Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-29

ed her hand to her side and ran out of the
room. My wife Immediately followed her.
She came back again in minute or TWO
and said that Edith was in violent pain and
be eyed of me tc send for a doctor. DR.. Os-
borne lives just round the corner. He came
at once, but she died almost Immediately
after his arrival"
You were in the room?" asked Vande-
leur, turning to Osborne.
Yes he replied. "Ehe was conscious to
the last moment and died suddenly"
Did she tell you anything?"
No. except to assure me that she had not
eaten any food that day until she had
come down to breakfast After the death
occurred sent Immediately to report the
case. locked the door of the room where
the poor girls body is, and saw also that
nobody touched anything on this table"
Vandeleur rang the bell and a servant
appeared. He gave quick orders. The en-,
tire remains of the meal were collected
and taken charge of, and then he and the
coroner's officer went upstairs.
When we were alone Selby sank into
chair. His face was quite drawn and hag-
gard.
''It is the horrible suddenness of the
thing which is SO appalling he cried. las
to Beatrice, don't believe she will ever be
the same again. She was deeply attached
to Edith. Edith was nearly ten years her
senior, and always acted the part of mother
to her This is sad beginning to our life.
can scarcely think collectedly-'
remained with him a little longer, and
then. as Vandeleur did not return, went
back to my own house. There could set
tie to nothing, and when Vandeleur rang
me up on the telephone about @ o'clock I
hurried off to his rooms. As soon as ar
rived saw that Selby was with him, and
the expression on both their faces told me
the truth.
This is bad business" said Vandeleur.
Miss Dallas has died from swallowing poi
son. An exhaustive analysis and examina-
ton have been made, and powerful poi
nm rrvt 20 Trpro 1~l4 80
has been found This is strange enough
but how 1t has been administered is puz-
zle. | confess at the present moment we
are all nonplussed. 1t certainly was not in
her dying evidence that she took nothing
else Now, a poison with such appalling
potency would take effect quickly. 1t is
evident that she was quite well when she
began to work toward the close of the
meal But how did she get it? This
question however, shall deal with later
on. The more immediate point is this. The
monetary issues and the value of the lady's
life. From the aspects of the case her
undoubted sanity and her affection for her
sister, we may ALMOST exclude the idea of
der. This harmless, innocent lady is struck
down by the hand of an assassin, and with
such devilish cunning that no trace clew
is left behind. For such an act there must
nave peen some very powerful mOt1Ve, anu
the person who designed and executed 1t
must be criminal of the highest order of
scientific ability Mr.. Selby has been tell
Ing me the exact financial position of the
poor lady and also of his own young WIFE,
The absolute disappearance of the STEP
brother, in view of his previous character
is I'm the highest degree strange. Knowing,
as we do, that between him and two MIL
lion sterling there stood two lives-one is
taken!
A deadly sensation Of cold seized me as
Vandeleur uttered these last words.
glanced at Selby. His face was cOlorless
and the pupils of his eyes were contracted,
as though he saw something which terrified
him.
what has happened once may happen
again." continued Vandeleur. 1--WE are in
the presence of great mystery, and I
counsel you, Mr. Selby. to guard your wife
with the utmost care"
These words, falling from man of Van
deleur's position and authority on such