Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-23


eyes frightened me. I am only wom-
an and for a moment stood frozen, dumb, over.
Whelmod with sudden terror of what was to
come.
II want the servants to hear what | am going
to say to you, before I send for the constable
from Wimbledon and have you arrested" he went
on, speaking slowly and calmly. and this is
what ] shall tell them. Your name is not Cath
cart; it is Bolton. You are a convicted murder
ess, whose sentence commuted to one Of
penal servitude for life, at present released on
ticket of leave, The crime for which you were
sentenced was murder by poisoning. You have
obtained n situation in my house under false
name and by the aid Of a lady Of high position
whom you have evidently deceived as to your
true character You are Elsie Grey's mother,
and you are commencing your career afresh by
crime more terrible than the one for which you
have already suffered. You are poisoning your
own daughter. The proofs are here. have sus-
pected it for some days. Now l sure"
Dumbly stared at him, while my legs trems
bled under me and my teeth chartered together.
"You villain!" l gasped, "why does not heaven
strike you dead 1t is you, you that are the
posoner."
"Who will believe it?' he said. (which will
justice credit-the man whom the world knows
and respects, the man who has been for no
ward more than father TO her through her
life, who has nothing to gain through her death,
who loves her and whom she loves the con
vieted murderess who poisoned her husband
who for fifteen years deserted her child, and
who gains fortune of hundred and fifty thou
sand pounds by her death"
] reeed back from him in horror. "You liar"
] cried, "it is you who gain by her death, l
have seen the will she made among your papers"
| saw his eyes flicker but he never moved an
inch. That will can be destroyed in an in
slant" he sad quickly. f'She signed it with
out knowing what it was, and she is not even
aware of its existence, But why should argue
with you? l have shown you the strength of my
position. Now ring the bell"
I looked at him as he sat there, big, red-faced,
inAexible, so powerful in body compared to me, so
sure of his keen intellect, so contemptuous of
mine; and 1 clenched my weak hands. 'Oh, if
/ could kill you where you sit!" cried
"Aud add third murder to the other two?'
he said. mo, thank you. But this must end y
And still looking at me fxedly, he rose and
moved towards the bell. He passed me; he had
his hand upon the knob, when consciousness re-
turned to me. sprang to him and seized his
hand,
mo, no, for Gods sake don't rng!" cried,
wildly, don't ring!"
He looked at me sternly what them" he
said.
Anything. I will do anything you ask, only
spare her life, only spare her ife" and l flung
myself on my knees clutching his hand, begging
him to spare my child, praying to him to have
mercy.
He let me exhaust myself, and then drew his
hand from mine. Don't be fool" he said,
harshly, at last. "Her life is safe. Here, see"
and taking the medicine and the packet from the
desk he dashed the bottle to pieces the hearth,
kLo
the air ouside.
tried to murmur something; l tried to speak
again, but all was dark before my eyes; my poor
dazed brain refused to act, my wretched body
betrayed me- the world seemed to swing round
with me, and ! sank senseless and helpless to
the floor.
When / came round he had gone and was
alone.
few to Elsie, and found her better and more
cheerful than she had been for days. Your visit
and Dr.. Legrand's had done her good. / heard
the news that you had again stepped in, and
that trained nurse coming at once to watch
her ! guessed your intentions and blessed you;
oh, how I blessed you.
he never went to bed that night but spent
the hours pacing up and down the lawn. | stood
in the corridor outside her door, and watched
him through the window. Early in the morn
ing he went to town. He returned about mid
day. He was restless and uneasy and wandered
round the place. l could he was revolving
something in his mind. He saw your nurse when
she came and had an interview with her Il Meth
trust nor like that woman. During the early
afternoon he received two telegrams; and after
the second one he sent for me- and warned me
to have the servants and everything ready to
travel that night.
! asked him where we were going and he re-
fused to tell me-
you will know tonight" he said at is
not far ] prefer that no one should know at
present. | not well. l need complete rest
from business worries, and change will also do
her good.'
looked at him, and he met my gaze calmly
and firmly. ] went to Elsie, and ventured to
ask her if she could tell me, so that ! should
know what to take and what arrangements to
make. She seemed frightened and agitated,
and could not say. 1t was against Mr., Dunn's
wish, she said, that the servants should know
Until we reached our destination Mr.. Dunn
was much worried with pressing business mat
ters, and had been ordered complete rest from
them. The only way to insure that was to
keep his address unknown as long possible.
Any OF the servants who objected TO the sud
den move could be paid and allowed to go. Two
OF the maids declined to travel, and left
saw to the preparations, silent and anxious.
Was his explanation the true one, was he
plotting some deeper and baser villainy? l was
afraid, ] was afraid, and wrote to you
We arrived here late that night. II is a
big, rambling, od-fashioned house which he
has not occupied for some years 1t seems
gloomy and horrible, and something about il
terrified me the first moment | entered it,
For day ] watched ceaselessly, trying to