The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-08-07


before l was able to leave her, and
by that time it was nearly one
o'clock.
When, at last, the butler conducted
me from the housekeeper's room
across the great corridor, it was only
dimly lighted, but to our great sur
prise we saw a figure emerge from
the library, and walk slowly and
noiselessly across the corridor. 1t
was approaching the door of the
earl's bedroom, and then, turning
round, looked at us. 1t was the
white, stern, rigid face of Lord
Pomeroy!
heard the butler-a stern old
Scotsman, who had been with the
family since boyhood-whisper a
prayer under his breath. l seized
his arm.
Come with me to the earPs bed
ROOM" 1 said. Il shall want your
help"
We entered the room and found him
lying just as l had seen him when the
dowager countess took me into the
lpOllis buN ihOlC Ndo pilC ClldllSC.
The bunch of flowers which had been
placed on his breast was lying on
the ground.
l pointed this out in silence to the
butler, who trembled violently, and
for the first time showed signs of
fear. Placing my fingers on the
earPs heart, | felt after a moment
slight movement. He was alive!
| began to see there was something
mysterious in the whole affair. Be-
tween us we applied restoratives, I'M
til the faint CLEAN of life became
more steady.
Seeing that there was no imme-
date danger, 1 decided to leave the
butler with his master, while l visit
ed the library. While still uncon-
scious it was evident that Lord Pome-
roy had visited that apartment. L
was curious to know what had hap
pened there.
l found the electric-hght burning
brightly. He had switched it on in
entering, just as ne would have done
in the ordinary way. Nothing was
disarranged. l went across to his
writing table. and there | found. per-
haps, the most remarkable piece of
evidence that ever fell into mans
hand. 1t was half a sheet of note
paper, with three sketches drawn in
the earl's mastery way. The first
was sketch of little medical syr-
inge, the second was a poppy-the
opium plant the third was a por-
trait-eXact and unmistakable-a
portrait of the Dowager Countess of
Fomeroy.
l understood the meaning of it at
once. To sketch whatever was in
his mind was kind of second nature
to the earl; he would do it almost
unconsciously. The meaning of his
sketch was that somebody-the dow
ager countess-had used a syringe
to inject a drug, and the drug was
opium.
But the countess had made a mis-
calculation. She had injected sutfi-
Gent opium to cause the appearance
of death. but not sufficient to kill
l could only marvel at the diaboli-
cal cunning of the woman who had
attempted the crime. Her motive
was clear-she wished to see her own
children inherit the title and estates.
The method in which she had ap-
preached the crime was mastery in
its long-sightedness. She first quar-
relied with the family doctor; then,
taking advantage of a trifing aaei-
dent to the earl, she sent for a young
and unknown practitioner, who would
naturally be somewhat easily led
away by anything that was said oy
such a great lady. Her design had
been frustrated by the accident of
my being detained in the house, fDr
if in the morning she had seen signs
of returning consciousness in the
earl, she would, no doubt, have finish
ed her work.
| had now two tasks before me-
to restore the earl to health and to
prevent recurrence of an attempt
on his life.
The first was comparatively easy.
At the end of couple of hours ne
Nuo dblN " tclhV hoNli
his mind appeared quite clear,
though, of course. NE remembered
nothing that had happened after the
time he fell asleep in the library.
told him what had happened.
But the matter must be hushed
up, Lightfoot, for the sake of the
family" he said eagerly.
Quite So" l said; but we must
also take care that it does not oc-
cur again. | suggest that the dow
ager countess be sent for at once and
confronted with you
My plan was carried out, and sue
ceeded better than I had expected,
for, instead of attempting to deny
it, she entirely lost her self-posses-
sion, and, falling on her knees, begged
for forgiveness.
l pointed out that in remaining ST
lent l was compromising felony and
jeopardizing my future career, so 1
insisted on the dowager countess re-
firing altogether from society, and
living on her own property in the
north of ngland.-London Answers.
From "Haclx" TO n Coupe.
Tn tho r,ltr laNS Of hic