The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-02-22
WAS Melted OUT TO PERCY
RANDALL BY TRUSTFuL N
MRS. DAVENPORT.


"Now, you see. Mrs. Davenport"
he said, somewhat sadly, chow i'm
possible it would be for anyone to
effect an entrance into my wife's
sick room without first passing
through mine. Our baby will be
safe this time"
Mrs. Davenport assented in suit
able terms; but when Mrs. Daven-
port was alone she communed with
herself, as her fashion was.
There's a paper of tea in the
house, Percy Randall" she mutter-
ed. THAT paper of tea was bought
of a poor woman carrying a basket
of salable trifles-no one will ever
trace the woman - everyone Will
say the woman was an accomplish
of the coming child's waiting alb
ductor, for it will be afterward dis
covered the tea was offered for
sale the day of the child's abduc-
ton, and also that it was heavily
drugged. l wonder what your fine
precautions will amount to against
that pound of tea, Percy Randall"
That was what Mrs. Davenport
said TO herself Three DAYS after
she was expressing her rapturous
delight at the birth of girl. On
the evening of that fourth day she
sat before the tea urn, and with
radiant face handed Percy Ran
dall's cup to the waiter.
Its the best tea We have had
in the house for years, Mr.. Ran
DALI" she smiled. 81 bought it of
poor woman for charity, little
thinking it was so superior"
Percy Randall answered courte-
ously, and then absently stirred the
tea without tasting. Indeed, he
scarcely touched anything, and,
soon rising, he took up the cup,
saying:
81 will carry it up to my room,
Mrs. Davenport, and drink it before
retiring | feel singularly disturb
ed and anxious tonight"
Percy Randall carried the cup
into his room and when bedtime
came poured the contents under
the ashes in the CRATE.
Somehow | can't drink it," he
murmured apologetically, "but Mrs.
Davenport, kind creature, will be
troubled if the cup is not empty,
and satisfied if it is"
So the cup was placed empty On
the console near the door, and Mrs.
Davenport, stealing along the hall
an hour later, saw and carried II
away with a well pleased smile. AT
the end of another hour she was
back again, cloaked and hooded as
on two previous occasions.
Her step was firm and assured.
She had just made a tour of the
sleeping rooms to her entire salts
faction, and of Percy Randall's con-
dition she had not a doubt. Com
pletely worn out, he had lain him
self fully dressed upon the bed and
lay apparently in profound slumber
where baby, nurse and mother lay,
all unconscious of the threatening
danger.
cat my mercy" she whispered
exultantly. But even as she spoke
tall, cloaked form nosselest.y
took its position behind her and
followed step by step till she stood
beside the baby's crib.
She laughed, and then finglng
back the blue satin quilt, slipped
her hands beneath the child and
half raised it from its downy couch.
But the next instant she dropped
it with stifed cry of terror and
rage. Her arms had been violently
wrenched by the tall cloaked fig
ure which had so stealthily fol-
lowed her. and were now pinioned
to her own.
A short. silent struggle for mas
terry followed, and then she was
lifted from her feet and carried
through Percy Randalls room down
to the library.
Speak. who are your" at last
Numbered Percy Randall, throwing
off his cloak; and selling her hood
with a fiercely rough hand he tore
1t from her head and dashed 1t to
the ground.
The next instant he staggered
back, paler by far than the woman
before him.
n.