The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-27

sleepily. forgive me. but have such
shockingiy absent mind" She was
asleep q moment later.
In the meantime Bobby Browne. ais
daining all commands and entreattes.
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. |
Drusilla 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. Mr..
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 it 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
asked me at one of our resting places
| poisoning among US. l mentioned
| Pong and the servants. The devil
laughed gleefully in my face and told
| me that it was but the beginning.
tell you. Chase, we cant escape the
diabolical 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 was still
unconscious from blow l received
when tried to interfere In behalf of
4 Lady Agnes. who was being roughly
dragged along the mountain road.
Day and night a detachment of men
are to be employed at the springs, de-
J liberateiy engaged in the attempt to
change the flow Of pure water into q
slow, subtle. deadly poison, the effects
of which win not be Immediately ia
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 hi:
neighbours face with profound inquir
ing light In his eyes, seeking for the
: first time evidence Of approaching
death.
Hollingsworth Chase uttered short
scornful laugh as he unconcernedly lift
ed q match to one of his precious ciga
| rettes. The others stared at him II
I amazement
Great God, Chase" groaned Browne
' sis this q joke:"
Yes. and It's on Rasula.'' said TIT
h other laconically. you say that Re
. suIa isn't aware of the fact that yo'
a overheard what he said to his man
G Then. even now, in spite Of your es
y cape. he believes that we may so OF
: drinking the water without in tn
!. least suspecting what 1t has In stor
: for us. Goodl That's why l say tn
Joke is on him. Browne, you are
doctor. a chemist. Well. We'll distil
: and double and triple distill the water
That's all A schoolboy might har
thought OF that It's all right, oil
!, man You're tagged out Your brai
= isn't working well. Don't look s
y crestfallen. Mr.. Britt. you and Nj
&c Saunders will give immediate tnstrut
= lions that no more water is to b
drunk or used until Mr.. Browne ha
~ had a few hours rest He can TAX
an alcohol bath. and we can all drin
al wine. 1t won't hurt US. AT 10 o'cloc
IN sharp DR. Browne viii begin operatin
e the distilling apparatus in the labor;
tory. BY Jove. will you listen TO Il
ne row my clients are making out thel
er In the woods! They seem to be a.
ia noyed over something
DIS Outside the walls the islanders wei
ne shouting and calling to each othe
Rifles were cracking far and nea
at yoicing in their peculiarly spiteful VIZ
by the rage that reigned supreme.
In AS Chase assembled the steps Bobl
he Browne and his wife came up besit
ed him.
to Chase" said Browne In low voic
an his face turned away to hide the me
tifcation that filed his soul. you a
he man. ! want you to know that
le thank you from the bottom of n
fe heart
lid Never mind. old man! Say
ter more" interrupted Chase. sudden
ay. embarrassed.
hit i've been a fool, Chase. l don't I
nd serve the friendship of any one-n
ost even that of my wife. It's all ov'
though. You understand? I'm not
fr. coward. I'll do anything you say. ia
or any risk. to pay for the trouble /
caused you all. Send me out
nv. fight
NV Nonsense. Your wife needs ~
~ Browne. dare say that would
10, have been above the folly that ,
IN the better of you. Only"-he hesit
ITO ed for a minute" only it couldn't ha
,ap happened to me if had wife as de
ror and as coed and as pretty as the G
- you have"
80 Browne was silent for a long Dir
~ his arm still about Drusilla's should
I'D at the end of the long hall he SO
with decision in his voice:
no. Chase. You may tell your Gle
,.1a that, SO far as am concerned. I'll