The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-01-16

Then going to small door in the wall,
he opened it and called, "Bianca-Bi-
ancaW
An instant and there appeared at this
door tall dark-looking yet splendidly
handsome woman, with brunette COM
plexion, magnificent black eyes and no
BILE and commanding fern, Those eyes
were fixed upon the muf1ed figure and
half-concealed face Of the stranger.
"Bianca," said the old man, "here is
one who has need of your services"
what do you wantY' 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, a circular table covered with
boxes and walls Of different sizes and
shapes. The woman seated herself be-
fore this table, over which was burning
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 forY"
Eyes. Hasten; I must have itv'
A purse Of gold was flung upon the
table before her. She saw the glitter
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 q 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
| Gu LhG uIkShpCJ LACLCAUICB AAN PiOSSSNSh
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, a
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 filled
with a 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 via
again.
"No-now she said, calmly. "This con
tains hundred times the quantity yor
want. A single drop is sufficient to rio
) you of your worst enemy-your rival, i
, yOu have one.
The youth shuddered again; and sh,
marked we'll the shudder, but there wa
nothing strange to her In it. She recog
l nized the feelings actuating him; she wal
accustomed to these things, and did no
; seem to observe his emotion.
! Selecting a small vial from a box O
empty ones beside her, she measured on
: and poured into it very small quantit,
OF the fluid; then stopping the mouth o
this vial tightly, she melted a piece o
" wax and sealed 1t over.
Here is the drug. A death warrant i
in your hands," she said finally, givin
! it to the youth.
He grasped it eagerly; the fingers tina
= | al tnhnJ IL trnphlaH To =
purse which he had thrown upon the ia
{ BILE, he thrust the vial into his breas
! passed through the archway, through tn
IL outer room, and gaining the passage
) once more entered the street.
/ Cool and damp the night air swept eve
his burning forehead. With a deer
- drawn breath he hurried on, still graspin
Il a the fragile vial containing that death p,
9 ton, and escaping fearfully from tn
II neighborhood where it had been obtained
u Each moment he turned his head to sc
"A that no one followed him; for he was
~ possession of that which might, In MOI
e ways than one, prove dangerous to il
~ owner; and the scrutiny Of those splend
eyes haunted him. But besides himsel
-, not soul traversed the now silent ar
r deserted street. Yet he shivered vii
lg strong excitement. With rapid and q
I'D most noiseless steps, he hurried on.
r. And the Italian, Blanca, looking for
a. an instant after the slight figure that I'll
10 ted on through the gloom, turned again
y the room in which sat the aged alchemis
IN "You gave the boy his drug, Blanca
nj he asked, raising his head.
ct "Yes-yes! but l tell you, 1t was a VOL
ST. ans heart that throbbed beneath tn
IT, mantle; woman's hand-and beautif
ng one, too-that paid me in yellow col
~ See: and she tossed the heavy purse
Ut her husband; there is the reward-t
IL price for which l have sold the life
ne another mortal! How many are enter
an on my list now, l wonderT' She laug
'e ed bitterly, and then a deep, despair
us groan followed the laugh.
eu And along the streets of Paris at m
ne night, sped the figure of that boy; on
Gu with nervous and shuddering haste, 81
clasping the fatal vial. Till, at leng
he the Hotel de Clairville is gained OIL
re- more, and unseen, unheard, he glides
re- lently in, and stealing up the stairs,
ler tiers chamber, and securing the do
W. filings aside the disguise Of that nigh
guilt. And Helen Montauban stands
the vealed!
nc