The independent-reporter., 1910-03-03


poisoning among us. | mentioned
Pong and the servants. The devh
laughed gleefuly In my face and told
me that II was but the beginning.
tell you. Chase, we can't 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 a blow | received
when | tried to interfere In behalf OF
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-
| liberately engaged In the attempt to
| change the flow Of pure water into
slow. subtle, deadly poison. the effects
| of which will 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 1t the plague"
A shudder of horror swept through
the crowd. Every one looked into his
neighbor's 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 a match to one of his precious ciga-
rettes The others stared at him in
amazement.
Great God, Chase" groaned Browne,
sis this joker
"Yes, and It's ON Rasula." said the
other laconically. "You say that Re-
sula isn't aware of the fact 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 1t has In store
for us. Good! That's why | say the
Joke Is on him. Browne. you are
doctor. chemist. Well. we'll disttll
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 tagged out Your brain
isn't working well. Don't look so
crestfallen. Mr.. Britt. you and Mr.
Saunders will give immediate instruc-
tions that no more water Is to be
drunk or used until Mr.. Browne has
had a few hours rest. He can take
an alcohol bath. and we can ak drink
wine. II won't hurt u.s. AT 10 o'clock
sharp DR.. Browne will begin operating
the distilling apparatus In the labora-
tory. By Jove. Will you listen to the
row my clients are making out there
in the woods! They seem to be an
noyed over something"
Outside the walls the islanders were
shouting and calling to each other.
Rifles were cracking far and near,
voicing In their peculiarly spiteful way
the rage that reigned supreme.
As Chase ascended the steps Bobby
Browne and his wife came up beside
him.
''Chase." said Browne in low voice,
his face turned away to hide the NOR
tification that filed his soul, ''you are
a man! want you to know that |
thank you from the bottom of my
heart"
.Never mind, old mani Say no
more" interrupted Chase. suddenly
embarrassed.
'I've been fool, Chase. don't de-
serve the friendship of any one-not
even that of my wife. It's all over,
though. You understand? I'm not
coward. I'll do anything you say, take
any risk, to pay for the trouble I've
caused you all. Send me out to
fight
Nonsense! Your wife needs you,
Browne. dare say that I wouldn't
have been above the folly that got
the better of you. Only"-he hesitat-
ed for minute-"only 1t couldn't have
happened to me II had a wife as dear
and as good and as pretty as the one
you have"
Browne was silent for long time,
his arm still about Drusilla's shoulder.
At the end of the long hall he said
with decision in his voice:
Chase, you may tell your clients
that, so far as am concerned, they
may have the beastly island and every
thing that goes with it. I'm through
with 1t all. shall discharge Britt
and
"My dear boy, it's most magnani'
nous of your cried Chase merrily
"But I'm afraid you can't decide the
question In such an offhand manner
Take good care of him, Mrs. Browne
Don't let him talk"
She held out her hand to him impul
sively. As he gallantly lifted the cold
fingers to his lips she said, without
taking her almost hungry gaze from
his face: Thank you. Mr.. Chase. I
shall n>ver forget you"
He stood there looking after them as
they went up the stairway, puzzled
expression In his face.