The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-17

crease that dose before the time came TOT
the sick man to want it. Hewson was ac-
customed to noiselese actions; he could
even handle glass without sound, having
been trained in quiet ways by the very
man who, in such an unexpected manner,
was now destined to fall victim to these
very precautions. He therefore did not
fear waking Mr.. Gillespie; he only feared
finding him already awake.
But even this possibility lost its terrors
when he considered that to make himself
quite safe he had but to utter the low
whispered Father! with which the young
gentlemen were accustomed to approach
the sick bed at nigh}. If Mr.. Gillespie
heard and answered. he would know the
moment badly chosen and steal away.
While, If no answer came, he had but to
proceed as the devil and his own dark in
stincts prompted.
= Night came and he went through his
part, as he supposed successfully; but Ia
the morning he missed the alarm he had q
right to expect, and soon learned THAT
Mr., Gillespie had accidentally over
thrown the glass OF medicine which had
been so carefully prepared for him.
Worse than this. he saw the bottle OF
poison em2tied clean out, and heard that
Mr.. Gillespie's medicine was to be
changed to one quite harmless.
What did this mean. and how could he
now hope to carry out the scheme ne was
more than ever resolved upon? For q
while he felt quite discouraged, and
dropped little over his work. which was
becoming hourly more irksome. lie began
to hate the man who had upset the glass
which. If drank. would have insured him
an immediate enjoyment Of his little for
tune and even to cherish the same feel
ing towards Mr.. Gillespie's three sons. to
whose wants he catered and who were all
young enough to wait for their fortunes,
not. That. is. he hated the two eldest ;
but Alfred-well, he didn't quite hate AL
fred; indeed he almost loved him, loved
him well enough to be glad that he, as
| we'll as himself, would profit by the OLD
! mans death, if only some new, way could
| be found of bringing it safely about.
Meanwhile, he found. as manv errands
to his masters rooms as possible, espe-
cially when the doctor was there: ana
being regarded aS q piece OF housenoio
I furniture rather than a living, breathing
aud determined man, these. two rarely
made an end to their talk or changec
their topic on account of his presence
And so it was he heard them often discuss
poisons, and was able to gather up one o.
two items in regard to these, dangerous
drugs which otherwise he might nays
missed. Among other things he learned
that an acid smelling like bitter ALMONDS
/ killed quickly and without much pain
but he failed to take In. that This yer!
smell was calculated to give away w
presence. Brooding over this happy ais
| covery, he cast about In his mind now q
/ could prepare drink likely to please hi
master without awakening his dtstrust
i For weeks he thought 1t over, testing ant
| trying various concoctions. Finally d
hit on one which he prepared under MI
/ GiNespie's eye and partially under his u
rectdons, and which was SO strongl.
n II
at least made no objection, to the flavor
i ing ofsbitter almonds which he was care
I FIJI to nut into it, Indeed, Mr.. Gallespi
grew to like it, and, for a. reason nov
1 readily to be understood, seemed 20 prefe
I anything brought him by his oldrsery Y,
to the finest of wines poured ont 1ofsh,l
by his sons. az
guisine the poison, when the opportunit
came for administering it, he cast a.pou
how he could procure the necessary dru
without risk to himself, Ignorant as n
was in most matters, he knew that
could not walk into drug store and nu
so deadly poison without rousing su Is
picion. So, asSI have said before,
waited. But not long. Will begets way
or. truer yet, the devil prepares the Wa
for him who is willing to walk IN IT, 81,
} One morning he came upon phlal
Mr.. Leishton's room whose very appear
ance strangely affected him. II was s!hai
It held dark liquid; and it had wlcKe
look strangely attractive to him. ne TOO
the phial up; he smelt OF IT,. bltter a.
monds! Greatly excited ana s 4}a ~
shaken. he set it down again. how ia
!, Mr. Leighton come by this? What did n
want of it, and why was it>1eft stanoln
in thisS omen way on his bureau? was
: for medicinal purposes like the other
} Probably; but 1t seemed stronger, yer
Y strong indeed; it seemed streng enoug
r to xiii a man. Catching 1t UP, ne carrie
it away.
IF any inquiries are made, I'll say
I knocked it over and broke IT,. But HeN
; SON didn't think any Inquiries would I
3 made. Mr.. Gillespie's sudden death woul
: make all such little matters forgotten. 81
Having in this unexpected way secure
9 the very poison he most desired. HeV
y son poured into the sink all but a. re
|. drons he had heard constituted fat
7 dose. Then he put the phial away In
L i teacup and waited his opportunity. !,
! was not long in coming. That evening
. prepared the drink as usual tor MT. Gil
!, lespie, and while waiting tor that gel
:, tleman to call for it, saw George sen
y into the dining-room and take away "a
. bottle OF sherry, and afterwards Mr.. A
. fred who hunted about for his penc
y Later, ne heard Mr.. Leighton come dow
:, - stairs. but he did not wait to see VIII
= that gentleman wanted. for his own wo'
! In the buffers pantry was now done, 81
\ he thought it better to show himself
4 the kitchen. But he was suddenly cali
IS up by the dining-room bell. MT. Leig
"a ton wished a glass of sherry tor his tat hs
. This was an unexpected order, and for 7
= moment set him quite aback. Fer It N
IL Gillespie drank sherry now, heswould q
!, want his spiced drink later However,
a put q good face on the matter and got Q
Il the wine. which he handed to Mr.. Letg
20 ton. who poured out glassfui and ca
It ried 1t In to his father. A moment lat
ss he heard the front door close. Lei9ht
,e had gone out to one Of his numerous mes
81 ings, and Mr.. Gillespie was left alone.
Is Somehow the old servant had an 1rI
at sistible desire to see how his mast
ly looked at this moment. There had be
III loud words between that master and 4
is Leighton before the latter had left. a
n be wanted to see how his master
le borne it-wanted to see--well, he hard
r knew what: but he went to the dfnin
10 room, door and, finding the opposite Q
z open, peered In.
Mr.. Gillespie was standing Just whe
\ his son had doubtless left dim, .gazi
- intently into the wineglaSs which he he
,s untasted, in his hand, His face was "
70 and troubled. SUDDENLY be moved ~
- CHANGING behind him, like q man hound
II some guilty errand, but not looking
- enough into the distance to see Hews
: watching him from the depths Of the di
al ly lighted room on tho other side OF
10 hall, he hurried to the window, and. IA
81 ing, first the shade and then the sa,
- flung out the contents OF the glass II
t. the back yard. This done, he uttered