The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-19

terval between Clara's acknowledge
ment of the sweets to her husband
and the date Of our mothers death.
Thus at the time my sister did not
associate the death with the pres
ent that came to her by post %
long before, and my mother having
suffered from chronic heart disease
there was no trouble about a death
certificate.
Roger Marske, delayed in his pur-
pose, but not daunted by the mis-
carriage Of his scheme, seemed to
have allowed six months to elapse.
and then again to have sent my sis
ter a box of comfits, one or more
of which was poisoned. The last
letter written by her to him con-
tanned thanks for such package.
and also the statement that she
meant to enjoy them later in the
day, which was the date of her
death. In her last agony her mind
must have awakened to the fatal
import of the sweets, drawing from
her the utterance which Janet, un-
der Providence, translated rightly.
Perhaps If we had had Herzog's
subtle brain to help us we would
have shed light on anything that
was obscure, but that many sided
victim of circumstances slept his
loot cJoop cDp,oubora ont among
the subsiding breakers on the
Shingles. locked, maybe. in the en-
brace of the scoundrel who had
guised his final desperate murder
Gus errand as one of mercy. could
think kindly Of Herzog now, after
what Janet had told me on our way
up from the beach, of his helpful
resource on the Nightshade.
The storm had died down as rap
idly as it had risen, and the evening
faded into night amid such a sunset
glow as I had watched from the
attic window of the vacant house
on the cliff "a pregnant hours ago.
But as we four sat together and
made a pretense of dinner, and
afterward wandered from room to
room, there was as yet no real
sense of peace. The very air was
charged with tension. l was still
liable to be hauled back to Win
chester to be hanged, and those
dear people knew it, and tried In
vain to make me forget that the
search for me at the instance of
the home office must have begun
hours back.
1t was at about II o'clock, while
Lady Muriel was bravely keeping
up appearances by shining to us
that the climax came. The butler
entered, and with scared face an
nounced that three gentleman and
two other persons" were asking
for the "Mr. Martin" who was stay
ing at "Springthorpe.'
What sort are those other per-
sons. Dawkins?" inquired Ralph
Garden fro mitch piano, where he
was turning over Lady Murile's
music. Don't be afraid, man,
Speak up"
They look like prison warders,
sir" stammered the butler, aghast
at sue ha visit. 'They-they are not
behaving as one would wish, when
inquiring for one of his lordship's
guests"
"I'll soon settle their hash" said
Garden, advancing to the door, but
pausing as he reached it and plac-
ing his fingers to his lips.
For wheels sounded in the drive,
and moment later Lord Alphing
tons voice was heard at the hall
door
We'll, why are you fellows
crowding me out of my own
house," he asked in CHEEKY accents
that seemed like the dawn of new
day.
A subdued rumble from the
spokesman of the party was all that
reached us in the DRAWN groom.
"Oh, indeed" came Lord Alphing-
tons resonant answer. II have
nothing to do with Mr.. Martins
identity. But whatever it may be
you need put yourselves to no
further trouble about Captain Riv-
ington have here his majesty's
full pardon for that gentleman,
signed and sealed at Portsmouth on
board the Victoria and Albert on
hour ago. Just step into the light
and cast your eye over the docu-
ment."
1t only remains to say that the
great secret Of Sir Gideon Marshes
dastardly plot against his noble
chief never recaehd the man in the
street, nor was the enforced resig-
nation of two colleagues in the cab
met ever connected in the public
mind with my escape from Win
chester. have no doubt, however,
that Lord Alphington's private in
quiries at the prison traced the
blame to the proper quarters and
revealed to him how Herzog had
welded key sufficiently powerful
m oman tho Innr nf ,>u naoa