The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

missed at once. How, then? 1t struck
me that the solution could only be
arrived at by someone who had the
opportunity of observing his lord
ships daily routine.
1t was impossible for me to re-
main, for my doing SO. would only
arouse suspicion and defeat the end
Provided with the antidote the old
man would be safe for some days.
Unexpectedly word spoken by the
butler recurred to my mind, and like
flash the way revealed itself to me.
Next morning, after a conversation
with his lordship, who seemed a new
man, l left the Towers, and four
hours afterwards was revealing my
plan to my love. Without demur she
there goes the bell. Eileen, L must
leave you to finish the story.
Jim here arose and went to answer
the summons. With a smile his wife
took up the tale:
You will, of course, have guessed
Jim's plan. L was to take upon my
self the duties of parlourmaid in his
lordship's household. Though some
what doubtful as to my capabilities
for the post, the thought that | might
assist him in his career decided me,
and the next train carried me to my
situation. Lord Didsbury was ap-
prised of my coming, SO the ground
was made easy for me.
I must have played the part well,
for no suspicion as to my real char
acter entered into the minds of my
fellow-servants. My explicit instruc-
tions were to discover how the poison
was administered, and Immediately on
my arrival l set my woman's wits to
work to read the riddle. Association
with the servants convinced me that
none of them were taking a hand in
the dastardly business.
The scheme had been devised by
some more subtle brain. His lordship
gave me every opportunity, but
though I observed him closely for
three days [ could discover nothing,
and every day he had been compelled
to have recourse to the antidote.
On the fourth day Captain Dugard
arrived on one of his flying visits.
The wife was indisposed, he said, and
he had left her at Meptone. His man
ner with his lordship struck me as
like nothing else than that of cring-
ing hound, but there was that in his
face when he watched the old man
tottering about the room that made
me insensibly think of a tiger stalk
ing it's prey.
He left IN the evening, with a smile
on his face. Previous to his going,
however, he approached Johnson, the
butler, in the hall, and, slipping
small package into his hand, said:
you might see that this is placed on
the old mans table, will you? They're
his special nibs. You know what
faddist he is over them. Won't write
with anything else. l forgot to give
them to him.
The incident seemed trivial at the
moment, and almost Immediately it
passed out of my mind. 1t was the
next morning when his lordship came
into the library and, sitting at his
desk, took up his pen that it's sig
nificance dawned upon me.
1t was the duty of the maid to see
that fresh stationery was laid out
every day, and, forgetting his pune
tiliousness in the matter, [ had neg
lected to insert a new nib in his pen
holder. With an ejaculation of an
noyance he drew the old one out of
the pen and replaced it with one
taken from the open box. Then, un-
consciously, he placed it in his lips to
moisten it, as one naturally is in the
habit of doing to cause the ink to
flow easily.
Like an inspiration sent from Heav-
en- the solution of the mystery re-
yealed itself to me, and I dashed for
ward to arrest his hand.
''The pen! the pen!" 1 gasped. He
regarded me in silent amazement.
"What do you mean?" he said pres
emily.
'The secret is out at last" I cried;
81 believe those nibs are poisoned!"
He started back in alarm, and the
pen dropped from his nerveless fin
gers on to the table.
"Merciful Heaven!" he auavered,
staring wildly at the box.
Five minutes later the wire was
flashing it's message to Jim. His
analysis fully confirmed my supposi-
tion. Every nib in the box had been
immersed in the deadly poison. It's
tastelessness had precluded discovery.
Through the medium of his habit
Lord Didsbury had unconsciously as
simulated into his system daily
modicum of the drug.
That night his lordship wrote to
his son-in-law. What he wrote is
known only to himself and his would
be murderer.
Some months afterwards the body
of suicide bearing strange resem-
blance to the captain was exposed for
Identification in the Paris morgue. 1t
was never claimed.
Lord Didsbury was not unmindful
of the part Jim had played in pluck
ing him from the jaws of death, and
with him many things were possible.
That is why the dream of ''fat fees