The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-18
By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON
.r--s-mrr e,..tInre1Ix rwFvHli
Copyright. 1908. by Dodd. Mead
 a Co.

"Genevra," she said solemnly in the end, take warning from my example. When you once are married don't trif1e with other men-not even if you should not love your husband. Sooner or later you'd get tripped up. It doesn't pay. my dear. I never realized until tonight how much really care for Deppy. and I am horribly afraid that I've lost something I can never recover"
 You were not in love with Mr., Browne. That is why I can't under stand you, Agnes"
 My dear, I don't understand my self. How. can I expect you or my husband to understand me? How could expect 1t of Bobby Browne? Genevra, you are in Iove-madly in love-with Hoilinssworth Chase. Take my advice. Marry him. He's one man in az" Genevra placed her hand over the lips of the fevegish young woman
 'T will not listen to anything more about MT Chase" she said firmly. T am tired-tired to death-of being told that I should marry him."
 "But you love him. Lady Agnes impeachment. T aQ lONe n1A-yco, 0O iOft Ailu. cried the princess, casting reserve to the winds "He knows it-every one knows it. But marry him2 No-no- mol shall marry Karl. My father,' my mother. my grandfather, have said so, and have said it too. That ends 1t, Aenes. Don't speak of it again" She cast herself down upon the side of the bed and clinched her hands in the hercenesz of despair and decision.
 After moment Lady Agnes said dreamily: T climbed up the ladder to make a ladyship' of myself by mar riage, and fnd love my husband. I dare say if you should go down the ladder a few rounds. my dear, you might be as lucky. But take my ad- vice If you won't marry HoIlings- worth Chase. don't let him, come to Paris"
 The Princess Genevra lifted her face Instantly, startled expression in her eyes.
 -Agnes. you forget yourseIfr'
 My dear" murmured Lady Agnes sleepily. forgive me, but have such a shockingiy absent mind" She was asleep moment later
 In the meantime Bobby Browne, dis caining all commands and entreaties, refused to be put to bed until he had related the story of their capture and the subsequent events that made the night memorable. He sat with his rigid arm about his wife's shoulders Drnsflla was stroking one of his hands in a half conscious manner, her eyes staring past his face toward the dark forest from which he had come. MT. Britt was ordering brandy for his trembling client.
 After all," said Browne, hoarse with nervousness, there is some good to be derived from our experiences, hard as 1t may be to believe. have found out the means by which Rasula Intends to destroy every living crea- ture in the chateau" Chase threw of his spell of languidness and looked hard at the speaker. .Rasula coolly if there had been any symptoms of poisoning among us. mentioned Pong and the servants. The devil laughed gleefuny in my face and told me. that 1t was but the beginning. I tell you, Chase, we can't escape the 1diabolical scheme, he has arranged. The water that comes to US from the springs up there in the hills is to be poisoned by those devils. heard Rasula giving Instructions to one of his lieutenants. He thought I was still unconscious from blow I received when tried to interfere in behalf of Lady Agnes. who was being roughly dragged along the mountain road. Day and night detachment of men are to be employed at the springs. de- nberately engaged in the attempt to change the flow of pure water into a slow, subtle. deadly poison, the effects of which will not be immediately fla tai. but positively so in the course of a few days. In the end we shall sick en and die as with the scourge. They will call it the plague" . ! A shudder of horror swept through the crowd. Every one looked into his neighbours face with a profound inqutr- ing light in his eyes. seeking for the first time evidence of approaching death.
 Hollingsworth Chase uttered a short, scornful laugh as he unconcernedly lift ed a match to one of his precious ciga- rettes The others stared at him in amazement.
 "Great God, Chase groaned Browne, ''is this joker"
 "Yes, and it's on Rasula," said the other laconfcally "You say that Re sula isn't aware of the hnct that you overheard what he said to his man. Then. even now, in spite of your es- cape, he believes that we may go on drinking the water without in the least suspecting what it has in store for us. Goodl That's why I say the joke is on him. Browne, you are a doctor. a chemist. We'll, we'll distill and double and triple distill the water. That's all A schoolboy might have thought of that It's all right. old man. You're fagged out. Your brain Isn't working well. Don't look so crestfallen MT. Britt, you and Mir. Saunders will give immediate fnstruc- tfons that no more water is to be drunk or qsed until Mir. Browne has h&d few hours' rest. He c4n take an alcohol hath, and we can all drink