The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-01-07

" ou want me well what is it = he
said, leaning back in his chair, and re-
garding his guest closely with the pierre
ing dark eyes that seemed still darker
and more piercing from the bushy, snow
white brows that overhung them.
The youth spoke not, nor removed the
cloak from his face; but silently advanc-
ing, presented a folded paper to the old
man. He received and glanced over it.
\ slight frown darkened over his face,
and again he fixed on the boy that same
searching glance.
You do not want me, but my wife"
he said. Il touch not such matters as
this and he handed back the paper
Then going to small door i'll the wall
he opened it and called "Bianca-Bi-
anca!'
An instant and there appeared at this
door a tall, darklooking yet splendidly
handsome woman, with a brunette COM
plexon, magnificent black eyes and a no.
BILE and commanding form. Those eyes
were fixed upon the muffed figure and
half-concealed face of the stranger.
Blanca" said the old man, here is
one who has need of your services
What do you want?" asked the wom-
an. in the sweetest and most musical of
voices, as she came forward, with her
glance still fastened ON the youth-'what
do you want?'
He gave her the paper, which she pc
rused. Then regarding him closely once
again, she said:
Follow me, and | will obtain for you
what you desire"
Without further speech. she crossed to
the opposite side of the room, to where
a chintz curtain hung before low arch
way; lifting this, she passed through, and
beckoned to him. He followed.
They were now in kind of large
closet. which contained two or three
chairs, circular table covered with
boxes and walls of different sizes and
shapes. The woman seated herself be-
fore this table, over which was burning
a braZen lamp, pendant from the wall.
She motioned to the youth to take another
near her. He did so.
''Do you know" she said, reading the
contents of the paper again, what it is
that you wish for?"
Yes. Hasten; | must have it"'
A purse of gold was flung upon the
strike through its meshes and smiled.
You know the worth of your wish.
There is but one physician. believe, now
living who is acquainted with the secret
of this drug
The youth shuddered visibly. His dark,
burning eyes were fixed upon the face of
the woman.
You doubtless know the effect of it,"
she asked next. as she opened small
casket OF solid iron. which stood among
other boxes on the table.
II do
If her intention had been to penetrate
the boys disguise. or to hear the tones of
his voice, she was baffled. She abandon
ed the attempt. therefore, and proceeded
to take from the casket certain walls,
nearly all of which were filled with some
liquid. Perhaps twelve of these were re-
moved, and the casket appeared entirely
empty: when. touching a secret spring,
false bottom was removed, disclosing
three smaller Walls lying side by side in
separate compartments. The one lying
in the center she took up; it was filed
with fluid colorless as water.
The boy bent forward, breathing heav-
lily. his burning glance fixed eagerly upon
it. He stretched out his hand to take it !;
that hand was small and fine and lily
white. The woman saw it. but her quick
eyes were instantly fixed upon the vial
again.
"No--no," she said. calmly. This con-
tains a hundred times the quantity you
want. A single drop is sufficient to rid
you of your worst enemy-yOur rival, il
You have one.
The youth shuddered again; and she
marked we'll the shudder, but there was
nothing strange to her in it. She recog
nized the feelings actuating him; she was
accustomed to these things. and did not
seem to observe his emotion.
Selecting small vial from a box of
empty ones beside her. she measured out
and poured into it very small quantity
of the fluid: then stopping the mouth of
this vial tightly. she melted piece of
wax and sealed it over.
Here is the drug. A death warrant is
in your hands," she said finally, giving
il to the youth.
He grasped it eagerly: the fingers that
clutche6 it trembed. Pointing to the
purse which he had thrown upon the Ia
BILE. he thrust the vial into his breast.
passed through the archway, through the
outer room, and gaining the passage,
once more entered the street.
Cool and damp the night air swept over
his burning forehead. With a deep
drawn breath he hurried on. still grasping
the fragile vial containing that death po-
ton. and escaping fearfully from the
neighborhood where it had been obtained.
Each moment he turned his head to see
that no one followed him; for he was in
possession of that which might, in more
ways than one, prove dangerous to its
owner; and the scrutiny of those splendid
eyes haunted him. But besides himself,
nor q soul travarsad the nnu silent and