The Wilmington daily Republican., 1902-03-22
EOIIAI' -
PARTNERS
t. HOW. .RN FIELDING
Copy,ishi, 1901, By Charles W. Hocke.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

"" 40 SuFI IL lHlI}'. Etif'' tiHl lcttt.,
as you guessed, and WAS crazcd. |
knew she WAS holding hcr secret. and
would put him of for sEHluc, ana be-
cause she treasured up something he
mad said that frightened hor-:lhOut
some woman who ran away to be mar
red. Well. went there that after
noon: ! talked with licr. rlvcd TT
her and thcn-wc'l. yuu know what
happened. thought cvcry one would
know did it. We had Lad more meet
ings in the last few weeks than you'd
believe possible" lie ramolrd on, but
then nobody cares what his npigllbor
does here in New York. Our whole ro-
nance passed without notice. was
On the balcony when Robinson canlr.'
Did you know that he rcturned:"
asked Elmcndorr.
Returned"
"lIe left his cane IN the room. got
outside the house. got in again because
the, lock hadn't caught and entered
the room, thinkins that he had heard
IN answer to his KNOCK. There was
the money right on the table, and no
body in sight, You AMI Miss Miller
being Oil the balcony between the will
dows. He needed money, and he took
It, and traced it. The man's at head.
quarters now. lie tried to SKIP, but he
was shadowcd at the time, us | knew
md he didn't"
7 II thought Neale got the money"
,sald Blair starting as II from n doyc.
"RObins0n will he released" said
Ehnendorf. "rhcrplI be no complaint
This whole case will I've covered up"
covered up:" echoed Blair. ANA lie
laughed. "l'll he covered up-u my
grave, and. by -, Eimrndu!f, 'lon't
want to die. don't want to die. Can
you understand that"
Don't die, then" said Elmcndorf;
"theres 10 need of it. ! sl.nn't trouble
you | could make a lot OF money by
letting you alone and I'm going TO 20
It for nothlRg. or, to be exact. I'm
going TO do it for Elsie Miller. you'il
20 scot free. Blair, You black hearted,
lying brute"
Blair s,Idtrnly rose TO his feet. lle
seemed to be iuposSih'y tall rs he stood
there with r,isr, shoulders and c,lnch-
cd hands. staring down at Elnrndorf.
"Io you uIt.t,A to say that you have
not come here to take Glr!' he demand
Cl.
"Thais what | mean" said Elmcn-
Gorf. "iou can 20 where you please,
and you'd better 80 rs fast as you can.
for Al,'"n may !r here at any moment.
Perhaps you have observed certain
physical p"cuIiaritirs of Mr.. Alden:
seem To- lear yutr bones crack, Blair.
IN his hands
blair gave u!tcrance TO n terrible
oath.
no you know what | have donr''
ne cried in Il voice HAT sent chill 10
Eimc;nlolf's heart. "i.nok here"
He lifted tie small hottie and then
dashed It down TO %Liv"rs.
Tin done for. Eva taken enough cf
that to Kill three men. No electric
chairs for me. And now nigh, have
lived | might have gone abroad. !
could have had nIonry--lound II new
life hut I'm Il dead nian,'
lie had wrrn"!lcl open the door of
locker upon the wall, but at the last
word, be turncd TO launch fryhtiul
curse At ElNrm'n!f.
al may still save myself" he hab-
hlcd. and there WnS n iAltIng of bot
ties in III" Cupboard This is IT,
Great heavens. There is hardly enough.
Bring ne ti:;, water"
Elnau;lrif started 10 comply. but his
speed did not equal Hlair's impadrncr,
aud the latter Sprang forward 50 that
they came together. There was a
tihkllns of glass upon the lloUr.
Blair splang back, his face dripping
md gliH%!iy rrI WITH the poison.
MS all | have" hr cried. ITS my
last chance. And you-you did IT.
Will! incrrli'tlr strength and sudden
ness he seized Il heavy iraprrwcight
from the table and aimed fearful
allow At E.lnIru,Iort. The detective reel
cd for an instant and then fell face
downward uuon the floor, where he lay
perfectly still,
Blair riancrh n. him once then rush.
cd 10 q mirror near the window and
stared at his own livid face.
''Tlrre nlay he time" be gaSpcd. one
hand clutching his breast. "If can
get to n drug store
He seized his hat instinctlvely and
rushed to the door, through which he
passed into the hall
"Dr Blair" said remembered voice,
II must speak with you. Come back
with me. Where is Elmendori? Have
you seen him."
Frantic. he tried TO shake off the
hand that was on his arm but the hand
was Of iron. He babbled unlntcllsible
words.
"Poison" cried Alden. "Who is poi.
soncd? Come back here to the light"
And he thrust Blair into the office,
; practically carrying the man at arms
Seng1h. Utterly insane with the fear
Df death, Blair struck at his cantor
Eainly and screamed like a child.
Elmcndorf was struggling to his feet
rs they entered, and Alden uttered a
cry at the sight of him.
"Did he do this!" he exclaimed,
pointing at Blair, whom he had re.
leased.
Elmendorf pressed his hand upon his
hair, which was wet with blood.
EYES," he said hoarsely; "thls-and
Ihe othery
Alden paused an instant, the strength
Df his body gathering for effort.
Then he leaped forward and seemed
10 pags half thrO,lph half ovnr Tho