Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-09
CHAPTER XXII-Continued.

! She lit night light and placed it SC
that the faint CLEANS would be thrown
on the bed below the pillow, as if the
| inmate of the room did not like to be in
darkness, but objected to the light on her
| face.
Next she got into the bed and tumbled
the clothes about. After such a trying
experience as that interview downstairs,
any woman might be supposed to be a
| somewhat restless sleeper. Then after
the most careful consdera ton, she made
up dummy figure with some clothes,
and placed 1t between the sheets. altering
| it with a deft touch here and another
there until she was satisfied.
| That done. she filled the sleeves of her
nfghtdress and arranged them in a nat
| eral posture-one doubled up so that the
arm was in the light and the wrist just
beyond the circle. the other straying
carelessly over the pillow.
| The head gave her the most difficulty.
But she had a braid of false hair. and.
within the circle of light and arranged
the rest in cluster over the spot where
the face was supposed to be.
She did all the work with the most
scrupulous care, and was we'll satisfied
with the result The counterfeit was
the excited state of mind such an enter
prise as she anticipated would provoke.
Lastly. she arranged her own place of
concealment-a screen at the foot of the
bed. From here she commanded view
of the whole room, as we'll as of the win
dow which opened from the balcony.
while close to her hand was the switch
of the electric light.
She was still wearing. the black dress
which she had adopted for her secret
y,onx ooptc al no md SIe
covered her head with a hood which was
so made that in a moment she could
cover all her features, except her eyes.
She sat as still almost as statue be-
hind the screen. her revolver on her lap.
liste ming intently for the least sound She
was not in the least afraid. She had
naturally very stout nerves. and her life
in western America, and afterward In
Mexico had rendered her quite cool in
the presence of danger.
She knew that If her guess was right
and Dorrison had planned to return to
get that dangerous evidence she might
have to fight for her life. If he had
meant merely to steal the two cords he
would not have gone to the trouble of
that elaborate advertisement of his de-
parture from the Towers. He wished to
establish the proof OF his absence should
anything occur that night.
Much more than theft was contem-
plated.
AIid tiltIl, SuuucHiy, tIc luii puIpOTl
his secret return flashed upon her He
might have a double purpose. The proof
that she had bought both poison and the
means Of administering it at Gregory S
would be clear enough if she were dead;
and if both men swOre that she was the
first wife-as she had overheard Dorrison
planning-the presumption would be that
she had bought it to murder Eva.
His visit. therefore. threatened them
both. If he succeeded In killing her he
meant to kill Eva 1t would thus be an
open inference that Sadie had murdered
Eva and then committed suicide. Not a
breath of suspicion would be waited in
his direction.
The consummate cunning Of the scheme
was worthy of the man; but If the need
arose he should pay for it with his life.
If she had to use her weapon in defense
Of herself or Eva she would not hesitate
to take his life.
Instinctively her fingers frightened ON
the revolver and, as she did SO, she
heard a sound-as of a boot grating on a
stray pebble-on the balcony.
She rose and pushed back her chair
silently. and stood staring through two
holes she had made in the screan-ears
| and eyes strained and every nerve at full
tension.
There was long pause, then a slight
sound, and mans head and shoulders
appeared at the window.