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

p-etense Of caring for her. He could
| have got her to do anything and every
| thing he pleased. and have had the full
enjoyment o; her wealth: and he had
thrown away the chance.
| The bitter ashes OF a useless remorse
gritted his teeth and set them on edge.
Had he but taken little care, she would
| have been on his side now. willing 10
listen to the version he would have given
Of his side of the matter. and to condone
| the past. He would have been not only
| safe from her vengeance. but probably
| assured of some measure OF sympathy
| Instead of that, he had made her a
bitter enemy. And. judging her by his
own shallow, petty nature. he magnified
her anger and resentment until he con-
WINGED himself that she would leave no
him.
He could even conceive her pouring out
the money which ought to be his in rakng
over that old past of his. and fear
brought the beads of sweat to his ore
! head-perhaps she would get on the trail
of that act of his in the old days at
| Helena.
If she lived. life would be hell to him.
There was no loophole Of escape. except
| death-his death.
He would have to kill himself. ITe
| looked round the luxurious room, recall
ed. with all a towards intentness. the
many comfortable ties which bound him
to life, tie personal pleasures which to
him meant so much, thu plans he had
|ormed for future enjoyment The ami
NAL love o. life pulsed strongly in his
| veins. His reluctance to die was as
keen as his fear of death: and the re-
solve to live quickly inspired the sinister
sister-resolve-that Eva should not re-
| cover
How to carry out the resolve? That was
| the next question. And an answer soon
| began TO take definite form in his
| thoughts.
| The woman Hutchinson-he could
! scarcely think of her without curse at
| her interference-had said that any sud-
! den shock might prove fatal. TIL, doc
, tor had said as much to him when en-
joining perfect quiet. Suddenly ne broke
| his revere with a laugh. OF course. the
thing was easy. and, what was best OF
| all. safe.
He would profit by his own reputation
| for hard drinking. Go up to the room
as if in liquor and play drunken scene
| there by the bedside. There would be a
| scandal, but he could snap his fingers
at that. People would say he had killed
her by his drunken conduct, but to get
| drunk and make a scene was not muir
| der. No charge could be brought against
| him. a man had the right to go to his
| sick wife's room. The whole household
! had witnessed his anxiety about Eva:
and. when she was dead, he could easily
act his repentance and remorse.
The cunning of the scheme appealed
| " HlIl IL Was So SALT .AuO TOSc
| and paced up and down the room plan
| ming the details. and celebrating them
, and rehearsing the part with many a
| laugh at his own clevernesS.
There was only the woman Hutchinson
| In the way. and he could deal with her.
| A little drunken violence would brighten
and get rid of her. Plenty of people
would be ready to agree that she had
| no right TO keep him away from his
| wife's side at such a moment: and IL he
! even had TO use force with her. nc
| serious results to himself were likely to
| follow.
There might be no. need for this vio-
| lence. indeed She had said that she was
| weary and meant to try and sleep; and
| in that case he would he able to get to
| Eva without interruption from the
| woman. Better SO. of course. And then
| another thought occurred to him.
| If he could get into the room while
| the woman slept. he might be able to do
| the thing more surely than even by play
| ing the drunkard. and quite as safely.
Dorrson's plan required to him. To use
| poison. and put the thing on the woman
| Hutchinson herself.
With this thought in his mind he stole
| up to his bedroom and brought back
! with him a little bottle. the contents OF
| which would free him forever from any
| fear from Eva: and he sat thinking in
tently how to administer it.
| (To be continued tomorrow