The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-08-25

tablet from the silver box and DESTROYED
It, so that there remained nineteen in each.
Then / changed the contents Of the two
and replaced the gold box with Its now
harmless tablets in my uncle's pocket
The silver box, in which there must now
be one tablet poisoned by Ormond, re-
stored to the desk, first breaking the
spring of the lid 80 that 1t could not be
opened.
BY this stratagem I had preserved Mr..
Greer from any further danger during
nineteen days. and had prepared long
punishment for the assassin. Every even
ing he must watch what he would think
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 nine
teenth. He would have to wait for 1t in
horror
I wonder how many years were crowded
into those nineteen days for Ormond. He
grew haggard and his flaming eyes sanf
farther into his head. Mr.. Greer often
spoke Of his altered looks. suggesting rest
from business q sea voyage or few
weeks In the woods with dogs and gun.
But Ormond had forged his own chain
As for me, found a 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. so that to
him, no doubt, 1t 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-
manned 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 un-
Gle, opening the box. ''Shant we finish
them? Gladys, my child join me tonight.
Come; insist"
He filled two glasses, and saw Ormond
grip the arms Of his chair. Gladys SEEM
ed to detect an unusual earnestness in
Mr.. Greer's tone She looked at him
quickly and then laughed.
81 fear acquiring the fatal appetite
she said. land yet this once will accept
the risk
Mr.. Greer dropped tablet into each Of
the goblets and he raised his own. Or
mond's head was rocking upon his spine.
I could see the beads of the sweat Of ag-
ony shine upon hts forehead He seemed
to be striving to rise from his chair, to
=
warning. but fear held him by the throat.
"Pitiful coward!' cried springing to
my feet. This Is unbearable Would
you risk her life?''
My uncle paused with the goblet at his
lips In fact, he had already drunk.
though Gladys had not. They both stared
at me, but neither found words.
Ormond sprang forward to the table by
which they were standing. He leaned
heavily upon 1t, and his eyes were burn
ing question into mine.
II know the whole TRUTH said 1. ''Will
from that glass"
set down. A terrible shudder passed over
his face wholly changed so that he looked
more like the Ormond of old days.
Its the best way he said quite calm
~. God forgive met"
He raised the glass to his lips and DRUM
ed 1t at draft
Mr.. Greer was looking at him with a
strange expression. and his voice was
choked as with grief when he spoke.
1T won't hurt you. Ormond," he said.
II took 'em all out. was awake the
night when you came into my room and
stole the box. ! was awake when you
brought 1t back. ! knew what you had
done-that you'd poisoned one or more of
the tablets because-well because of Glad
vs. I knew 1t. and what should do about
It? That was the question.
We'll. It was too much for a, plain man
like me- he added IT see that now. /
should have taken advice But 1t seemed