Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
UEXELAW zE4RRe

Then a further detail suggested itself.
lie poured nearly all the contents into
another bottle and resolved TO hide the
first one somewhere in the woman
Hutchinson's room. And as he dwelt on
this yet another development suggested
itself To rouse the house the moment
he had finished with Eva, and declare
that he had caught the woman in the
very act of administering the drug
He was excited now, and to steady his
nerves he had more whisky. He mustn't
take too much. He knew that; but if
he had to resort to the drunken scene
which had now become the secondary
scheme in his mind. being the less GER
tain-he must smell of drink. And as a
last touch before leaving the room he
bathed his moustache i'm whisky and
sprinkled some over his clothes.
AS he stepped into the hall the clock
struck two He chose the hour design
edly 1t was the time when Evas vitality
would he at the lowest point, and she
would be the most susceptible to either
shock or poison.
He stole upstairs noiselessly and crept
along the corridor to Sadies former room.
He listened carefully to make sure no
one was inside, turned the handle very
cautiously, entered and closed the door
behind him. Switching ON the light for
a rev moments saw dH open parity
packed box and pushed the little bottle
underneath some dresses.
Half minute later he was back in the
corridor with a sigh of relief at the sue
cess OF the first part Of his work.
His feelings now had undergone some
change. He had persuaded himself that
he was acting solely in Self-detense. He
was not the assailant, but the assailed.
There was conspiracy which threatened
his ruin and even his life. He was driven
Il, l. ~
Tense was juStifiable. He had a right
to defend himself in any way, and all
who chose to attack him must look to
themselves. They could not expect him
10 be prosecuted without striking back.
lie had not a thought Of adherence at
the deed he had planned--not a tinSe of
pity for the girl whom he had betrayed.
She held his life i'll her hands and had
become an enemy with whom he was JUS
tilted in dealing in any way in his power.
IL was all self. self. self. His danger.
his trouble, his ruin were the sole consid-
erations that entered his mind and what
ever and whoever menaced him he was
justified in thwarting and Furnishing. He
was fighting for all that he cared for in
life. nay. for life itself: and no man did
wrong To- put forth all his efforts in such
a struggle. If they had let him alone he
would have done nothing. But they had
dared to attack him. and he would show
he was not the man 10 he attacked with
impunty
These thoughts strengthened his nerves
somewhat. and they needed "A stimulant
He was very much afraid. and his pulses
beat so Justify as he felt his way to the
door of the room leading to Eva's bed
room that he held his hand to his heart
AS ii 10 quiet it with pressure. The door
opened easily and noiselessly and he step
ped inside.
The door between the rooms stood wide
open and by the dim watch-light he could
make out the outline of his wifes form
on the bed and in the chair by the side
in shadow, was the woman lie detested Sc
bitterly. asleep.
1t could not have been better for his
purpose.
Noiselessly he drew the drug from his
pocket and held it ready he crept for
ward step by step with the utmost stealth
As he all but reached the threshold OF
the room he paused and sought to still the
humping. lurching beats of his fear
driven heart.
After some seconds he moved forward
again with murder in his thoughts. his
teeth pressed together in the firm resolve
TO carry through his purpose, and his eyes
fixed upon the bed.
But the next instant he stopped and