Waterbury Democrat., 1900-12-12
OWN .S8sA NA0 THE STURGIS WAGER { { A DEFECTIVE STORY.
By EDGAR MORE BYTE. X
 . Copyright, 1879, by Frederick A. Stokes Co., 4 NG9%e&1&p

lore opening the QOoT ol IHe eAteL0 sion; and, with retrospective intui. ton, divined their purpose.
 There was no answer. Sturgis wait ed for none. In Q bound he was at his friends side and was struggling to drag him toward the foot of the stairs. As he reached this point, tho door opened and revealed Agnes Mur- dock. pale and frightened, on the landing at the top.
 The first rush cf gas caused her to start back: but in another instant she had caught sight of her loveT's inunimate form and had rushed to his assistance.
 Suddenly a shadow fell across the threshold of the open door. Sturgis looked up in quick apprehension.
 It was Murdocl1.
 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.
 My darling. my poor darling!" she exclaimed and suddenly she stag gered and lurched forward.
 Sturgis made an instinctive effort to support her; but before he could reach her NfurdocE 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. hc seemed to hesitate. The reporter eN- pected to see him close the door. h. rtinctively 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 unsteadilv and reached the study, only to fall exhausted into chair. Having deposited his burden upon the floor, Nlurdock closed the door of the death chamber; turned valve which was near his desk; opened the windows wide. and revolved a 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 a flask; and poured out a 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 1 lover, whose head she gently raised to her lap. Murdoclls eyes were fas- tened upon her. She met his calm questioning gaze.
 Yes, I 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 prostrate 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 coat again.
 He is out of danger now" he said; "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 heayeC
 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. lie saw the chemist open tho
 safe which stood near his table anC
 take from it numerous bundles o:
 banknotes. which he carefully packed
 int ha tal-
 the same safe a few richly bound
 notebooks, which he proceeded to dc
 up in a neat bundle, securely tied anc
 scaled.
 This done, the chemist put on hit
 hat and coat, and was preparing tt
 pass out into the hallway, when
 knock sounded upon the door. ; Murdock opened slightly-enougl to show himself. without revealing , the presence of the other occupant of the room. It was one of the housemaids. "Plaze, sur," said the girl, in :: frightened voice, ''the polacemun say , he can't wait no longer; he must SC
 yer right away"
 Are they in the parlor?" t ''Only the polacenlun, sur; the othe
 man said he would wait outside.'' Murdock took minute for rehec tion.
 ; Wait in the hall until I call you, he said, at last. If the policeman be , comes impatient, tell him I shall no 5 be long; that I am engaged on mos l important business" ) No sooner had the girl gone tha t Murdock, seizing the valise and tn package, opened the door of the e2 | | tension. His eyes rested for awhil i, upon his daughter, who, still absorbe : in the tender care of her inanimat = lover, was obvious of all else. Ther q was in them an unusual expression : almost a tender light; but the in 9 passive face was otherwise emotion : less
 The chemist seemed to hesitate fo 2 brief instant whether to speak ? then, passing out into the extension . he softly closed the door behind him e Sturgis alone, weak and powerles Q had seen him go.