The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-28
CHAPTER XVII fcontinued.l

corting Lady Muriel was allotted to
me as the guest of the evening, the
immediate tension was relieved.
Only, however, to be diverted into
another channel, for we were
scarcely seated at table when Lady
Muriel confided to me that she had
had two dull days because her dear
friend Miss Chilmark had been
compelled to go to London unex-
pectedly.
And Roger-you must have
missed Roger" Lord Alphington
chimed In rather anxiously, 1
thought. Cant imagine what pos
sessed the fellow 20 run off like
that. He had no notion OF 1t, am
sure when he came down to the
pier to meet me. His excuse of a
telegram calling him away won't
wash. No telegram was brought to
him in the interval between my
landing and his boiling off so un-
tremendously as we were walking
ap."
"Mr. Marshes goings and COM
ings are beyond me. cannot say
that have missed him." was the
rejoinder OF Lady Muriel, which
brought frOwn to her fathers
brow, and a pleased flush to Ralph
Gardens cheek.
From the general conversation
that ensued gathered that Garden
was serving as a lieutenant in one
of the batteries of garrison artil-
lery stationed at Golden Hill fort
the headquarters of the coast de-
tense in that part of the island. His
presence at the premier's table was
accounted for by the fact that he
was distant connection, his
mother residing in the dover
house" on one of Lord Alphington's
country estates. Lady Muriel and
he had known each other from
childhood.
It mattered not one jot to me,
but socially l must have seemed a
dismal failure to Lord Alphington
and his daughter, and l have no
doubt that they were making notes
to that effect, while, minute by
minute, the time drew near for me
to face the crisis of the evening.
That crisis came all too quickly
with the rising of Lady Muriel,
who, as she left the dining room,
flung back to us the laughing COM
mand not to leave her alone too
long.
When we drew together over the
decanters, the but,er and footman
having departed, our disposition at
the table was thus: l sat on Lord
Alphington's right, Garden on his
left and Herzog on Gardens left.
with long gap ebtween him and
me. The result was that my actions
could not be closely watched by
Garden. but that Herzog, who was
nearly opposite to me at the small
round table. had me entirely under
his observation.
The arrangement suited me ad-
mirably. for 1t mitigated danger
which had been entirely unforeseen
when 1Ventered the house. had
not expected to meet there a man
who suspected my identity as Car
den evidently did. and whose sus-
picions would almost certainly be-
come open denunciation II he saw
what ! was about to do. 1t was a
relief, therefore, to have Garden so
placed that, with the premier be-
tween us, | was comparatively hid
den from him. AS for Herzog,
asked for nothing better than that
he should not my every action.
Lord Alphington passed the wine
and pushed couple Of cigar boxes
about. making conversation the
while with the cheerful air of one
who is performing duty that will
soon be over. He was glad, no
doubt, that had saved his daugh-
ter from drowning, and was hon
estly anxious to be civil to me, but
he would have found the process
more congenial II had been--well.
not preoccupied with the necessity
of prolonging my life by squirting
something into his glass.
The opportunity arrived when,
having helped himself, he turned
slightly to Garden to pass the de-
canter, at the same time asking his
young relatives opinion of the
wine. had already removed the
lid of the pill box In my pocket,
and now, quickly Withdrawing the
rubber tube. stretched out the
hand In which ! held 1t concealed,
MS though taking pear from n
dish In the center of the table. In
doing this my hand travelled d.
rectly over my hosts glass, and
during its passage squeezed the
bulb
The next moment Herzog's face
went ash gray. BY some nervous
mischancc dropped the murder.
GUS continuance into the dish Of
fruit. made a frantic effort to
recover 1t. but Garden forestalled
Re. His hand shot out and his