Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-27


'Tho girl, it seemed, was dying from
the effects of tho poison. Who could be
administering it and why? Where had it
been obtained? What was to do? Thcco
questions absorbed my attention.
Il did not follow the ladies farther To
savo the girl, felt that l must not lose q
moment.
THAT evening tho director of the gar
dens was to hold an ut homo. decided
to go, to confide in the director 1t camo
to me like an inspiration that tho Thug
plant might be in the gardens. l found
the directors house crowded-it was an
old fashioned place, partly in the gardens.
When tho host saw the urgency of my
case, he arranged with some special friends
to take his place in entertaining the
guests Then he listened patiently to all l
had to say, making particular inquiries
concerning the Thug plant.
We have specimen, he said. If
you como with me- we will obtain more
information about it,
''1n few moments we had crossed Kew
Green and entered the hcrbarum, having
with us the curator, one of the guests We
consulted there n pondcrous book and read
all about tho Thug plant and its proper
ties. Then we went to department con.
tanning multitude Of drawers, tabled and
numbered An envelope, or capsule was
produced. AS the curator opened it cx-
claimed:
That's it'll smell 1t from herc'
Has any one lately inquired about
this plant?' asked the director
1.-The curator again consulted the books.
There is an entry hcrc--ycs, Colonel
- called, made special inquiries about
the "Thug plant" and was taken to see
it in the palnhouse
"The director asked its number
'30d3, was the reply.
"'Wc will 20 to the ralmhousc, said the
director, and have n look ut "0063" and
see if it has been disturbed. I bclicvo II
IS II good size. 1t is some time since saw
it on its arrival.
"lIc procured a dark lantern and the
key of the planthousc. We started for it.
The director told ne what he knew of tho
colonel and his family. 1t had occurred
to me many times how little the girl re-.
scnblcd the colonel. She was his step.
daughter, | was row told. The director
wife knew tho girls mother. She had
married second time In few months
on coming Of age the girl would inherit Il
NpllSlNtiulllt IbTlullt-lIt Gt'NNISlbll III nN't
property in case of her death would he to
the mothcr-'and that, said tho director,
means the colonel.
"Wc were going through the hcrhaceouf
garden and just emerged into an avenue
when we saw figure passing rapidly into
the cypress walk.
low tone
a Il
his arm.
What is he about?' he asked.
" Let us follow, | said, and careful
ly. lie may be nftcr the plant.
Down through the avenue OF cypress
trees we kept the coloncl's shadow in view
Then we watched him passing along the
| margin of the ornamental water. Tn,
shrll cry of "a startled sea gull made u,
clutch one another.
Let us stand here, said tho director
we can watch the house we'll We stood
by magnolia The colonel, with rapid
strides, made for the great house of glass
He had to cross n wide, unshcltercd space
My companion had had his doubts, but tn,
identity of the figure was now too clear,
It's he" he calculated.
1.-The colonel went round to side en-
trance, We glidcd round also to keep him
in view.
Why, said the director, he's in with
out key! Some one has been hrihcd. We
Will 90 to the opposite door know where
the plant is
I'VE went Outside tho door we re-
moved our boots. Taking them with us
we crcpt in like burglars.
In - few moments we reached the foo,
1 III