The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-10-14
CHAPTER xxX111.
POISON.

tied his horse to the iron rail protec-
ting the surgery window. and was
standing with his back to the chimney
piece in the DOCTORS stuffy little sit
ting room when the latter returned
from seeing his distinguished colleague.
as he termed him. into the train.
You see 1 have lost no time" Max
began. "Tell me what Sir Wil'am
really thinks"
H agrees with me-" replied Doctor
Hopkins slowly. There is danger
You told me there was danger" said
Max, with nervous impotence. But
what is the danger?"
I'VE both agree in thinking" re-
sponded the medical nan impressively.
as he fixed his eyes on his nearer, that
Miss Cowley is being poisoned"
Max sprang forward, alert, quivering,
his small eyes glazing. all the blood
gone from his face. "P.oison-poison."
impossible. There's some mistake" he
added. as IL scouting the idea.
ut seems hardly credible, but it's the
only conclusion we could come to" the
doctor told him. IAN attempt to pol
son her has twice been made"
But think OF it," pleaded Max: "who
would harm her, who would kill her?"
Doctor Hopkins was about to remind
him that by attempting to shoot him
self in her presence he had injured her
health; but he forebore referring to the
incident, now that Max showed such
feeling and horror.
II can't tell you who 1t is that would
kill her." the doctor said, but what
I do know is this, that II anything
fatal happens to Miss Cowley. some one
will be hanged for it."
Good heavens! Don't let US talk
be done, something can be DONE, but
what it is. l am unable to think at
present. Help me-tell me-"
II wish I nae moved her away from
the hall after the first attempt"
ut IS q cursed place." replied Max.
yehemently. But cannot you send her
away now. It's not too late"
She will not be BILE to travel for
some days. and MEANWHILE
mo, no. nothing will happen to her."
Max cried out to interrupt him, his face
still white with fear. '"rhink of it.
man, how terrible it would be. But
something ought to be done at once.
The detectives? They are still hang
Ing about the place"
And have not found out anything"
II will consult my father"
Fright will only make him more
helpless still"
But l cannot keep his news to my
self; some m else must share the
responsibility, must suggest some ac-
ton. 1 will tell Lady Bysshe," Max
said, clutching at an idea.
On reachin the hall he found that
Lady Bysshe was with Edith; but as he
could not rest or think coherently until
he had shared the news with her, he
sent a message asking her to see him
a moment in the morning room.
With some ~premonition of evil she
nurrled down. when the sight of his
distracted expression, and the beads of
p~erSpiration on his forehead, confirmed
her fears.
oh, Aunt Margaret he began, adj
dressing her as was his habit before re-
cent events had bred GOODNESS between
them.
You have been down to see Doc
tor Hopkins?" she said, grasping at the
truth.
Il have, and he says-but 1 can't tell
you: it's too TERRIBLE
She began to tremble. He fears
the worst for Edith?"
mo. no. We will save her. It's this,
and he told her all.
Petrified with establishment and hor-
Tor, h heard him in silence.
What is to be done?" she moaned
IN despair.
II suggested that Edith should be
the doctor says she would not be able
for that"
And he is right. Poor child, her
strength is terribly spent from her
light with the last attack, slight as 1t
seemed. And to leave here might only
be to avoid her murderer for the pres
emit"
Let US telegraph for Godfrey" Max
proposed.
II would, but that the great trial in
winch he Is engaged begins tomorrow.
l know he would not hesitate--but 1
cannot ask him."
My father"
AS he could not help us, it would be
cruel to brighten him"
Max looked gloomily out of the win
dow facing him, whilst Lady Bysshe,
with her back to the door, faced a VEN
etlan mirror hanging on the opposite
wall. AS she inadvertently glanced at
this, she saw the door slowly open and
Urbano step softly into the room, pause,
and listen. his SCARED face, If possible,
more livid than ever, his cleaning
eyes IlNed on her, his distorted figure
itself.
Lady Bysshe felt that thrill of I'M
accountable terror selling her, such as
some have experienced in the presence
OF an invisible nd CHASTITY being, and it
was only by an effort of will she was
aole 10 turn round and face him.
VIVA do you want?" she asked
sternly. ~
"If you please my lady, I rapped
three times" Urbano muttered.
were not heard. Why do you
come ere?"
His excellency, the count has been
asking for his son." he answered, and
with q furtive look he left the room.
Has he heard?" Max asked, startled
by what he had seen.
No. 1 was looking in the glass when
he stole in. l know not what must be
done. What we know must be kept to
ourselves, n from this hour you and
l must keep watch"
y will do anything you suggest. Ac-
ton will keep me from going mad"
My. plan is this" Lady Bysshe said,
regaining once more her usually COM
posed manner. II will myself pre-
pare every morsel Of food and every
drink that passes Edith's lips while
you, hidden in the corridor, will watch
her room throughout the night. So
long as h is guarded in this way.
nothing can happen to her, and It's
Just possible you may discover the
nerd who would poison her.
You are right" Max replied. II will
watch" W.
And mind, let no one know" she
cautioned him.
mo n shall know from me. And
now I will go n see what my father
wants"
The count was seated in his own
room, his pointed delicate fingers pas
sing lightly over the raised letters OF
n hno1 tho no a ~ 1,I(oh ~