The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-12-02


able spo, In the osssrs srsnsr-oe
nsvrs stc<d leseins UPON The r~f
which inelessd tbs banging garden
shs was sasiag abssrsc,edly late the
black nighl. cut 81 shieh FAR away
blinked the light IN the bungalow. II
was the firss nixht In a week that be
had missed cominx TO the chateau
She missed him. she Was lonely.
lie had told her OF The meeting that
was 20 be held at the bungalow that
night at which he was 10 he asked TO
deliver over to Rasuia's committee the
papers. the receipts and the mesDoran.
da that he had accumulated during his
months Of employment 10 their behalf.
She had q feeling Of dread-a numb.
sweet feeling that she could not sx-
plain except that under all of Il lay
the proud consciousness that he was
a man who had courage. q man who
was not afraid.
How silly l amr' she said half aloud
In her abstraction
She turned her case away from the
blinking light In the hills. queer,
guilty smile on her lips.
Across the garden from where she
was naying herself bitterly Lady Dep
pingha ms husband was saying In low.
agitated tones to Bobby Brownies wife:
Now, see here, Drusilla. I'm not
saying that our-that is. Lady Dep
bingham and B0bby-are accountable
for what has happened. but that doesn't
10 10 M nf
little consequence who Ii trying to
poison US, don't you know, and all
that. They wouldn't do 1t, I'm sure.
but somebody Is! That's what l mean.
dye seer Lady Dep
81 know my husband wouldn't
couldn't do such a thing. Lord Dep
bingham" came from Drusilla's stiff
miserable.
"Of course not, my dear Drusilla."
he protested nervously. Then sudden
ly. as his eye caught what he consid-
cred a suspicious movement of Bob
by's hand as he placed card close to
Lady Deppingham's fingers: "Demme,
I'D rather he wouldn't But beg
tO0k put0Ou, Dtu6hiNs AZ ah hCAANSt-
ly innocent"
"Of course it's Innocent" whispered
Drusilla fiercely.
ITS utter nonsense for US to sus-
pect them Of Pray don't be so up
set, Drusilla. It's all right"
"If you think I am worrying over
your wife's harmless affair with my
husband you are very much mistak-
en-"
Deppingham was silent for a long
time.
81 don't sleep at all these nights"
he said at last miserably. She could
not feel sorry for him. She could only
feel for herself and her sleepless
nights. "Drusilla. do-do you think
they want to get rid Of us7 We're
the obstacles. you know We can't
help 1t, but we are. Somebody put
that pill in my tea today. It must
have been a servant. 1t couldn't have
been-er'-
my husband. sirr'
mo; my wife. You know, Drusilla,
she's not that sort She has a horror
of death and He stopped and
wiped his brow pathetically.
"If the servants are trying to poison
any of US. Lord Deppingham. 1t Is rea-
sonable to suspect that your wife and
my husband are the ones they want to
dispose of. not you and me. don't
believe 1t was poison you found In
your tea. but If it was 1t was intended
for one Of the heirs
well, there's some consolation In
that" said Deppy, smiling for the first
time.
The sharp rattle of firearms in the
distance brought a sudden stop to his
lugubrious reflections. Five, a dozen,
a score OF shots were heard. The
blood turned cold In the veins of every
one in the garden; faces blanched sud
denly, and all voices were hushed. A
form of paralysis seized and held them
for full minute.
Then the voice Of Britt below broke
harshly upon the tense. still air: Good
Godl Look! 1t Is the bungalow
A bright glow lighted the dark
mountain side; a vivid red painted the
down with the breezes. Two or three
sporadic shots were borne to the ears
of those who looked toward the blaz.
ing bungalow.
They've killed Chaser burst from
the stiff lips of Bobby Browne.
Continued Next Week
One of the earliest steam engines
ever built is still the main source of
power in some rolling mills at Bir-
mingham. 1t was set up in 1857 and
the original wooden beam has lately
been replaced by an iron one after
1856 years of continuous service. Aside
from this iron beam and cylinder
that was put In new in 1902, the en-
CINE Is the same as at first, even to
the connecting rod. F or its special
purpose the old engine has been pro-
nounced more economical than many
modern engines, and it is likely to
do duty many years more.
A MINUTE.