Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-02-01
A Danger
Averted

] was fancy free. but 1 did not fancy
Alse Myrtle. C1rcumsta noes threw %
tp0stAsT Q grsat deal. bat I never reel.
b made love to her. Nevertheless che
Dsfs4stsd In assuming that there was
moro between % than q mere acQuaint-
ancs or friendship. | should have
scented danger. Indeed. did ut times
realize that was drifting Into trouble.
but the only way for me to break with
her was to so to i've in another place.
This was scarcely practicable.
How long matters might have drift
ID between me and Agnes Myrtle had
I not fallen In love with 4 girl whom
I desired to make my wife l don't
know Agnes heard Of my attentions
to the lady ! admired. but she did not
ev1ncs any Jealousy. became en-
gagged. but still Miss Myrtle did not
show my signs Of making trouble for
me. was congrntulatng myself that
she would be above annoying me or
was. after NIL Indifferent TO my en-
gagement when one day ! received a
telephone message from her saying
that she was not feeling well and
would Ike me to call upon Der profes.
sionally.
! wished she had called In some one
else Indeed. I was surprised at her
calling upon me after she had so often
assumed that we were lovers and |
had become engaged to another. New
srtheless | thought 1t better to make
the visit found her becomingly
dressed In negligee costume lying on
4 lounge. She told mo that she needed
q tonic, and prescribed one that was
perfectly harmless She asked me what
It was and when told her said that
she needed something stronger She
had once taken arsenic in small doses
for the purpose Of building up her
strength and preferred that ! should
give her some compound Of which Ar
senic formed part
ArSenic u 4 common medicine to
give for tonic purposes. 10 v rote just
such 4 prescription as ! had written
many times before. Agnes took 1t.
folded II carefully and put 1t in her
corsage. Then she began to upbraid
me with what she was pleased to call
my treatment Of her. l disavowed her
charges. but a. our talk proceeded !
saw In her eye a vindictive look that
frightened me. Then suddenly it fash
ed into my mind why she had asked
for 4 prescription for 4 drug which
was a deadly poison
WELL" | said. rising. 1T would not
do for me. you feeling as you do. to
treat you professionally. must with
draw from doing 50. will trouble
you for the prescription have given
you"
She hesitated for awhile. then threw
OF all disguise.
Il shall keep the prescription" she
said
What forr'
Il decline to say"
What | feared was that she might
change the inflnitesimal quantity OF ar
senie had prescribed to a quantity
large enough to Kill. This would be a
sumcient ground on which to base
against me 4 charge Of an attempt to
poison her. the motive being that
wished to get rid Of one girl in order
70 Be free to marry another For 4
moment lost my prudence.
III you don't give me that prescrip-
ton I shall take It from you by force"
I said.
For reply she coolly pointed to an
electric button in the wall within easy
reach. II attempted to possess my.
self Of the prescription she could cas-
lily summon some one who would be
4 witness against me on another
charge.
It was now evident that the only
chance for me to get out of scrape
that would ruin me would be by du.
plicity. But for my ufe ! saw no i'm
mediate method except to pretend to
gradually see my relations with her in
another light-to appear undecided
and at last ready to give up my en-
gagsment and engage myself to her.
l sat down by he. and began a more
f1ghtful string Of lies than were ever
told by the father OF lies himself. the
purport Of which was that really
loved her. had always loved her and
would never love another. The only
possible reason for her believing me
was that she wthed to believe me.
"Why. then" she asked. have yor
treated me 20 badlyr'
because" I replied. you are doom
ed do not believe In a match be
tween two persons. one OF whom has
but . short dine to i've"
III A shsrt time to liver
~Yss. You have 4 disease that vii
kill you within 4 few months"
She was very much frightened. Sh.
bad \ high opinion Of my professional
skin and considered me truthful
Cant you do anything for msr' oh,
asked hastily.
mo"
!! AN you suruY'
"Youf dlSsase has always been n
garded u incura bic. bot 4 friend o
mine has bsea experimenting to d1s
cover . oesum for Il and. believe
claims to have found one. viii ~
him. a1A u - has heeo oaceenful
VII apply Il In your case
turned 70 60. did not dare 4
ask for the prescription ! had give
her. though ! hoped To get possession
u Il In dine. She called ne back AM
handed Il to NJ. Crumptinx II tn IN.
had, I aaj1: