The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1914-10-11


blance of herself.
what do you mean? You cannot
mean to murder me in cold blood,
JUDITH"
Not T." Judith laughed harshly.
But, since It has pleased Destiny to
decree that we must both love one
man-let Destiny decide between us
and bear the blame of murder!"
Judith"
"One moment!" Crossing to a side
table, Judith took up a glass from a
tray that held a silver water-pitcher,
and returned with 1t to the table that
occupied the middle of the floor At the
same time she opened a hand till then
fast clenched and disclosed small
blue bottle with a red label shrieking
the warning "POISONi"
"Strychnine," she explained COM
posedly. in solution" And emptied
the bottle into the glass.
A measure of courage returned to
Rose. DO you expect to be able to
make me drink that" she demanded
| contemptuously
mot but Destiny if It VIII See
here" From pocket of her dressing
gown Judith produced sealed deck OF
playing cards Let these declare the
will of Destiny toward us. ! will break
the seal, shuttle the cards, and deal"
| she explained. suiting action to word.
THE one who gets the trey of hearts
will drain that glass. Is 1t a bar
gain?"
Never! Oh, now l know that you
are altogether mad!"
Perhaps. Are you ready?" And
Judith made as if to deal.
"No-never! | tell you / refused"
Rose chartered, terrified.
You dare not refuse"
"Why?"
Because of this"
Whipping a small revolver from an
other pocket Ct her dressing-gown, Ju.
dith placed 1t on the table, ready to
her hand.
"You will shoot me if l do not con-
sent?"
Not you-but him. If you refuse,
little sister, | will shoot Alan Law
dead when he comes to keep his ap-
pointment with you"
All" Rose cried in mingled fright
and amazement How did you flEd
out?"
Never mind. Is it a bargain, now
about the trey of hearts? Remember,
/ shall keep my word about this pis-
toll"
With a shudder Rose bowed her
| head.
Deal she muttered fearfully, "and
may God judge between usi"
One by one she stripped the cards
from the top of the deck, dealing first
to Rose, then to herself.
One by one they fluttered to the
table on either side the glass of poison,
and fell face uppermost.
The trey of hearts fell to Judith.
There was an instant of silent dread
ended by Rose, as Judith's hand moved
steadily toward the glass.
Judith" she implored. Don't
beg Of you'll didn't mean It'll take
back my consent"
TOO late!" said Judith, lifting the
glass and cycling it's contents with q
strange smile.
Judith! you cannot mean to drink
it?"
Cant I, thought" the other laughed
mirthlessly. Just watch mel"
With a strangled cry Rose covered
her face with her hands to shut out
the sight, stood momentarily swaying,
and dropped to the Coor in a complete
faint
Delaying only to recognize this phe-
| nomena with plying smile for the
weakness of spirit that caused 1t, Ju-
| dith's glance darted through the win
| dow and saw that which caused her to
stay her hand an instant longer.
On the topmost tier of Orders of the
building opposite, Alan Law stood
amid little knot OF amused and ami
mated laborers, one foot in the great
steel hook of the hosting tackle, both
hands clasping the chain that linked
| 1t to the gigantic block.
And as Judith stared, he smiled at
something said by one of those about
him, looked back, and waved a hand
to some person invisible.
Immediately the arm began to lift.
the tackle to move slowly through the
blocks. Very gently he was swung up
| and outward.
With a cry Judith flung the poison
heedlessly from her, leaped across the
room, and snatched up the street gar
ments Rose had dropped at-her sisters
entrance.
In another moment she was strug-
Cling madly into them.
Before the shadow of Alan, clinging
to the hook and chain. fell athwart the