The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-03-31

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Nine. Sara and her young cousin
Donna MaHta'H face. usually 80 pale
was nov relieved BY a crimson ElnW
on each check. This unusual color
brought out her beauty 10 a dazzlinR
| degree. l noticed further that her
eyen had a filmy expression In them
remembered Vandalaura words
Beyond doubt madame had msnmar-
iEed her victim. AS to what Il all
meant, VIII own that my own brain
WIS I'm Il whlrl.
a few minutes passed. and then.
amid a thunder Of applause. Pioaki,
pale as ivory. stepped on 10 the plat.
form aud walked straight 10 the
table over which hung the graceful
palm.
After a few words IN which the
! young professor was introduced BY
tho president Of the evening. thu
lecture about which so much curl
aattY had been felt began. Ynndelaur
and | stood side By side near one OF
the entrance doors From where We
stood We could see Piof4i we'll Van.
delsur'a face vas rigid a. steel.
A quarter of an hour passed. and
sentence By sentence. word by word.
the young man led up Co hls crucial
point he great announcement.
Look Whispered Vanaeleur.
graapiuE ny wrist What In the
world Is the matter with hlmfs.
The professor was ntiii speaking.
but hia words came IN thick aud In.
distinct sentences. Suddenly he took
haId Of the table With both hands
and began To sway 70 and fro. The
next moment he ceased speaking.
feeled. made a lunaa forward. and.
With loud crash. fell Hauarieaa upon
the floor. The seena Of eunatarna .
tiou MAS Undesirable Nnndeleuf
AMI [ both HprauK forward. The uu
conscious man vas taken into one OF
the ante rooms. and b the ImmH8Iz
ate application Of reataFati.aa and a
great draft 90 fresh air. eauasd hy
the open windows. he came Eradu.
ally Il hin SELF Hut that he vas still
very 81 waa evldsuts his brain Waa
eanfuaeds he could scarcely speak
Hxssut in aaarHz 4 daaiaF who Wa
present offered % aea him 70 his
house. We carried him 10 tie first
cab We could fIud whispered In
his ear That would call mn him
later ia The evening. and fhsn re-
turned n the hall
Vandeleur whs waiting fuf ne.
felt htH grip On my arm.
Come fiEht up onto the plat
form n said.
The excitement In his voice was
only exceeded - tha look on hls
face. Nast # tho crowd had Dis
pefee3 knowing veil that theirs
would be no further lecture that
night lat few renple still fingered
on the scene. I looked IN vain for
Nine. sam md Donna Marta. they
we're neltheF Of them visible.
You SOC fhias said Yanfelsuf.
polutiux Ia the great palm that tow
cred over the table at which Pioazi
stood And you 80 thia.s he re-
peated. setnlnH ons q the branches
and shaking Il.
The long. taperius green leaves
ratified together with an odd. metal
lie sound
A4H#A fHHHHNH HaAHA NAHAA#HH8Af an
he pointed to the fine tips Of ons Of
the leaves This plant never Krew.
II !. mHda==it Is an artificial lults-
ton Of thw most surprising akin and
workmanship. The pot tn which IL
stands has certainly earth At the
iap"-hs swept away a HANDFUL.
but there below s. q receptacle
which Il generating carbon monos-
i4e gas
lie bent ana broke one OF thu
branches
Hollow. you see Those are the
tubes to convey the gaa 10 the
leaves ~ the extremity Of each Of
which IL an urtfiec. Prof pio1ai
was standing beneath a veHitahle
shower bath Of gan. which II odor-
lava and eolofleHH. and brings isseu-
lbility ana death. II overwhelmed
him. a. yau saw. and II waa lnpos-
slble for him 10 finish bis lecture.
Only one human being could have
manned and executed such n con-
trivanee. II W can trace IL to her.
she spends the night In How street
our movements were rapid. The
piant was taken 20 NandeieurH
house The florist who had supplied
the decorations was interviewed. He
EXPRESSED himself aztounaed. lie de.
MED all oompiieity-tha palm waA
certainly none of his. he could not
tell how II had got into the hall He
had core himself Ia see II the deco
rntianr we're carried out accord
Ing To- his plans, and had noticed
the palm and remarked on It's grace
Romeone had said that n lady had
brought Il. but he really knew Moth
Ing definite about II.
Notwithstanding all our Inquiries
neither did we ever find out how
that palm got mixed up With the
others.
We learned afterwards that Donna
Marta left London for the continent
that very night. What her HuhHe-
quent movements were We could
never ascertain. Doubtless. having
acted her part In the brief role as.
signed 20 her. madame would drop
her from her life as ahe did most Of
her victims.
There Vas. however. one Hafisfae-
tion-the plot. on which 20 much
hung. had failed. Madame was not
successful. Prof. piozzL his eyes
opened At last With regard 10 this
woman. took out his patent without
an hours unnecessary delay.
ar . . -, > . s-sssss.ssss
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~ rnrt nlnrt In Tie aerleH Of .