The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-06-12

cannot do anything. DR.. Wilson says
LENA will come round by-and-by; my
darling, you are shaking from head to
foot; let me carry that bouquet of
yours, it is too heavy for you"
"Where did you get that gorgeous
holder from?" he asked presently, when
Elva had laid it on the seat opposite
them and slipped her little hand into
his with a happy smile.
"It is Lema's present.
"How strange she should part with
it," said Sir Lexley in an undertone,
looking intently at the intertwined
cobras, whose scales glittered in the
sunshine, and whose turquoise eyes
seemed to glow with distinctly evil
expression. "She must be very fond
of you, Or" and he stopped and
turned very white; the idea was too
horrible it could not be, she would
not dare to take such revenge; pas
sionate and jealous as be alone knew
her, she could not be such a fiend in
woman's form.
Elva stretched out her hand to take
up the bouquet. bat he caught it
roughly.
Don't touch the thing; there is
danger in i,!'
"Lexley!' she cried incredulously
"wbat do you mean? 1t is lovely; l
like i: the best of all my wedding
presents"
The only answer Lexley gave was
to take hold of the bouquet 10y the top
most flowers, pull it ruthlessly out OF
the holder, and put the curious piece
of workmanship in his pocket.
"Well, if I find it harmless, will
return it, but you won't get it until l
have examined it thoroughly, so it's
no use trying"
X X
The wedding breakfast was over at
last, the health of the happy couple
had been duly drunk. Sir Lexley had
replied to the congratulations of his
brother officers and friends; Elva had
cut the cake with the bridegroom s
sword, and retired to attire herself for
the journey. AS she descended the
staircase clad in dainty costume of
lavender-gray, she noticed-as she
struggled nervously with her gloves
long red scratch on the palm of her
hand. "How can l have done that?
I'm sure it was not there this morn
ing" she said to herself, standing still
on the landing in astonishment. All
at once she heard voices, Lexley's and
another, in earnest conversation. The
first words rooted her to the spot.
"What mercy the holder aroused
your suspicious before it was too late.
The least scratch would have been
sufficient.
"Thank heaven, she suspects moth
ing; she must never know her sister
did not die a natural death. What
diabolical cunning to make a silver
toy such an unfailing instrument Of
DEATH"
"The mechanism is so simple; it is
only necessary to grip the holder
tightly in the center and from either
side this long needle-like dart starts
out, entering the soft flesh of the palm
and inoculating the victim with one of
the deadliest poisons known to science.
1t is, indeed, miracle that your wife
escaped"
"Good heavens! that was a woman s
scream!'
Sir Lexley dashed out of the room,
to find his wife lying in a dead faint
at the foot of the stairs. He lifted her
insensible form, and, carrying her into
the library, laid her down upon the
sofa. AS he put her down, she opened
her eyes and murmured in a weak
voice:
"Where am l? What has hap
pened?'
"You must have turned giddy and
fallen; l heard you, and rushed out
just in time"
II remember now-I heard you talk
ing-I have not escaped; it has
scratched me-don'L leave me Lexley
we thought this was the beginning
and it's tue end"
"Where is the mark? Kindly allow
me to see it," said DR.. Wilson, con-
trolling the anxiety he felt for the sake
of Sir Lexley, who was kneeling be-
side the sofa in state of terrible agita-
ton.
dearest, it can't be true; it must
be some hideous mistake! I can't lose
you now; l won't believe it-some-
thing must be done to stop the circu-
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