The St. Mary banner., 1909-10-02

il would be murder"
Nonsense, the sick man answer
ed. angrily Il tell .ou | can't re-
cover. It's now or month later.
I've left you the property: it will be
yours tomorrow if you do as | ask
You needn't be afraid, no one will
ever suspect anything. The stuff will
Just lower the hearts action, | shall
90 to sleep, and not wake again The
doctor will say | died in my sleep of
failure Of the heart-he told me that
might occur You are quite safe, l
tell YOU
Il couldn't do it, he said desper-
ately. Il couldn't I'm more sorry than
| can say for you sir, but surely they
can dull the pain with drugs, and you
may not have to suffer-
Mr.. Arundale pulled himself up on
his pillows. Listen to me- he said,
coldly. II do not ask anything of
you as a favor, but your future de-
pends on your falling in with my
whim. I don't choose to lie here wait
ing for death, with the possibility Of
intense pain to endure. Put an end
to me tonight, and you get Lynwood;
refuse, and you shan't have a penny.
III tear up the will, and everything
goes to Eric, under my former will.
Perhaps thatll cure you Of your fine
scruples," he added with sneer.
Lindsay's head was whirling. He
put his hand over his eyes to try and
steady himself. That such a choice
could be put to him in cold blood
seemed Incredible; yet his uncle
seemed in deadly earnest. Let him
put 1t plainly to himself If he-if
he killed his uncle tonight, he would
be master Of Lynwood; if he refused
he would not have penny, not even
the allowance he now had. All the
consequences of refusal flashed before
him. He would have to leave his reg
iment for another, or perhaps to leave
the army altogether. And Evelyn
he could not ask Evelyn to marry a
penniless soldier. After all, was he
too scrupulous-would it really be
murder? Tonight or a month hence
his uncle must die, why should Lind
say not spare him the month OF walt
ing, the possibilities of agonlzlng
pain? Could he not do it?
Il can't do it, SIR he said, looking
his uncle frankly in the face. If |
had nothing to gain by tiff ! had
seen you in terrible pain, and you
had asked me, might have done 1t,
| think I'd have risked it should
have felt it no more wrong than to
put a wounded animal out of its pain
but to do it in cold blood just TO
get Lynwood' broke off with
shudder-"it would be too hideous.'
"You can co." Mr.. Arundale said
presently without opening his eyes;
"go, and send Watson to me. 60,
tell you,' he added impatiently, as
Lindsay made an attempt to speak. :
Fearing to excite the sick man py
further argument, Lindsay reluctant
ly left the room and, meeting the but
Ter on the stairs, told him to 60 TO
his master; then. turning into the IL
brary, he flung himself down again III
the chair he had occupied when ne
was summoned to his uncle's room.
Its hard luck" he muttered bit
terly, ITO be told he had left me the
property, and then to lose it all be-
cause / wouldn't help him commit sui
eide"
Lindsay and his cousin, Eric Wyn-
ford, had been brought up by Mr.
Arundale He had always led them
to believe that he intended to divide
his property equally between them, SO
that at his death they would be, If not
rich men, at least well-to-do. He had
given both boys an expensive educa-
ton, and made them handsome al
lowance.
But he isn't even just" Lindsay
murmured to himself; "it isn't just to
bring us up as he has and then 10
leave the whole property to one, and
the other without fathing. Or
course, if I had got it all | should
have offered Eric fair share, pue
Eric"-Lindsay laughed bitterly as ne
reflected that Eric was not likely 10
be generous-"ah, well, it couldn't be
done" He stood up and pulled him.
self together Il suppose if the old
man doesn't relent I must exchange
into another regiment, and try to i've
IN NV nav A. for Eyelyn-pOOr lit
tie sgirl-that's hopeless now
The opening of the door startled
him.
What time would you wish to
dine, sir?'' the old butler inquired.
"sMr. Eric said he'd leave it to you
to settle"