 must congratulate you, DIR. Mel
drum" he went on, upon your acu-
men, for I see you have suspected my
little winged messengers of death.
What, by the way, is the death which
they carry? Did you find outG
Strychnia?-no, DIR. Medium, not
that. 1t was something much more
deadly than strychnia, though its
effects are, grant you, similar. What
do you think of ptomaines the poison
that is bred of putrefaction? More
artistic than your strychnia, 1 think.
and infinitely more deadly; for I've
improved on the book methods of prep
aration, 1 may tell you, aud this lit
tie 4-ounce jar (which contains merely
a scientifically prepared putrefaction
of rabbits brain) will kill you if you
so much as dip scratched finger
into it,"
He had laid down the revolver
while he spoke, and 1 thought 1 saw
my chance. With quick movement
I tried to grab it, but he was quicker;
and, almost before 1 had risen from
my chair the revolver was in his hand,
and he had me covered again. But
he had not expected that 1 would
make the attempt, aud the start which
he gave caused him to spill his horri-
BILE liquid, which trickled lowly over
his left hand, and fell in big, oily
drops upon the floor.
"Too bad of you, DIR. Meldrum," he
said, with mock chargrin, ''to make
me spill my elixir of death; before ii
has finished its work, tool All, we'll,
it has not been altogether wasted,
since one victim has fallen already by
its means. You doubt me? 1 assure
you speak the truth-the late DR..
Wolford is my Witness"
"You sneering fendp I cried, in
an access of hysterical fury, "you
liel He died of heart disease"
"And shall tell you why he died?'
went on the maniac, with rising ex-
citement. ~ loved the woman he
married; loved her for years; loved
her long before he ever met her. She
knew this and she scorned me.
"And now, DIR. Medium, you have
thought good to come in my wayl
Well, L have five shots in this
pistol-one for you, one for the boy,
one for the mother, the fourth for my
self and the fifth in reserve, in case