Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-01
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

Lord Broadstone's sudden change OF
manner and she thought she knew
whose was the master mind inspiring
the whole plan. 1t was Gilbert Dorri-
son who had killed Jack subtly and
had brought the huge fortune into
Evas possession. Two lives only re-
manned between Dorrison and every
thing. and he was now using the
camp sponge" as his tool to get rid
of one of them.
The first step must be to separate the
two men, and Sadie resolved to get
from Gardiner the proofs which he had,
and then to denounce the murderer.
But here she found insurmountable
obstacles. Gardiner had avoided her
since the servants had been told of tie
change in her position: and when she
managed to meet him, his whole atti-
tude had altered. He denied that he
had ever spoken to her on the. SUBJ
ject at all.
He was very respectful. Il don't
Know what you mean in the least,
But. Mr. Gardiner"
Il am only servant. miss" he broke
in significantly.
We'll. at any rate. you told me you
could match the cord.
Il beg your pardon. miss. but think
YOU must have dreamt it. I Gi,,n t
even know you had found any. In fact
every one agreed there was nothing of
the kind on the poor young gentle
mans wrist
You actually deny you spoke about
it to me?'
Begging your pardon again. miss
shouldn't venture to deny anything Our
don't know what you mean. OF course.
II You have piece of cord you wish
me to see, I could tell you if / had
ever seen any like it he declared. with
slyly affected simplicity.
Very WE'LL said Sadie. and turned
away. Struck by his look when max
Ing his last remark, she went to her
room and looked for the cord she had
cut from Jacks wrist.
1t was gone. 1t had been cunningly
hidden, but some one had managed to
find 1t. She had no doubt that It was
Gardiner himself; and having now the
whole evidence in his own hands, re
was levying blackmail on his own dc-
count.
1t was a significant and ugly dscov-
cry. Not only was the loss of the evil
that she was now being sped upon ny
Gardiner in the interests of Dorrlson
She had still two shafts left with
which to strike at Dorrison, however
She would open Lord Broadstone's
eyes as to his ultimate intentions. Sne
knew what a coward Broadstone was,
and just how to stir his suspicious.
An anonymous letter putting the fact
BADLY would be enough. Your lord
ship will do well to pause in your
present purpose. You have paid your
cousin. Gilbert Dorrison. five thousa nd
pounds since the accident by winch
Jack Petherby lost his life. Your wife
has now her brothers fortune If she
dies without children that fortune will
come to you. Yours will then be the
only life between Gilbert Dorrison and
your title, the Broadstone estates ard
the immense fortune. l repeat: Pause
in your present purpose.-One who
knows
This letter she caused to be posted
from London. and then waited for 80
suits In the meantime she got pos
session Of the book on poisons and
studied the article on arsenic to ascer-
tain the means by which its effects
might be counteracted.
She chose for this an afternoon when
Lord Broadstone and Eva were away
driving. and she had nearly finished
her work when Dorrison entered tie
library. She closed the book in mo-
mentary confusion.
.'Ah.. student. Miss Hutchnson?"
he said. lightly. Pray don't let me dis
turb you. l came only to write let
ter and it will do another time
Il shall not be long. Mr. Dorrison,
she replied wishing he would go.
But he had no such intention. He
had no suspicion Of what she had beer:
reading. although her passing comm,
sion had not escaped him; but his real
thought of the change in her husbands
conduct. You won't mind my scrlo-
bling a line while you finish? We TWO
have the old place good deal 20 our
selves these days. haven't we: ms Is
the third or fourth day. isn't it, that
the other two have been out for hours
alone together?'
THE third said Sadie. rising.
Now I'm sure l have disturbed you.
Let me put that away for you" He
crossed quickly to take the book, and
Sadie. misinterpreting the action. made
a blunder. She believed that he suspect
ed what she had been reading and was
resolved to find out.
She could only prevent this by hiding
the book under her dress and taking 1t
ont of the room, and this course she
uas unwilling to adopt. So she put IL
into his hands with simple Thank
YOU
Sumner on Poisons.' he exclaimed.
with a sharp glance and light laugh.
What q queer subject for you to study. y
Not in my case. Mr.. Dorrison- | read
I'D all kinds of out-of-the-way subjects.
Roman law. psychology natural science,
Buddhism the Yoga philosophy. hypno-
tism. ghosts. anything and everything al
most in turn.
"A perfect cyclopaedia. eh?' He turn
ed and laughed as he put the book back
In its place I'm pretty much the same
but then a member of parliament. like
q man at the bar. often finds that kind
Of indiscrminate reading come in useful.
But I've stopped short Of poisons. so far.
I'm bound TO say. Is 1t an interesting
study
Everything interests me at the time.
Mr.. Dorrison. ! have the faculty OF con-
centration.
Don't hurry away. please, he said
as Sadie crossed toward the door. Il
have something ! should very much like
TO ask Nou. But it's not about poisons.
He laughed again and made WY face.
It's about my cousins wife. You know
I've only seen her once. and then only
for minute. since poor Jacks death.
Is she getting over her prejudice against
me, 1t has been very painful to me.
! assure YOU
She has very much changed in many
ways You know that?'
''Oh. rather. But you see il makes il
so awkward for me. Is she getting over
IL? Poor dear old Jack-I'd have given
my life to have saved him" He sighed
and shrugged his shoulders.
Il should think she will get over IT,.
Lord Broadstone's great kindness these
last few days-since the Doctors news
has been such comfort to her that !
know she wishes to do all he asks
II can't tell you what a relief your
words are. Miss Hutchison.' he neplied
with an appearance of great earnestness.
II have always had deep regard
for her that this has cut me to the quick
and I would do anything to remove her
prejudice.
1T is not altogether unnatural under
IL veto coil Cod;