The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1907-03-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

| the death OF Selma Sprotts was known
| all over Melbourne The ubiquitous re-
| porter, of course, appeared on the scene,
and the evening papers gave its own yer
| sion of the affair, and hint at foul play.
| There were no grounds for this state
| ment, as DR.. Chinston told Kitty and
! Madame Midas to say nothing about the
| poison, and it was generally understood
| that the deceased had died from apoplexy.
| A rumor, however, which originated none
knew how, crept about among every one
| that poison was the cause of death, and
this, being added to by some and embel-
| lished In all its little details by others,
there was soon a complete story made up
about the affair.
The inquest was appointed to take place
next day, and Cation had been asked by
Madame Midas to be present on her be
half, Kilsip, a detective officer, was also
present, and, curled up like a cat in the
corner, was listening to every word of the
evidence.
The first witness called was Madame
Midas, who deposed that the deceased,
Selma Jane Sprouts, was her servant. She
had gone to bed in excellent health, and
next morning she had found her dead.
Kitty then told her story.
The inquest was adjourned till next
| day, and there was great excitement over
the affair. If Kitty Marchurst's state
ment was true, the deceased must have
died from the administration of poison
! but, on the other hand, DR.. Chinston as
serted positively that there was no trace
IF poison. and that the deceased had clear
ly died from apoplexy.
Suddenly, however, a new interest was
! given to the case by the assertion that a
Ballarat doctor, called Gollipeck, who was
a noted toxicologist, had come down to
Melbourne to assist at the analysis of the
stomach, and knew something which
would throw light on the mysterious,
death.
Vandeloup saw the paragraph which
gave this information, and it disturbed
him very much.
THAT book of Prevol's," he said to him.
self, as he threw down the paper; st will
! put them on the right track, and then
WELL" observed NJ. Vandeloup, senten-
| tiously, they say danger sharpens a
mans wits; it's lucky for me if it does"
His rooms in Clarendon street, East
] NAClOOul NNLS very luAuTlOuSly ana ar
| tistically furnished, in perfect accordance
! with the taste of their owner. NJ. CASTOR
Vandeloup, though not exactly miserable,
was very Ill at ease. The inquest had
been adjourned until the government an
alyst, assisted by DR.. Gollipeck, had ex-
amined the stomach, and according to a
paragraph in the evening paper, some
strange statements, duplicating various
people, would be made next day. 1t was
this that made Vandeloup so uneasy, for
he knew that DR.. Gollipeck would trace a
resemblance between the death of Selma
Sprotts in Melbourne and Adele Blondet
In Paris, and then the question would
arise how the poison used In the one case
came to be used in the other.
1t was about o'clock at night, and
CASTOR was busy in his rooms packing up
to so away next morning. He had dispos-
ed of his apartments to Bellthorp, as that
young gentleman had lately come in for
some money and was dissatisfied with the
paternal roof, where he was kept too
strictly tied up.
Vandeloup, seated in his shirt sleeves
in the midst of a chaos Of articles Of
clothing, portmanteaux and boxes, was
with the experience Of an accomplished
traveller, rapidly putting these all away
In the most expeditions and neatest man
ner. While thus engaged there came a
ring at the outer door, and shortly after
ward Castou's landady entered his room
! with card.
"a gentleman wants to see you, sir, !"
she said, holding out the card.
HTtp, or ~ ra,,l;aI MI
coolly; II can't see any one tonight"
HE says you'd like to see him, sir"
answered the woman, standing at the
1 door.
"The mischief he Does" muttered Van
deloup, uneasily; 81 wonder what this
pertinacious gentleman's name is?" and he
glanced at the card, whereon was written
"Dr. Gollipeck."
| Vandeloup felt chill running through
him as he rose to his feet. The battle
was about to begin, and he knew he
would need all his wit mad skill to get
himself out safely. DIR. Gollipeck had
thrown down the gauntlet, and he would
have to pick it up. Well, it was best to
know the worst at once, so he told the
landlady he would see Gollipeck down
stairs. He did not want him to come up
there. as he would see all the evidences
of his intention to leave the country.
| I'll see him downstairs" he said,
sharply, to the landlady; TASK the gentle
man to wait"
| The landlady, however, was pushed
| roughly to one side, and DIR. Gollipeck,
rusty and dingy looking as ever, entered
| the room.
mo need, my dear friend" he said in
his grating voice, blinking at the young
man through his spe-tacles, 1--WE can talk
| here"
Vandeloup signed to the landlady to
Lar 4. IL. - u.