The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-11

!! CHAPTER RAXI-(Continued)
"Not SO fast, madam. Not so fast. Yo'
win be required to meet graver charge
than even these have mentioned"
"Ha, ha, graver charges!' laughed tn
widow contemptuously. Pray reclt
them. OF what else am guilty?
"First, of the murder Of Andrew kel
,legg, whom you ruthlessly, slowly, bu
surely done to death by poison"
"Ahw The single syllable ESCAPED
through the madam's set teeth like de
spairing vail.
Second, Banker Kellogg's wife,
/ doubt not, you helped to the grave. Third
you were numbering Mr.. KellogG's young
! ier daughter through the same agency tina
llyou had used in numbering her uncle.
know you, madam; you are n second Lu
cretia Borgia. Within your trunk is
scientific treatise on poisons of more thai
two hundred pages. There, also. is al
ebony casket containing deadly poisons O
: a hundred kinds. Your doom is sealed"
"This man can scarce live ten minutes
said. the doctor. IF you obtain state
ment from him, it must be at once
II can only say that in all matters per
tanning to me-" said the almost dying man
~tSellars has spoken the truth. l WIS sat
listed that Pearl had that money. Sh'
required me to remove the cashier and th'
bankers son. I thought to remove ont
: and let the law remove the other. l az
not regret my failure. I am only sorr!
for the boy. He-he is my son. The sho
was fatal. forgive you, boy. Come
GOMEZ
All glanced at Earl.
He sat shackled in his chair, jabberint
like IN idiot.
His mind has completely broker
down." said the physician. He is
mental wreck"
Perhaps" said the dying man, 'it il
better so. Goodbye, Pearl. I so wrong
ed you, but you have had your revenge
even though you swing from the galloWs
Ha, ha! The gallows"
These were the last words Of Juan Ia
yola. A few gasps and he had ceased t.
breathe.
$50 you all think that for enacthg my
-role in the drama Of life and death,
should die on the gallows? Ha, ha! Little
you know Pearl Almegro. I should new
er have had another name. May a thou
sand curses rest on the very corpse of thai
wretch. You told the truth once, Mr.
Eellars. My nature became changed from
the moment I ascertained that had beer
deceived. Why should say more? DicB
Newberry you have not mentioned. He
at least, I did not murder. left him
and he blew out his brains. He was oi
small loss to the world. What you sur
mise in regard to Andrews death. yot
may surmise. You know. nothing. l tool
good care that his body should quickly b'
embalmed. Ha, ha! Embalming fuit
is sometimes a great convenience
"Merciful God" exclaimed the bank
er. "And loved this woman-would
have made her my wife!'
"'In regard to the taking of Of Thalis
Kellogg" continued the widow, paying NJ
intention to the bankers words, II only
gave her more freely of the remedy pre-
scribed by her learned attendant, DR.
Hewitt, here. II must hang for that
hang him, too"
"God have mercyr exclaimed the doc
tor.
What troubles you, doctor? Youl
knees are quaking under you. You are
not the first physician who has prescrib
ed that which led his patient to the
grave,
"Oh, woman, woman!
~I know-thy name is frailty. Well
now we COME to Janette's illness. Wha'
YOU know, you know. Perhaps had con
clrded that there were too many members
of my brother-in-law's family. Especially
ms l was expecting to become his wife
For years I have dreamed Of acquiring
great wealth"
"Oh, Godw groaned the banker. "And
ON the first of September would have lee
this woman to the altar"
'How soon love fades and withers into
nothingness. Oh, but this other matter
SHr. Sellars is correct-the money is in the
trunk. Zayola did my bidding, but he
would no, nave received one collar OF It
BE would have been as he is now, only g
body would have been found in the park
n partly filled bottle Of wine-and death
enough in it to have materially lessened
the number of park policemen. I never
cared specially for Earl. I thought he
would be q convenience some day, and
educated him accordingly. He knew nc
will but mine, and think had more feel
ing for him than anyone else. He has
committed no crime aside from exchanS
ING those packages. That managed. Tc
he sure. be killed his father, but it was in
INV defense. l think am sorry for Earl
] trust he will not regain his reason"
"A most remarkable woman" observed
The detective.
"And one, Mr.. Sellars, you may now
bring to the gallows, as soon as is con
Sistent with your inclination" said thu
widow, arising to her feet.
There was quiet movement Of her lef
arm.
Sellars sprang forward, but too late.
She cast phial that had contained prus
sic acid at his feet, and with the words
81 have escaped you, Mr.. Sellars," and 6
derisive laugh, fell to the floor.
She was quickly borne into the adjoin
Ing room and laid upon the couch.
"There is no hope here" exclaimed th'
physician. "Prussic acid! The conteIH
Of that phial would have killed fifty men
ConvuIslons are selzIng ner aIreauy. Ine
pupils Of her eyes are contracting-hel
teeth set"
20 Godw walled the banker. 'Tha'
this unfortunate woman should ever have
invaded my house! Death and destruc
ton followed in her wake. Thank God
my daughters are far from this awfu
scene"
"Father! Fatherw
. ayes, my SONNY hoy! Oh, my boy"
'Come to the library, father!'
INTERESTINGLY the banker accompanied
his son.
Five minutes later DR.. Hewitt appeared
ut the door.