The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1902-08-01

I piiS' we saw a ngure emerge from
the library, and walk slowly anC
noiselessly across the corridor. II
was approaching the door Of the
earls 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 whisper a
prayer under his breath. seized
his arm.
Come with me to the earl's bed
room l said. Il shall want your
help"
We entered the room and found him
lying just as had seen him when the
dowager countess took me into the
room. But there was one change.
The bunch Of flowers which had been
placed on his breast was lying on
the ground.
i pointed this out in silence to the
butler. who trembled violently. and
Tor the first time showed signs Of
fear Placing my fingers on the
earls heart, l felt after a moment
a slight movement. He was alivel
began 10 see there was something
mysterious in the whole affair. Be-
tween US we applied restoratives. un-
I'll the faint CLEAN Of life became
more steady.
Seeing that there was no imme- |
date danger, decided to leave the |
butler with his master, while / visit
ed the library. While still uncon-
scious II was evident that Lord Pome-
roy had visited that apartment. I
was curious to know what had hap
pcned there.
/ found the electric-light burning
brightly. He had switched IL on in
entering, just as he would have done
In the ordinary way. Nothing was
I went across to his
writing table, and there / found, per-
haps, the most remarkable piece Of
evidence that ever fell into mans
hand. IL was half a sheet of note
paper. with three sketches drawn in
he earls mastery way. The first ,
VAS a sketch of a little medical svr-
nge' the second was a poppy-the
'pium plant; the third was a por- c
rait-exact and unmistakable-a I
'ortrait of the Dowager Countess Of t
'omeroy. b
/ understood the meaning Of II at
nee. To sketch whatever was I'm
is mind was a kind Of second nature
the earl; he would do It almost .
nconsciously. The meaning Of his y
Aetch was that somebody-the dow
ger countess-had used a syringe
inject a drug, and the drug was 81
plum. nj
But the countess had made a mis- "
llculation. She had injected suff-
ent opium TO cause the appearance +.
death, but not sufficient to kill. -
could only marvel at the diaboli-
u cunning Of the woman who had
tempted the crime. Her motive
as clear-she wished 10 see her own 20;
ildren inherit the title and estates. 40
The method in which she had ap- tre
cached the crime was mastery in wa
long-sightedness. She first quar- if
He'd with the family doctor; then. in
king advantage Of a trihing acci- Ia
MT TO the earl, she sent for a young ,Il
d unknown practitioner, who would ~. ~
turally be somewhat easily led Ioy,
ay by anything that was said by o..
IA great lady. Her design had exl
m frustrated by the accident Of ano
being detained in the house. for Re,
IN the morning she had seen signs gis
returning consciousness in the q.
j, she would, no doubt, have finish DI'
her work. Sp'
had now two tasks before me Y
restore the earl TO health and to spr
vent a recurrence Of an attempt san
his life.
he first was comparatively easy.
the end Of a couple Of hours he u
able TO take nourishment. and oao
mind appeared quite clear. anu
ugh, OF course, he remembered v
hing that had happened after the In '
ne fell asleep in the library. l "A
him what had happened. will
But the matter must be hushed d G.
Lightfoot, for the sake of the our
ily," he said eagerly.
luite So" l said; but we must 30
take care that II does not oc- soci'
again. l suggest that the dow
countess be sent for at once and
ronted with you" Nerv 'eq
y plan was carried out, and sue Ow
ed better than ! had expected. Ger
instead Of attempting to deny anf
he entirely lost her self-posses- SeeS been
and, falling on her knees, begged after
forgiveness. ouSln
pointed out that in remaining ST.
| was compounding a felony and soi'
lrdizing my future career. so | Fv
ted on the dowager countess re- maxi
2 altogether from society, and
, on her own property in the
] Of England.-London Answers. Yes
est sa
From n "IIack" TO Coupe. w w ~