The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-08-07
CHAPTER XXI.
"killing, No Murder.\

Sir Maxwell Sisterson was very
busy. All the morning kilograms and
letters Of coincidence poured in Upon
him; the telephone was kept ringing
eeaselessly with messages from the
city-not even for day could the
great Sisterson business, of which he
was now the sole head, pause in it's
operations; and he loved to hold all
the main threads in his own hands.
At an early hour his Office secretary
had come to consult him and take his
instructions on various points. aud he
had dealt with all matters submitted
to him with his usual ability. Sir
Johns death had made some changes
necessary. and Maxwell gave prompt
orders to effect them. He worked
rapidly; but there was much to do.
1t was about / o'clock when the spy
brought him word of Christabels
movements, and the news that she
had just paid visit to the chambers
of Joyce & Forde seriously disturbed
his eQuanimity. 1t was all very we'll,
he felt, to say that the legal position
of the Sistersons was unassai1ab!e.
but he found himself wishing thare
had been contrived some easy method
of silencing Christabel, or. better still,
of getting rid of her altogether. lie
felt tolerably certain that up to that
day she had not revealed his fathe.,' s
secrets to Norman Forde. but with
what object, if not this. had she gone
this morning to her lovers office? She
had waited till Sir John was dead;
was that it? he asked himself. 1t
might be that she had felt some
scrup,e which Sir Johns death had re-
moved.
He now blamed himself for not hav.
ing acted toward her in some different
way from that which he had taken,
and in his heart was sorry that they
were not living in the age when the
dagger or the poisoned ring made a
summary end of obnoxious people.
The sort of love he had felt for Chris
label had entirely evaporated, and he
now hated her. He had tried her with
brihes and these had failed.
Why had he not. he asked himself,
hit upon some other expedient? 1t
must have been that his silly fancy
for her had blinded him With Flint's
help could she not have been drugged
and sent to lunatic asylum, or
shipped out of the country, or caused
to lose her memory. SO that she could
no longer be dangerous? Oh, yes,
there were ways Of disposing of her,
he thought, but it was now too late,
he was afraid He knew that she had
seen Forde that day. for the spy had
described to him the appearance OF
Norman in the street as he ran after
her.
He determined to know the worst
He had ordered his luncheon to be
served in his own rooms, but finding
on inquiry that his step-sister and
Christabel were to lunch in the dining
room, he Joined them. The meal pro-
ceeded in silence till it's conclusion
and then, the servants having left the
room. Sir Maxwell spoke.
"You were talking yesterday" he
said. addressing his step-sister, "o1
going to Sulja. Do you still think Of
doing so, Mary?"
Yes; we will go as soon as we
cam" Mary replied. 81 sent off tel
eeram to Katia Anatovitch this morn
ing by Christabel, asking if she would
have us, and l expect her answer ir
an hour or two. But have no douSt
considering how often she has invited
me to say with her, that she will BIZ
glad to have u.s.
"Us?" repeated Maxwell after her
interrogat:veiy.
"Christabel will accompany me boil
as nurse and friend, which will BIZ
very nice for me-" said Mary, with
smile at Christabel.
Il dare say that Anatovitch will b,
here for the funeral. He might escpr
you," suggested Sir Maxwell.
Il thought of going by sea-" re
sponded Mary, land M. Anatovitcl
will hardly care to give up so much, o
his time as the voyage will consume
| am not in any hurry, and he is sur,
to be-"
Il think you are right" returned ST
Maxwell. Have you ever been 1,
Russia, nurse?" he asked Christabel.
Never; indeed, l have never bee,
out Of England" replied Christabel
She wished that he would not talk 4
her at all, but for Mary's sake sh
felt bound to answer when he spok
to her. Her parting with Norman ha
filed her with I sort of exultant fee
Ing that still continued; the ineyita
BILE reaction had not set in, and sh
did not wish to5have any trouble wit
Maxwell Sisterson, especially i
Mays presence. ~
Mary, know. liked sulda,' ssiudsi
Maxwell. "but It is rather out OF IL
III world III Still ~ 1SI~->