The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-09-24

tablet from the silver box and destroyed
It, so that there remained nineteen in each
Then | changed the contents of the tw
and replaced the gold box with its no,y
harmless tablets in my uncles poke:
The silver box, in which there must no "
be one tablet poisoned by Ormond, | re.
stored to the desk, first breaking In.
spring of the lid that it could not De
opened.
By this stratagem l had preserved VI
Greer from any further danger during
nineteen days and | had prepared Il long
punishment for the assassin. Every even
ing he must watch what he would think
to be game of chance with death ana
his own soul as the stake. He could not
know whether the poisoned tablet would
be used the first evening or the nine
teenth. He would have to wait for il in
horror
l wonder how many years were crowded
into those nineteen days for Ormoud. He
grew haggard, and his flaming eyes sank
farther into his head. Mr.. Greer Otter
spoke of his altered looks. suggesting rest
from business. a sea voyage or few
weeks in the woods with dogs and gun
But Ormond had forged his own chain.
AS for me. | found a mad fascination in
watching him every evening: seeing him
more pallid more shaken, more bitterly
determined to preserve that self control
which was slowly slipping away from
him. Toward the last, when there re-
manned but few of the tablets, SO that to
him. no doubt, it seemed an incredible
and personally vindictivc chance which
ruled the matter, | often thought that
he would spring to his feet and shrek
aloud as my uncle raised the goblet to
his lips.
And on the evening when there re.
maihed but two! How shall | describe
the tension of that scene? 1t seemed to
me that the blindness of my uncle and
Gladys was beyond belief, yet the world
Is full of such blindness.
'Only two more tonight" said my I'M
Gle opening the box "Shan't we finish
them? Gladys my child, join me tonight
Come; l insist"
He filled two glasses. and | saw Ormond
grip the arms of his chair. Gladys SEEM
ed to detect an unusual earnestness in
Mr.. Greer's tone. She looked at him
quickly and then laughed.
Il fear acquiring the fatal appetite"
she said land yet this once | will accept
the risk
Mr.. Greer dropped a tablet into each of
the goblets. ana he raised his own. Or
mond's head was rocking upon his spine
l could see the beads of the sweat of ag-
ony shine upon his forehead lie seemed
to be striving to rise from his chair to
speak, to lift his arm in Il gesture Of
warning. but fear held him by the throat.
"Ptiful coward | cried springing to
my feet. This IS unbearable. Would
you risk her life?"
My uncle paused with the goblet at his
lips. In fact. he had already drunk,
though Gladys had not They both stared
at me, but neither found words.
Ormond sprang forward to the table by
which they We're standing. He leaned
heavily upon it, and his eyes were burn
Ing a question into mine
81 know the whole truth" said l. "Win
you deny it? Then | defy you to drink
from that glass;
1 pointed to the one which Gladys had
set down. A terrible shudder passed over
Ormonds frame. and the expression OF
his face wholly changed so that he looked
more like the Ormond of old days.
Its the best way" he said quite calm
ly. God forgive me-
He raised the glass to his lips and drain
ed 1t at a draft
Mr.. Greer was looking at him with
strange expression and his voice was
choked as with grief when he spoke.
ut won't hurt YOU. Ormond,' he said.
Il took 'em all out. | was awake the
night when you came into my room and
stole the box. | was awake when you
brought it back. | knew what you had
done-that you'd poisoned one or more of
the tablets bccause-well. because of Glad
vs.. l knew it, and what should | do about
1t? That was the question.
well, 1t was too much for n plain man
like me-" he added. II see that now. |
should have taken advice. But it seemed