Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-26

sleeping powders! My ear hearkened pain
fully for the slightest sound from the room
1 had left "Oh, think we can manage
the dog all right I said lightly, while not
| the faintest plan as to how 1 was to make
good my words suggested itself to my mind.
In the mood l then was I could have
strangled any beast with my naked hands
and relished the details of the task at that
| ooh, how awfully clever you are" came
in an admiring gasp from behind the half
open door. But if you're going to shoot,
please let me know before you set the gun
| off or l shall be sure to scream l al
ways do
II shall not shoot" l said, with patience
begot of the fine eyes and fluffy hair. "It
| wouldn't do, you know. The noise would"
why, to be sure!'' with a soft little
laugh. ''It would make a mess of every
thing, but you see I'm so stupid. Goodby,
now. I'll get dressed and be all ready" and
the door shut gently in my face, leaving me
standing alone in the darkness, gaping help
lesey about me.
"All ready" she said. l could have
laughed aloud, but that felt more inclined
for tears. All ready for what? Well, l
could not improve matters by standing there,
so, with a reluctant step, l turned to re-
enter the chamber had left.
What should | see? Some horrid, staring
corpse; some miserable, frothing object all
but gone, yet with strength left to rise and
curse me? II So goodby, even to fine eyes
and soft, dark hair. | had stood a great
deal that night, but there were limits,
felt, to my endurance.
With a sinking heart I pushed the door
open, only to jump back in hysterical amaze
ment. The woman was afoot again and
babbling fooishly! What was to be done?
How gladly then would l have exchanged
her for the corpse I had so dreaded to see!
There was little sense in what she said but
/ made out that she was looking for Miss
Brandon, and ] managed to quiet that cry
by telling her Miss Brandon was asleep and
must not be disturbed, at the same time
tearing about in search of something to do
with her, while she trailed at my heels with
dog like devotion.
And then her intoxication, If such / can
call it, began to take alarming forms, which
preyed >dreadfully on my conscience. Her
vision grew shockingly distorted, and what
with her resolution to follow me about, and
the number of me she seemed to see, She
was forever taking imaginary walks with
me in parts Of the room where | was not
talking as readily to any piece of furniture
as to me, and never finding out her mistake
unless she happened to run against me.
"Heavings above" she would whisper
hoarsely to a tall dresser by the window
II can't rightly make out, doctor, how 1t Is
you come to be so leggy all of suddint;'
and then to the washstand as ] chased her
there, give her material sleep, doctor, give
her material sleep, and she'll pull through
somehow. I've said it before, an ] say 1t
now. sleep is what we need, and plenty of It,"
1t was a shameful situation, and what was
worse, | distinctly heard steps below. The
creatures babbling tongue had started some
one awake. With a desperate hand jerked
open the next door to me, and when found
1t admitted me to a small. dark closet did
not hesitate. Miss Brandon Is in here, /
hssed in the woman's ear, snatching her
frantically by the arm. go in and lie down
beside her. 1t win keep her quiet, and then
you can have your sleep out"
She obeyed me in the same dog like man
ner in which she had followed me about, and
although, In the face of this docility 1t
seemed a brutal act. | turned the key Sc
curely upon her, feeling an almost murder
GUS thrill of satisfaction as her murmuring
died away in the denser stupor into which
the confined air OF the place plunged her
And none too soon did those mutterings
cease, for | now distinctly heard steps
mounting the stairs, with evident care not
to tread too roughly. Not daring to meet
any questloner where ! then was, | rushed
softly into the hall where the happy cons