The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-20

CnaSe earnestly. tiP WAS NICE uos
But | hardly think he could have eaten
what was Intended for any of us. II
he was poisoned. the poison was
meant for him and for no one else
He bit one of the stable boys yester-
day IT,
That may all be very true, Chase
protested his lor,lship. but don't you
see II goes to show that some one has
a stock Of poison on hand. and we
may be the next to get II. He died
half an hour after eating-after eating
a biscuit that was intended for me!
lists demmed uncomfortable. to
say the least"
I'm sure you need the brandy after
all this. Come along. VIII you join
US. Lady Deppingham" said Chase,
mo I'm going to bedr' She start
ed away. then stopped and looked at
her husband. her eyes wide with sud
den comprehension. "Oh. Deppy, ]
should have diedl l should have diedi"
my dearr'
81 couldn't have lived if"-
but, my dear, didn't eat it-and
here we are. God bless you" He
turned abruptly and walked Off beside
her. ignoring the two distressed Amer
leans. AS they passed through the
French window Deppingham put his
arm about his wife's waist. Chase
turned to Britt.
81 don't know what you're thinking.
Britt, but 1t isn't SO. whatever 1t Is"
Good Lord, man, l wasn't thinking
that!"
There was not the slightest doubt in
the minds of those cOnversant with
the situation that the poison had been
intended for either Lord or Lady Dep
bingham. The drug had been subtly.
skillfully placed In one Of the sand
witches which came up to their rooms
at IL o'clock. the hour at which they
invariably drank of cup of bouillon
Drusilla Browne was Testing. no
doubt, but 1t is doubtful II any one
grasped the delicacy Of her humor
when she observed, In mock concern,
addressing the assembled mourners.
that she believed the heirs were try
ing to get rid of their membranes
after the good old Borgia fashion and
that she would never again have the
courage to eat mouthful Of food SO
long as she stood between her husband
and hymeneal fortune.
"You know. my DEAR" she concluded.
turning to her husband, that | might
have had Lord Deppingham's biscuit.
His wife asked me to take 1t. Good
ness, you're a dreadful Borgia person.
Agnes" she went on, smiling brightly
at her ladyship. Deppingham was
fumbling nervously at his monocle.
II should think you toould be nervous.
Lord Deppingham."
The most rigid questioning ELECTED
no information from the servants.
Baillo's sudden, involuntary look Of
suspicion, directed toward Lady Agnes
and Robert Browne, did not escape the
keen eye of Hollingsworth Chase.
"Impossible" he said, half aloud.
He looked up and saw that the prin-
cess was staring at him questioningly
He shook his head without thinking
Despair settled upon the white peo-
pie. They were confronted by new
and serious peril-poison. AT no time
could they feel safe.
One of the stable boys volunteered to
carry a note from Chase to Rasula,
asking the opportunity to lay ques-
ton Of grave Importance before him
Chase suggested to Rasula that be
should meet him that evening at the
west gate, under flag of truce. The
tone of the letter was more or less per-
emptory.
Rasula came, sullen but curious. A,
first he would not believe, but Chase
was firm In his denunciation Of Jacob
Won Blitz. Then he was pleased to &C.
cuse Chase of duplicity and double
dealing. going so far as to charge the
deposed American with plotting against
Won Blitz to further his own ends IL
more ways than one. At last, however
he agreed to follow the advice of the
American-grudgingly. to be sure. but
none the less determined.
"You will find everything as have
stated 1t, Rasula." said Chase. I'm
sorry you are against me, for ] would
be your friend. I've told you how tc
reach the secret cave. The chests are
there. The passage is closed. You car
trap him in the attempt to rob the
bank. could have taken him RED
handed and given him over to Lord
Deppingham. but you would never
have known the truth. Now l ask you
to Judge for yourselves. Give him 8
fair trial, Rasula-as you would any
man accused of crime-and be just II
you need a witness-an eyewitness
call on me will come. and will
appear against him. I've been honest
with you. ! am willing to trust you tt
be honest with me"