The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-09-14
Who Dealt
the Blow F.?
BY MRS. JENNIE DAVIS BURTON.
575lS1S2S2E55S7h25152S1S1H52

Observation-Disclosures ENTHUSIASTICALLY
To my nephew, Felix ST. Alban, l
leave the Italian dagger which has
been an heirloom in our family and
the curse of our race; but, lacking
the superstitions of the former st.
Adams, 1 beg to remind him that it
has failed to bring the customary
evil upon me, its latest possessor.
There has not been so much love be-
tween us that / need fear its sharp
blade will cut the thread of his af-
lection for my ghostly memory.
My lands and houses, such as are
not sold to pay my debts, leave to
my ward, Honoria Dillon, daughter
of the woman l once loved and de-
serted, partly as recompense for the
wrong I did her mother, partly to
disappofnt my nephew, who natural
ly expects to step into my shoes, and
mostly to surprise the girl who has
no reason to think l will leave her
anything.
ITO my enemies l leave my I'M
dying Hl-will to my friends, who are
few, the doubtful benefit of my bless
ing"
The bitter spirit of old Leonard st.
Alban spoke after him in this re-
markable will, and something like
shudder ran over the little audience
who listened to it, for three months
after penning his disbelief of the SUI
perstition which attached to the dag
ger-a superstition that had been
cryStalized in the shape of proph-
ecy that every ST. Alban owning it
must either kill with it or be killed
by it-he had been found with its
sharp blade driven straight through
his heart. Not one person in the
room would have taken it as a gift
except the legalized recipient, but the
spirit of Leonard st. Alban lived over
again in the last representative of
his race
He was a thin, sallow man, with
restless. burning eyes, and he came
forward, smilingly, to receive the SOU
venir at the hands of the executor.
The slender blade was furnished with
a duh crust, and a great ruby set in
the hilt glowed red as the blood it
had spilled. McDermott, the detec-
tive, was watching him as he took
the weapon, and obeying sudden
impulse touched him on the shoulder.
Would you mind leaving it in my
hands for the present Mr.. st. AL
ban?"
mot at all" responded Felix,
promptly. thine enough to fulfill my
destiny when you have unraveled the
mystery here, sir. Infidelity did not
save my uncle, and it may not save
me-"
You have been disappointed in
your expectations, said the detective
smoothly. There's no harm in say
ing now that, before the reading of
the will, you seemed the only person
who could have any motive in the old
gentlemans decease.'
1T seems so STILL" returned Felix,
composedly. There was no robbery,
and l expected to be his heir"
Both men had spoken in the quiet
est of tones, and as they stood, with
level, meeting glances, it was as if
one had given a warning to which
the other flashed defiance back, but
third person had caught the low
spoken words. Honoria Dillon came
a step nearer, with a reddening
CLEAN breaking through the stony
pailor of her face.
MI McDermott, you are mistaken.
I knew the disposition Mr.. ST. Alban
intended to make OF his property;
acquainted Felix of the fact"
"Honoria!" pleadingly, warningly
whispered Felix, and the young detec-
tive was conscious of a mental re-
coil when reason suggested that he
should suspect her since that knowl-
edge gave her motive for the deed.
That evening he examined the dag
ger in the privacy of the chamber
which had been devoted to his use
while he chose to remain at St. Al
bans. A crust of blood still chung to
the blade close up to the hilt. Put
ting sentiment aside, McDermoft
doubted whether a woman's hand
could have driven 1t SO deep and
true. 1t was gold-handled, with a
single ruby set in the end, and as he
turned 1t over he saw that one of
the small points which held the stone