Willmar tribune., 1900-10-31
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!! THE STURGIS WAGER :
"A DETECTIVE STORY.
BY EDGAR MORETTE. J;
Copyright. 1899, by Frederick A. Stokes Co.
MISUNDERSTANDING,
CHAPTER XXIII. CONTINUED


CHAPTER XXIII. 81 CONTINUED.
He stood for awhile irresolute, and
had just made up his mind to risk all
/ on bold move, when suddenly Muir
docks voice became more distinct. as if
he were passing near the smouth-piece
OF the speaking tube at the other end.
u shall hall be back directly" ...
ne was going then Agnes, if it
were she, would remain alone for at
least an Instant; and in that instant
lay possible salvation. :,
The reporter strained every nerve
70 catch some other word. None
came. But presently he heard a door
close. Murdoch had left the room.
NOW or never was the chance to act.
With all his might he blew repeated
ly into the tube.
z''Well?'
The question came in the sweet
tones of a woman's voice.
Mr. Sprague is in great danger.
q You alone can save his life, if you
DO at once as say. Go to the door
OF the extension; press upward on
the lower hinge; then turn the knob!
Quick, before your father returns!"
Sturgis evoked the image of. Muir
dock performing these operations be-
fore opening the door of the extent
sion; and, with retrospective intui-
tion, OWNED their purpose.
There was no answer. Sturgis wait
ed for none. In bound he was at
his friends side and was struggling
to drag him toward the foot of tho
stairs. AS he reached this point, the
door opened and revealed Agnes Muir
dock, pale and frightened, on the
landing at the top.
The first rush of gas caused her
to start back: but in another instant
she had caught sight of her lovers
inanimate form and had rushed to his
assistance.
Suddenly a shadow fell across tho
threshold of the open door. Sturgis
looked up in quick apprehension.
It was Murdock.
He stood critically observing the
scene, with all outward appearance of
calmness.
Agnes had not seen him. She was
making desperate efforts to raise
Sprague's limp form; but felt herself
succumbing to the effects of the gas.
'Aly darling! my poor darling!" she
exclaimed and suddenly she stag
gered and lurched forward.
Sturgis made an instructive effort to
support her; but before he could
reach her Murdock was at her side
and had her in his arms. He bore
her gently up the stairs and into his
study. Then, for an instant, he
seemed to hesitate. The reporter ex-
pccted to see him close the door. In
stinctiyely his hand reached back to
his hip pocket for his revolver. But,
in another moment, Murdock had re-
turned to where he stood.
''Come!'' he said.
At the same time he lifted the artist
in his arms and carried him up the
stairs. Sturgis followed unsteadily
and reached the study, only to fall
exhausted into chair.
Having deposited his burden upon
the floor, Murdock closed the door of
the death chamber; turned a valve
which was near his desk; opened the
windows wide, and revolved crank
which projected from the wall near
the door of the extension.
''He is shutting off the gas and
opening the steel shutters of the sky,
light thought Sturgis.
Then the chemist produced flask
and poured out small quantity of
brandy, which he forced his daughter
to swallow.
AS soon as she was sufficiently re-
vived, she rushed to the side of her
lover, whose head she gently raised to
her lap. Murdock's eyes were fas-
tened upon her. She met his calm
Questioning gaze.
eyes, love him." she said, simply.
Then this strange man, without an
other word, gently pushed his daugh-
ter to one side and, throwing off his
coat, stopped over the PROSTATE form
of the man whose life he had tried to
take, and industriously worked over
him, in an attempt to restore the fail
ing respiration.
Slowly and steadily he worked for
what seemed an eternity to the anx-
ious girl. At length he rose, calm and
collected as usual, and drew on his
<a coat again.
'He is out of danger now," he said; !;
s'you can do the rest yourself"
And he handed his daughter the
brandy flask.
A faint tinge Of color had returned
to the artists face; his breast heaved
gently in an irregular respiration.
Sturgis, still unable to stir from the
chair in which he had fallen, was
vaguely conscious of Murdock's move
ments. He saw the chemist open the
safe which stood near his table and
take from it numerous bundles Of
banknotes, which he carefully packed
into a valise; he saw him take from
the same safe a few richly bound
notebooks, which he proceeded to do
up in neat bundle, securely tied and
sealed.
D This done, the chemist put on his
( hat and coat, and was preparing to
pass out into the hallway, when q
knock sounded upon the door.
Murdock opened slightly enough
/. to show himself, without revealing;
the presence of the other occupants
& Of the room. s1s =a g