Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-01

Returned"
"He left his cane in the room, got
outside the house. got in again because
the. lock hadn't caught and entered
the room. thinking that he had heard
an answer to his knock. There was
the money right on the table, and no.
body in sight, you and Miss Miller
being on the balcony between the win
dows. He needed money, and he took
it. and I traced it. The mans Mt head
quarters now. He tried to skip, but he
was Swallowed at the time, as l knew
and he didn't"
81 thought Neale got the money"
said Blair, starting as if from a doze.
Robinson will he released" said
Elmendorf. "There'll be no complaint.
This whole caseAill be covered up"
covered up? echoed Blair. and he
laughed. "I'll be covered up-in my
grave, and, by -, Elmendorf, l don't
want TO die! 1 don't want to die! Can
you understand that?"
Don't die, them said Elmendorf;
there's no need Of it. | shant trouble
you. l could make lot of money by
letting you alone, and I'm going to do
1t for nothing. or, to be exact, I'm
going to do it for Elsie Miller. You'll
go scot free. Blair you black hearted
lying brute!''
Blair suddenly rose to his feet. He
seemed to be mpossibly tail as he stood
there with raised shoulders and clinch-
ed hands. staring down at Elmendorf.
"Do you mean to say that you have
not come here to take meW he demand
ed.
That's what l mean" said Elmen-
dorf. "You can go where you please,
and you'd better go as fast as you can,
FOR Alden may be here at any moment
Perhaps you have observed certain
physical peculiarities of Mr.. Alden? |
seem to hear your bones crack, Blair,
in his hands,
Blair gave utterance to a terrible
oath.
do you know what I have done"
he cried in voice that sent a chill to
Elmendorf's heart. Look hcrew
He lifted the small bottle and then
dashed it down to shivers.
I'm done for! I've taken enough Of
that to kill three men. No electric
chairs for me- And now-I might have
livcd | might have gone abroad.
could have had money-found new
| life but I'm a dead man"
lie had wrenched open the door Of a
locker upon the wall, but at the last
words he turned to launch n frightful
| curse at Eimcndorf.
II may still save myself" he bab-
blcd, and there was rafting Of bot
ties in the cupboard. "This is it.
Great hcavcns There is hardly enough.
| Bring me that water"
Elmcndorf started to comply, but his
speed did not equal Blair's impatience,
and the latter sprang forward so that
they came together. There was a
tinkling Of glass upon the floor.
Blair sprang back, his face dripping
and CHASTITY red with the poison.
Its all l have" he cried. ITS my
last chance! And you-you did it,
With incredible strength and sudden
ness he seized a heavy paperweight
from the table and aimed a fearful
blow at Elmendorf. The detective reel
ed for an instant and then fell face
downward upon the floor, where he lay
perfectly still.
Blair glanced at him once, then rush
ed TO n mirror near the window and
stared at his own livid face.
There may be timer he gasped. one
hand clutching his breast. IF l can
get to drug store"-
He seized his hat instinctively and
rushed to the door, through which he
passed into the hall.
'Dr. Blair" said a remembered voice.
Il must speak with you. Come back
with me. Where is Elmendorf? 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 unintelligible
words.
Poison" cried Alden. "Who is poi
soned? Come back here to the light"
And he thrust Blair into the office
practically carrying the man at arms
length. Utterly insane with the fear
of death, Blair struck Mt his captor
vainly and screamed like n child.
Elmendorf was struggling to his feet
as they entered, and Alden uttered a
cry at the sight of him.
"Did he do this?" he exclaimed
pointing Mt Blair. whom he had re.
leased.
Elmendorf pressed his hand upon his
hair, which was wet with blood.
Yes" he said hoarsely; "this-ard
the otherr'
Alden paused an instant, the strength
Of his body gathering for effort
Then he leaped forward and seemed
to pass half through. half over, the
body Of Blair, as II it had been ghost
in garments. Turning, he saw Blair
lying upon the floor, his limbs comfort
ed, hts face bearing the unmista ka bio
stamp of death.
Elmendorf staggered forward and
knelt beside the body.
We're going to keep her secret" he
said. Her name must not appear in
this. We must see what the man has
in his pockets and In the room. Some
of these fellows make strange memo.
randa."
Brenda has told me the story" said
Alden. "It could not be concealed. In
fact, ] had got so much from the nurse
you bribed that the remainder matter