The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1902-01-23

mouth, and my brain was numbed
into inaction. A doctor was bending
over me.
you've had a time OF it, he said,
drawers Preston poisoned your
wine this morning"
where is the scoundrel?" | asked.
The doctor smiled
"Oh, he's all right" he exclaimed,
blandly. AT this moment he is en-
ioying the Inequalities Of the author
tiles in the police station in the next
street. He will be in the dock at
Marlborough street tomorrow morn
ing. Here drink this" he continued,
pressing glass to my lips. 1t will
freshea- you
J drank the proffered drink greedi-
fy. 1t was as nectar to my parched
throat.
''lou had better get up, now, con
tinued the doctor. you'll feel bet d.
ter shortly
The drink put new life in me, and
in IA few minutes ! rose to my feet.
Ny brain grew clearer, and slowly
there bame back to me the incidents
OF the morning. | saw then the rea-
son why Danvers Preston had re-
Trained from drinking from the same
bottle as | had drunk. But what
could be his object in drugging me-
and what was the meaning of the
words had heard him utter Just as
| had slipped into Inconsistencies?
This is the best days work I've
done for manyHsear," he had said.
The doctor seemed to read nv
thoughts.
From what | hear" heexclaimed,
in serious tone, there's roguery
on foot; and even now it may be too
late to circumvent it. You had bet
ter go, without a single moments
delay, to your uncle's solicitors in
Lincoln's Inn. There is not a Sec
ond to lose
The doctor accompanied me down
to the street, and he hailed passing
hanson. Twenty minutes later !
was closeted with Mr., Slump, in This
private office in New square. He
heard my story OF the days happen
ings with unfeigned amazement.
"Danvers Preston exclaimed the
old lawyer, with great earnestness,
when had finished my narrative,
sis an unprihcipaled scoundrel
What he told you is a tissue of false.
hoods from beginning to end. Your
uncle made two wills-one a wear
ago, and the other three months be-
fore his death. By the first one he
left you everything he possessed I'M
But soon after he made it, his
health began to fail, and gradually
he became greatly enfeebled in mind
and body. Whilst he was in that
state, Danvers Preston gained great
influence over him. So much so, in
deed that he induced him to alter his
will by attaching condition to his
gift to you. The condition was a
most peculiar one, and eloquently
indicates the enfeebled state of health
your uncle was in when he made the
will, although must say that the
TACT that he, had not heard anything
OF you for considerable numb Der of
years, and thought perhaps that
you might have died, actuated him
to some extent in the matter.
The condition was that unless YOU
in person came to my office and
made claim to the estate within a
year of your uncle's death, the whole
of it was to go to Danvers Prestan
That year expires at ) o'clock to-
day And now you will see the rea-
son for his drugging you this morn
ing. He had hoped to detain you
prisoner until he got possession of
the money"
by Jovel" he continued, "you've
run it very close. It's now half-past
Our. Another thirty minutes and
your uncle's fortune would have been
ost to you, and Danvers preston's
roguish plans would have succeeded
Az it is, be has been frustrated. The
whole of your uncle's property has
q