Evening star., 1908-12-05
CHAPTER XIX.
A Life and Death Watch.

dl
had perilous results but for the discovery
just made. 1t might even yet be danger
Gus. 1t would be possible to put the
blame on her. if anything happened TO
Eva.
Lord RrOadstone, peer of the
realm. and Gilbert Dorrison, the we'll
known member of parliament were men
whose evidence would have weight with
any jury; while, on her side, Sadie would
be handicapped by the fact that she was
living under a wrong name. had obtained
hef position by false pretenSe, and had
Eva almost entirely in her care.
The very means she was adopting to
guard Eva were enough to convict her, if
those against whom she fighting
could break through the defense. 1t was
scheme Of diabolicai cunning worthy of
DorriSon.
Jack Petherby had been done to death
by an accident, and now his sister was
to be subtly murdered and the crime laid
upon Margaret Hutchinson. whose life
would be sworn away by those who com
mitted the deed. Sadie could picture the
outward grief of Lord Broadstone and
the public sympathy for him i'm his be-
reavement. while Dorrison's reputation
for shrewdness and acumen would be en-
hanced by his adroit detection of the
clues to the murderess.
There had been a blunder somewhere
knew him to be far too cunning to have
made such a slip as that which had
brought the thing to her knowledge 1t
was piece of sheer good luck and as
she puzzled over it she came close upon
the truth.
The fact was that Dorrison had been
betrayed by GARDENERS fears. The letter.
written in Margaret Hutchinson's name
had been given to him and he had not
been told what he had to bring from
vr1., 20 l.
for the things, Gardiner; but as they are
for Miss Hutchinson. you had better sign
her name.' said Dorrison. in tone of in
difference.
But when the chemist put the poison
register before him and told him he must
sign his own name as having had the
poisons. Gardiner put the pen down and
lied Miss Hutchinson said that if there
was any difficulty she would sign the
book the next time she called
You signed the book, I suppose?" asked
Dorrson
Yes. SIR" was the glib reply: and thus
his master had no suspicion whatever that
the trick lad miscarried.
But Gardiner was intensely ill at ease
He knew his master too we'll to think that
ne wanted prussic acid and arsenic for
any but an ugly purpose. and felt that he
had been made a tool In a manner that
might have ruinous results.
He knew the truth about Jack Pether-
by's death. and had had one serious in
terview with his master about the price
which the latter was to pay for the evil
dence in his possession. He was cunning
enough to foreSee that If anything oc-
from Broadstone or to damage her char
acter. the value of his own evidence
would shrink to nothing
The same afternoon. therefore he went
to Dorrison and told him he was obliged
to leave at once. and asked him for a
thousand pounds.
Are you mad. Gardiner?'
No. sir I hope not: but tire other day
of mine-that piece of cord. strand as l
took a great deal of trouble to get it, l
think e1.oOO is a fair price
Nonsense. A Thousand pounds. Do
you take me for tool. man?"
Far from that. sir. But ] thought
you would like to have the first offer
Just as you please, of course, sir. But
l am leaving just the same: and as the
value of it rather depends upon my hav-
ing Miss Hutchinson handy. and as she's
going away with my lady In week or
two. ! wished to close the matter now
you'll get no thousand pounds from
me. man: nor a hundred, either. It's like
your internal impudence to ask it,
Very well. sir. Only Miss Hutchinson
asked me very particularly about it one
day. I think perhaps She could get the
money from my lady" His manner was
as respectful as ever. but his ferretty
eyes very SLY and threatening.
Dorrison grew uneasy. Don't be fool,
Gardiner. You've got a good situation
don't force me to discharge you without
character"
IT am not going into service again.
sir"
Il don't care straw about your cord.
Do what you like with 1t, You know
perfectly we'll that the sheet of the main
sail caused the mishap."
''Of course, I know that, sir. 7 told
Miss Hutchinson so, and she said ii was
easy to prove that by having the boat
raised to see If the rope had been cut.
II it had been. there was An end OF the
thing. sir
Raise it then and see I haven't the
money, and that's all about it" said
Dorrison. who now saw clearly the danger
that threatened.
His lordship could perhaps do 1t, sir /,
but of course, I don't wish to force the
thing on you-only I'm Obliged to leave,
sir"
You've taken me entirely by surprise.
But I'll see what I can do by tomorrow.
You have this thing here?"
Il can produce it. sir. whenever you
wish Let it be tomorrow, sir. then
If I do anything, mind. it will be
on the condition that you leave the
country and go to America
Dorrison had no intention of being
blackmailed in this barefaced manner;
but he was quite as firmly resolved to
get possession of the discriminating piece
of cord.
On the following morning. therefore.
he said to Gardiner: Il have arranged
that matter. Bring me the thing this
evening. and I'll give you the money;
but you leave Broadstone tonight
"A thousand pounds, sir! And there'I
be my wages
Yes a thousand pounds and your
wages ard Gardiner. pluming himself
upon his cleverness. went off to pack his
belongings in readiness to leave the
Towers the moment the money was in
his pocket.
THE sly scoundrel, to try and rush me
In that way! But his eyes will be opened
this evening" muttered Dorrison to him
self "A thousand pounds and he
laughed angrily.
Meanwhile Sadie had kept ceaseless
watch over Eva and the time of vigilance
was fast drawing to a close. Only for one
more night would they remain In the
Towers. The next day would see them
away on their journey.
Everything was in readiness, and all had
been done so that no one could have
guessed Sadie's intention. Eva herself
did not know it, and at Sadie's suggestion
had ordered that the rooms should be re-
decorated and the furniture renewed dur