The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-30

recipes WHICH Lave Deeu uoeo Wy oCl-
entifc poisoners, for no physician in
Moscow could have concocted the
deadly poison"
;'But wherein was it so wondrous-
ly peculiar: :" asked Ruric, with in
terest.
.Why, in this: Arsenic was the
principal poisoning agent, but that
alone would produce symptoms
which any physician would know at
once. In this case there was some
thing present which overcame ali
the outward signs of the poison and
only let it eat upon the vitals. I
know not the secret, though I know
there is such one. Had it not
been for your fortunate suspicious
the count would have died from the
effects of the wound. The poison
was working silently and surely,
without pain and without outward
sign different from the usual sink
ing of the worn and fainting body.
But l have hopes now. The villain
must not know that we have discov-
cred him. We will let the thing run
for the present" J"
Kopani was not little surprised
when he found that the priest had
been there during his absence, but
before he could make any further
remark the count awoke. He felt
very faint, but that strange sickness
of the stomach was lessened. The
surgeon prepared some suitable dill
uents, and, having called in the
woman. he gave directions that they
should be given in large quantities,
and also directed her to prepare
some strong barley water for the pa
tient to drink as he wanted bever-
age.
All the vials were replaced upon
the sideboard and then reflled with
liquids somewhat like those they
had before contained. But the nurse
was directed not to use them. Ev-
erything that her patient was to
take she was to keep under her own
charge in the kitchen, and she was
also most particularly cautioned
against allowing the priest to gain
anything from her. But Kopani
meant to be sure on that score. He
had a little business to transact, and
then he was coming back to spend
the night himself by the counts
side. He meant at all events that
the poisoner should have no more
opportunity to exercise his diabol-
ical science upon the sick nobleman.
He promised the count that he
should have safe and competent
watchers thereafter.
1t was fairly dark now, as Ruric
could see by raising the curtain and
looking out. He had no idea it was
so late. Time had passed without
his notice. He moved to the side
Of the bed and took the inyalid's
hand.
81 must go now" he said. tBut
if you are willing / will come
again"
aYod will come," uttered Conrad
in reply, returning the grasp Of the
hand with all his feeble power. "Oh,
you must come often now. | hope
/ shall live. Perhaps I shall. If ]
do, shall owe my life to you. And
God knows-for the feeling is even
now firm in my soul-that will
always remember how you saved
me, and | will never think, never,
of the sad blow you struck me.
Come-come to me when you can,
for now now as God lives, !
speak the truth-now love you!"
"God bless and keep youn' mur-
INJURED Ruric in husky, tremulous
voice. And with these words, COM
ing from the very depths of his
soul, he turned away and left the
room. He heard the voice of the
count as he moved toward the open
door and thanked God that twas a
blessing which fell upon his ears.
All, those who know not what
true forgiveness is know not the ho-
liest emotion of earth!
Ruric had left his sledge at a
neighboring inn, and as soon as he
gained the street he bent his steps
that way. He had gone half the dis
tance from the residence of the
count to the inn and was just upon
the point of crossing the street
when he heard his name pronounced
BY some one behind him. He stop
ped and looked around and saw a
man approaching him.
It was too dark to distinguish