The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-02
story OF . Poisoned atiletto.

Surely the reader will find much to excite
his interest in the story called AT the
Time Appointed. by A. Maynard Barbour
u. B Lppincott Company, Philadelphia)
Here at the end Of the first chapter Is John
Darrell falling asleep, with a strange sense
Of impending evil. in railroad train in the
West. Is the feeling a mere unsignifying
effect Of the rarefled air OF the Rocky Noun.
tain attitudes. or does he really apprehend
even though vaguely, what Is to befal in
the second chapter? We ourselves And
It impossible to answer. though we dare
think that there are those who would not
hesitate to say
In the second chapter. awaking suddenly
from disturbing dreams, Darrell, becomes
aware OF a masked man dealing summary
with the occupant Of the berth opposite.
The occupant in question Is young Whit
comb. agent for the owners of gold mine
and the unhappy custodian. at this critical
moment, Of large sum Of money mo
fooling! Hand that money over. lively!'
says the masked man. Whereupon, with
q spring, as sudden and noiseless as a pam
theirs, Whitcomb grappled with the man,
knocking the revolver from his hand upon
the bed"
Twas a brave act but rash one. A
quick. desperate, silent struggle followed.
Whitcomb suddenly reached for the revolt
yer; as he did so Darrell saw flash Of
steel in the dim light, and the next instant
his friend sank limp. and motionless, upon
the bed 'Fooll' he h, ard the man mutter.
with an oath"
We fancy we hear question from the
outraged and unsophisticated reader: Why
didn't he shoot the assassin In the back7
masked accomplice stood squirting at him
over the FURNISHED barrel of a revolver.
But his eyes he could employ. In the
struggle the assassin's mask was knocked
askew and Darrell saw his face. "A Gear
of peculiar shape showed white against the
olive skin. close to the curling black hair.
But to Darrell the prominently distinguish
ing characteristic Of that face WAS the eyes.
or the most perfect steel-blue he had ever
seen. they seemed. as they turned upon
him in a single intense glance to CLINT and
scintillate like the points Of two rapiers in
a brilliant sword play. while their look Of
concentrated fury and malignity. more
demon-iike than human. was stamped
intellectually upon his brain
We are not going to tell who the assassin
was, or who the impostor called Walcott
was. who sought to marry the heroine.
and who tried to kill the heroine's father
with poisoned stiletto, or who Jose Mar
tlnez was, who was slain by his wife, who
lso slew herself "Not step further or
you are dead mani" said Kate Under
wood to the false Walcott as he advance
L. r., l., 81
She levelled revolver at him with tremor-
le4s hand as she spoke. you she devil"
Kissed Walcott to his wife as she explained
to the company that the dagger WAS poi
soned. BE SILENT" somebody said 10 him.
"sternly." and -the wretch covered into
silence. but his eyes glowed with fairly
demoniac fury
As for Jose Martinez, they found him dead
In his robber retreat There was no glitter
then in his steel-blue eyes. but the scar Of
peculiar shape was still plainly to he seen
They charged his wife with his murder and
spoke to her Of the Law. She laughed mock
ingly THE lawl" she cried. would
your law avenge my fathers death or the
wrongs / have suffered? No! My father
had no son TO avenge him. had no brother.
but have avenged him and myself l have
followed him all these years, waiting till
the right time should come, waiting for this.
dreaming OF it night and day! have had
my revenge, and 1t was sweet! ! did not
kill him in his sleep, Senior; wakened him
just to let him know he was in my power.
just to let him plead for mercy"
They told her that she must 60 with them,
whereupon she clasped to her breast a
crucifx that she held IN her hand, fell to
tbs ground and expired within her
clasped hands. underneath the crucifix,
they found the little poisoned stiletto."
But rs VIC have said. we shall not declare
the secrets Of the story. They are for the
reader to gather at first hand We believe
that they will move him