The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-26

the darkness
Here, here, good old boy! Whatever made
you so long?" she said, repreoachfully.
The dog followed her in; but, when she
turned to look at him after closing the door,
she saw he had fallen over on his side, his
legs drawn up conVulsvely, and that he was
painting heavily.
oh! Tauro, Tauro, what is it, you poor old
dog?" she cried in disnay dropping her
knees by his side and laying her hand on his
head.
that was infinitely pitable, and made feeble
attempt to lick her hand; but another con-
vulsion overlook him, and a sharp howl of
pain escaped him.
1t evident that he was very bad indeed,
and Cora racked her memory for suggestion
as to what she could do for him.
Brandy was the only thing of which she
could think and. running to the dining
she got a little, and, putting it in a spoon,
tried to pour it down his throat but it only
ran out of the side of his mouth, and his
kindly eyes were glazing fast.
Cora wrung her hands in despair
Should She make her way down to the viii
lage, and get the man up to see what he
could do?
But, even she thought of it. strong
shudder through Tauros mighty limbs,
a foam gathered on his lips, and with sort
of smothered groan, he was dead.
A sudden horror seemed to seize on Cora
when she realized it.
Someone must have poisoned the dog; a
quarter of an hour earlier. when he had gone
out, he had been quite well.
Nothing else could account for such sud-
den death.
And what object could anyone have in
poisoning him but a most sinister one?
Springing to her feet, she made a hasty
tour of the bungalow, seeing that every lock
and bolt was secured
Moved by an impulse she could hardly have
explained, she also lighted every lamp and
candle, and then sat down on the COUCH by
the fire, shaking from head to foot.
2.,ry 1,oJ-@
ever heard seemed to recur to her memory,
and she was almost afraid to glance over her
shoulder, lest she should some fearful
shape emerging out of the shadow.
Twenty times it seemed to her as if she
heard a steathy step in the little passage
and to have gone out into the kitchen regions
again was a feat of courage beyond her
1t seemed to her that she must have been
mad when she consented to being left alone
in this isolated cottage, and even now it was
not halfpa nine.
Hannah not due until ten, even if she
were punctual, and who could tell what might
not detain her?
Hark! what was that noise?
Someone forcing the fimsy lock of the front
door? a.t 7-Ei
No, no; it was only the wind against a
loose SASH but her heart was beating so flu
riously that she could not hear distinctly
The ticking of the clock the mantel-
piece, which she had never noticed before,
seemed almost more than she could bear and
yet, ah! how slowly the hands were moving
But any great strain on the nerves brings
Nature to the rescue and at last, in spite of
or, rather, because of-the tumult of her
emotions, Cora's head dropped among her
pillows, and she fell fast asleep.
She awoke with a start, that made her
heart stand still, and sent the blood racing
furiousy to her brain
There was a step in the passage-a step
that was not Hannah's nor Douglas but
the tread of naked foot.
1t was coming nearer, but sort of paraly-
sis had seized upon her.
She lay back among the pillows unable to
stir hand or foot, waiting with wide opened
eyes for the fate that was coming to her
A couple of seconds, that were an eternity
Of sickening apprehension, and then she
caught the CLEAN Of pair of keen eyes, set
in dark face, and the Indian juggler of the
morning stood in the doorway, looking down
at her as a snake may look at the prey. lying
helpless before him.
Cora made no effort to escape.
She felt absolutely certain that this man
had come to murder her, and just as certain
that resistance was useless.
1t seemed to her even as if her life was ebb-
ing away from her under the grip of that
awful horror of death approaching her
The murderer said word nor did she
utter a sound until just as he was upon her
and then something seemed to break the spell
that held her!
the adversary. that is, in the end, always the
victor and she sprang to her feet with
Wild inartculate cry. but too late!
Something soft and light was flung over her
head she fell among her pillows, there was
an intoerable pressure round her throat,
lights danced before her eyes, her very brain
seemed on fire.
Oh! she had never dreamt that death was
such anguish, and then her head fell back
and like helpless bird in the hands of a
cruel boy, her harmless life fiickered out UNI
der the deadly cord of murderous fanatic