The Raymer enterprise., 1911-09-28

tlOn6 IOf TRAINS Wnlcn eltner did not
run or did so with exasperating un-
punctuality. We went straight to the
house and called Mr.. Clayton out Of
bed. Crewe held up the cigars.
Nov, Mr.. Clayton. we must act
quickly" he said, "or you will dnd
that the quarry will have flown. Can
you bring selim to the house as soon
as possible?"
Il will do so at once" said Mr.. Clay.
ton. much mystified.
III be refuses to come-'7 said.
"He will not refuse. can procure
a warrant from Mr.. Tighe, our near.
est magistrate. But may l ask"
Il would rather say nothing" Crewe
answered. 1T is desperate hope.
and yet 1t seems built upon something
Of foundation. At any rate # WIN
do no harm. May l be allowed the
setting Of the little drama!"
"By all MEANS" Mr.. Clayton an
swered.
He set Oh as soon As he had
snatched q hasty breakfast Of bread
and milk, and. after two hours Of wait
Ing, Crewe and l saw him reappear
with selim. The servant came in
blandly: he was as suave In his de-
meanor IS he had been pictured;
nevertheless thought l could discern
an uneasy glance in his eye.
"sit down. Mr.. Selim," said Mr.. Clay
ton. These gentlemen are friends Of
Claude Bamwell's and wish to inter-
rogate you."
II shall be delighted to do every
thing in my power to assist them,"
said the Indian. seating himself easily
at the table. III only / could believe
that the unhappy young man was not
guilty Of my dear masters death"
DO you smoke, Mr.. Selim?" asked
Crewe abruptly.
The Indian started violently; then,
recovering his composure, replied:
Il am not much Of smoker. SIR"
But you have smoked? Will you
oblige me by smoking a cigar with
me?" And he produced the box Of
Bornoes.
never saw such a change come
over human countenance as came
over the Indians. For moment he
gasped like fish out Of water. Be.
fore he could regain his self-posses.
sion Crewe had placed before him a
sheet Of paper and pencil. Upon the
paper was written:
II swear that | and alone am re.
sponsible for the death Of my master,
Sir George Bamwell."
"As an alternative to smoking, per.
haps you will sign this" said Crewe.
You may do both" he added.
The Indian collapsed into his chair
with CHASTITY smile.
mo, will SMOKE" he said. pushing
the paper away.
Crewe calmly lit cigar. and then
applied match to the Indians. And
there they sat, smoking in perfect 81.
lence. while We others gathered
around in strained expectancy.
Come. throw away your cigar,
Selim. and sign that paper" said
Crewe. after pause. The Indians
cigar now had an inch OF ash on 1t;
Crewe's was hardly rimmed.
Suddenly, as II inspired by some
invincible determination. the Indian
began smoking furiously. The smoke
came from his mouth in puffs. His
cigar was half consumed. The 81.
lence deepened. Some dreadful trag.
edy seemed to depend upon the issue
Of that smoking match.
"Selim." said Crewe, laying down
his cigar. Sign that paper" And he
removed the cigar from the Indians
mouth.
saw the Indian shoot out a trem.
bling claw. He grasped the pencil and
wrote his name almost illegibly be-
meath the paper. Then he glanced in.
to our faces with pitiful smile. ut
is finished" he said. and picked up
the cigar again.
Crewe leaped toward him and tried
to wrest the cigar from his mouth. But
the Indian, with grip Of steel. held
Crewe's wrists. all the while drawing
In and putting out the smoke in thick
clouds. The ash was lengthening.
Still none Of us stirred. We were
fascinated into inertia by this strange
drama.
All at once the end came. I saw an
ashen pallor overspread Selim's
swarthy face. He choked; he beat the
air with his hands; then. without
sound. he toppled over to the ground.
Mr.. Clayton raised him quickly, but
one look into Selim's face was sum.
cient to tell US all that life was ended.
you see. gentlemen" said Crewe,
"as had suspected. those cigars were
highly charged with volatile poison,
a variant Of prussic acid. selim had
given the box to Claude to present to
his father. or, rather, had cunningly
contrived that Claude should purchase
the box at the store In Tilbury, where
he had 1t placed on sale. The reason
why no poison was found In the cigar
butts was that 1t had already been