The Ely miner., 1903-01-02

u.s." he whispered, solemnly, Il be-
lieve that 1 am being slowly poi
soned."
L was not unprepared for the an
nouncement, for, truth to tell, the
suspicion had been with me as
watched him at the table.
pray allow me-" / said, bending
towards him and taking his wrist
My examination and questioning
made suspicion conviction. There
was not the least doubt of it. He was
suffering from the cumulative effect
of certain drug had described in
my paper.
Its true then?" he said, reading
my face. ''Pshawi / know it, man.
L have known it for weeks. Good
heavens! 1t is horrible. l am, and
always have been, an abstemious
man. When the certainty forced it
self upon me 1 surreptitiously took
samples of my food and drink and
had them analyzed. Three times 1
did so, but nothing deleterious could
be found. 1t is baffling-it is fiend-
ish! 1 know that someone about me
is numbering me, and yet | am i'm
potent. 1t is driving me mad. .
L fear to eat. :. / dare not drink.
Il. For Heavens sake, adjure you,
prevent this crime!'
"Calm yourself, my lord" [ said
quietly. Excitement in your pres
ent low condition is dangerous. Will
you leave this matter to me?"
My quiet manner reassured him,
and he fell back in his chair with a
feeble gesture of assent. l touched
the bell. pray be good enough to
order conveyance" L said to him.
81 wish to &C to the nearest drug
gist"
The man appeared and received the
order. With parting word of en-
couragement l went out, and was rap
idly driven to the town. The coach
man was inclined to be communica-
tive, and ere 1 re-entered the Towers
[ had learned that for some two
years or more his lordship had lived
the life of recluse.
ga reg'lar 'ermit!" said the man;
don't seem to ave the cart for any
thing. 1t was diff'rent when 'er lady
ship was alive-before Lady Flora
went away. She was is only child
made what they call runaway
match-eloped with Capt. Dugard.
Dessay you read about it? The old
man thought a powerful lot of 'er
and the business nearly broke is
'eart for 'e knew the captain for
what e was-nothing more nor less
than IN adventurer. They visit oc-
there was some sort
of reconciliation, believe, when 'er
ladyship died but it's very rarely;
the last time was three months ago,
as near as no matter. -
1 found his lordship sitting as had
left him. Pouring out dose Of the
mixture [ had obtained from the
chemist l watched him drink it.
eff it be what we think, your lord
ship" l said, ''that is the antidote;
but plainly must tell you the admin
istering of it cannot be prolonged in
definitely. The bane must be discov-
cred" l rang the bell. 'His lordship
wishes to retire." said to the man,
and assisting him up stairs 1 saw him
safely into bed, where, almost imme-
diately, he fell asleep. Leaving him,
L stole downstairs, and, dropping into
a cosy chair, gave myself up to
thought. The solemn-visaged butler
placed the tantalus and cigars at my
elbow and proceeded to replenish the
fire. 1t struck me that he was taking
an inordinate time over the business,
and suddenly looking up found him
gazing intently at my face. Anxiety
was plainly apparent in his look.
''His lordship seems far from well,
Johnson" L said.
''Sorry 1 am to see it, SIR he re-
turned, ''for truer gentleman never
breathed. Thirty year I've been in
his lordship's service. Only a year
ago I've seen him come back after
day with the guns as keen on his food
as the rest of 'em. 1t breaks my
heart to see him like this, sir. He
eats nothing. 1t seems almost as if
he was afraid to touch the food"
II suppose his daughters marriage
upset him terribly?" L suggested.
Eyes; it was bad business that,
sir. She was always headstrong,
flighty girl, and the captains just the
sort of man to attract such one as
her ladyship was. Absolutely impe-
cunious he was. It's common talk
that he married her for the fortune
he knows some day will come to her.
There's queer tales about him. They
say he spends most of his time at
some gambling casinos on the con-
tinent, only showing up here occa-
to bleed the old man for more
money. He takes care to be most
assiduous in his attentions while he's
here. A rank, bad lot, sir, if l may
be excused for saying it,"
''His lordship, 1 understand, is of
studious disposition?"
'.Yes, sir. Spends most of his time
in the library. Most punctilious, too;
and regular stickler for trifles.
Only yesterday he discharged maid
because she had forgotten to set out
a new pen and clean stationery on the
table"
He rambled on for some time, rising
fha l>oi+ of ,,ox, ,,Dt;l