Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-11-08
- tf - 49,.
CHAPTER XXI,

The. last drop fell into the glass, but
the Hand which held had ceased to
tremkle.s She put the vial down, and
dreWa step nearer the bed. With one
arm she raised her husbands head,
supporting it upon her breast: with
the other she held the glass to his lips.
Then she gently tilted it, SO that the
contents might be poured down hts
threat. .::,,t--.. ..a:.
Aaseady his lips We're moistened,
whenE a. stern and clear voice, which
sou1ded to the wretched woman's ears
like. the skrell. of doom; rang out one
SHORTY imperious command.
Stop" 1t. cried. 49,. *
At.the sound, the glass fell from her
hanass The liquid streamed upon the
eoverlet, leaving a deepyellow, stain,
and pale to ghastliness. she looked up,
to sGe before her the. confirmation Of
her worst fears, for it was Tom Win
DOM :Who now, coolly enough, let the
curtains fall behindehitia, and very quiz
etly.and composedIy entered the room.
You? You?" she gasped.
"Yes-II' he answered. calmly. Had
you.-tT&ee my: ny presence Should so START
lie you? or -l,asseit interefered with
some cherished PLAN? You told MT
that you We're desperate, Helen. but
did not dream that you would, in very
truth,-murder!"
Slowly; distinctly, emphasized by the
he let the last word drop from his lips.
"Murder!",. she repeated, in low,
1o,,
you bring that foul, accusation here?'
"You forget you spoke aloud mo-
nlent since, my girl, but even had you
purpose in your face. One glance
would have suficed to tell me all the
truth, had your whispered speech not
e1ready betrayed you. So you would
kill him? And the better. to do this
deed you failed to keep your appoint
ment with me-" sH -" :" =
liver mt to meet YOU" she 1nurnnur-
ed. but you We're gone. Go, now,
Tom. 'Here5lere is all the money I
could find Take it and go. At any
Minute (glancing toward the white
face on the pillows) che may recover
consciousness. Already he may hear
and understand. Oh, take the money
and go!"
she held the purse toward him.
He caught it from her hand, only to
throw it on the carpet at her feet.
THE money was but a pretext to
bring you," he said. "Take it. want
ten times the amount, and I'll have it,
too. before leave this house. If you
can murder, Helen Window, can
steal" 49,.
Tom, Tom, you wouldn't dare!"
IT wouldn't dare, eh?" and he
laughed a strange, low, malicious
laugh. II thought you knew me bet
ter, than to suppose. I ever wasted
words. I might not dare pour poison
down the throat of a man uncon-
sscious and in my power, but I'd not
hesitate long to help myself to the
gold of man who could we'll afford to
spare it. All! I've watched the house
many night. Many night I've seen
your form fit to and fro and throw it's
shadow on the blind. Once or twice
you have stepped out on the balcony
for air. Once he! was with you. and I
saw him put his arm around you and
bend his head to kiss you, and
laughed-.laughed to myself I'm the ST.
fence and the darkness as I"remem-
bered how once-once-. Well, let that
pass. But tonight, when you did not
meet me, I came to the old place to
iodk after you: There was no shadow
on the blind. The house was dark and
silent, and T. thought I'd climb onto
the balcony and take a. look inside.
Ia thought Of doing it before. I'd not
been in Washington; this long without
hearing of the Reynolds plate, and t
,knew,if L were pushed to the wall. II
turn my, knowledge account. .'You
know the rest. YOU were not, in the
room, when Thirst looked. The wind
ow1was half opens I raised 1t a, little
further and concealed myself behind
tlfas !scuTta ftis:' r. had hardly done So
when you entered? Il 'was:a witness to
afr that followea:, -F.wohder now Why
Ihdfdn't' let, 4ybus Kin THE poor wretch
1yfff1gya thtesrree.H He' dhhave been better
off" ''Ss'ts "a -"
Il ;rgheNous zesss in his ,ss REaee'' NUT
tered Helen.
II do not doubt it, ma chere," he
e-tslsaes.sasa.t4arnAd
w1th &s HaR2ilS i L Ky M H., ere hsa in
-H$Ien Window %" he repeated, draw