The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-01-31

even without the sight OF the wine
glass | should have known that sb
was not telling the truth.
"Dld he say what seemed 20 be th
matter with himf"
Yes; he was faint He thought
He said his lips felt numb"
Il thought they looked queer" sai'
Ford. Here's the cigar" showing u
half OF a very small one. Il found |
In his pocket. He was going TO hay,
II examined, ! suppose. Well, III d.
| that, but It's poisoned sure enough
Now" he continued, pointing his iingel
at the girl. Ito whose advantage Is thli
mans death to whose adyantager
Il beg your pardon" said l. "ls thii
young lady under arrestf"
AT this moment hasty hand wa
laid upon the knob OF the door whlcl
communicated with the shop.
"You can't come In" said the mar
shal, but he was mistaken The loci
of the door burst with rattle OF spin
tiers, and Frank Clifford precipitated
himself into the room.
Cant come In, ehy' said he. "Whn'
do you think about II nowy
He strobe across TO the little milllncr
and. standing beside her. glared at the
marshal, who had not risen from his
chair or even paused In caressing bis
silky mustache,
"Glad to see you. Mr.. clifford" said
he, speaking through his hand, Have
a seat and tell us where you got this
cigar that you gave to your uncle
Before he could reply the young wo-
man stepped in front Of him, and she
was picture. had always thought
her beautiful. but In somewhat tepid
style. She was quite a different crea.
ture now.
"Mr. Cllfford-Mr. Duncan Clifford
got that cigar here In this store" she
cried. "He told me so.'
The marshal rose and stepped to the
broken door, now guarded on the out
side by some serviceable citizen who
had appointed himself deputy.
"Send Edgeworth In here" said the
marshal, but II appeared that the to-
bacconist-j jeweler was not present. No
one knew what had become Of him.
"Ah, he told you so'' said the mar
shal, turning to the millner and calm.
ly resuming the conversation. How
did he happen to do thatT
II don't remember" she answered,
"but II the cigar was poisoned know
why. Mr.. Edgeworth haSannoyed me
beyond endurance with his attentions.
He knew that Mr.. Duncan Clifford
came to see Inc often. He believed that
him insanely."
$50 Mr.. Clifford used to come to see
your Why?"
ITO persuade me to go away" was
the reply ''He offered me money. He
was trying to separate me from
Frank"
ITO give up Frankf' said the mar
shal. "What are you to himT'
II am his wife," she answered, "but
Mr.. Clifford did not know It."
"And II be had known 1t Frank
might have lost half million dollars.
| see"
The entrance OF Mr.. Edgeworth in
terrupted this line Of questioning.
"Ah, Edgeworth: good evening"" said
the marshal.
Good evening, Captain Ford" re.
sponded the tobacconlst In deep,
heavy voice that sounded strange from
his narrow chest and thin lips.
when did you sell this cigar to
Duncan CliffordT asked Ford.
The tobacconlst took the half con-
sumed cigar and examined II In the
manner Of an expert.
II never carried these goods he
said. ITS sort OF large tobacco clga-
rette. sold eight In n box-a little tin
box. ! think they're called the Mar.
quis."
The marshal turned to Frank.
ever you carry them In" said lie.
you have no authority" Frank be
gan.
Haven't IT. retorted Ford, drawing
revolver. you are under arrest
Well search you at the station. nnd
know what well find"
"Walt one moment" said Frank.
with more calmness than should have
expected OF so excitable a man. 81
will admit that gave that cigar to my
uncle after dinner and another like II
this evening. ! do not believe that II
Is poisoned. or course II isn't. had
nothing to do with this crime. II II is
n crime, and
II gave him wine In my ROOM" cried
Esther. panic stricken with fear for
the man she loved. "The bottle has
been uncorkcd. where any one-this
man She finished the sentence by
a wild gesture toward Edgeworth.
Clifford was III before you gave him
the wine" said the marshal. You told
US so, and you were telling the truth
too. SIT down, all Of you"
Presently man, red faced and
burst Into the room
"IIe went home an changed his
clothcsl' cried this fellow IN gasps
Ills other clothes swas all wet We
found EN-"
The marshal turned slowly toward
Edgeworth.
Il missed you" said he 1T seemed
queer. SO sent this man TO see about
IT, How did your other suit Of clothes
get wctr'
There WAS long moment OF silence.
then Edgeworth sprang at the marshal
as quick as fash. Ford turned for q
ciinch and half rose, but Eigeworth |
lodged and flung himself agalns, a
small table on which were the mar
shal's revolver and lamp that was
the only Hight OF the room There was
a great crash and then darkness. with
the noise of an indlscriminate strug !
gle Ford. his messenger. Frank and
myself were all Ia grapple. while
the object Of our efforts I
eludei us in the room, which be knew
better than we did. and escaped by y I
stairway 10 loft. from window of