The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1904-07-02

tablet from the silver box and destroyed
it. so that there remained nineteen in each.
Then | changed til" contents # the two
and replaced the gold box with its NV
harmless tablets in "a uNClrs pocket.
The silver box, in wh.rl there must now
be one tablet poisoned by orroad. | re-
stored to the desk first breaking the
spring Of the lid SO that it could not be
opened.
BY this stratagem had preserved Mr..
Greer from any further danger during
nineteen days, and had prepared IA long
punishment for the assassin. Evo'y even
ing he must watch what he wound thnk
to be a game of chance, with death and
his own soul as the stake. He could not
know whether the poisoned tablet would
be used the first evening or the nn"-
teenth. He would have to wait for 1t in
horror.
l wonder how many years were crowded
into those nineteen days for Ormond. He
grew hagsard, and his flaming eyes sank
farther into his head. Mr.. Greer often
spoke Of his altered looks suggesting rest
from business sea voyage few
weeks in the woods with dogs and gun.
But Ormond had forged his own chain.
AS for me. I found 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. 50 that to
him, no doubt. it seemed an incredible
and personally vindictive 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.
mailted 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: | insist"
JIe filled two glasses and ! saw Ormond
grip the arms of his chair. Gladys SEEM
ed to detect an unusual earnestncss in
Mr.. Grcer's tone. She looked at him
quickly and then laughed.
II fear acquiring the fatal appetite"
she saii, 'and yet this once | will accept
the ris;
Mr. Gr,rr dropped a Tablet into each of
tn, gohl.IH. ANA h. raised his owu. Or
mun!s head was rocking upon his spine.
| could see the beads OF tn" sweat of ag-
ouy shin" urcn his forehead. He seemed
to br striving to rise froEI his chair. to
speak, tn lift his arm in Il gesture Of
warni"'c. but fear h,ll him by the throat.
''pitiful cownrd!' | cried, springing to
my f"'t. This IS unbcarable. Would
YOU risk her life"
MY uncle paused with the goblet at his
lips. In fact. h" had already drunk.
though Gladys had not They both stared
at me, bat r"ithc: found words
ormond sprang forward to the table by
which they Were standing. He leaned
heavily upon it. and his eyes were burn
ing question into min"
Il know IN. whole TRUTH" said |. "Will
YOU deny it, Then | defy you to drink
from that glass"
l pointed to the one which Gladys had
set down a terrible shuddcr passed over
ormOnd'S frame and the expression of
his face wholly changed so that he looked
more like the Ormond of old days
''lt's tho best way he said quite calm
ly. God fnrSiy" me-
He raised the glass to his lips and drain
ed IL at a draft.
Mr.. Greer was looking at him with a
strange expression, and his voice was
chokcd as with grief when he spoke.
1T won't hurt you. Ormond," he said.
Il took EN- all out. | was awake the
night when YOU came into my room and
stole the box | was awake when you
done-.that you'd poisoned one or more OF
the tablets because-well. because of Glad
Us. | knew 1t. and what should do about
1t? That was the question.
well. II was too much for a plain man
like me- he added. II see that now. I
should have taken advice. But it seemed