The Delta independent., 1914-10-02

Without any surprise she found her
sister already dressed to the point of
donning her outer garments.
Rendered half-frantic by this unex.
pected interruption, threatening as it
did the perilous scheme that Alan had
proposed, Rose greeted her sister with
countenance at once aghast and
wrathful.
tensely.
"To come to an understanding with
you" Judith told her coolly.
There is no understanding possible
between us: you know that as we'll as
l."
yet one there must be-"
81 insist that you leave this room at
oncei'
Insist by all means-and be
damned! l may leave this room-and
Il may not, dear little sister But one
of us will never leave it alive"
With a start of terror, Rose shrank
back from this strange, wild thing
that wore the very shape and SEM
iblance of herself.
What do you mean? You cannot
JUDITH"
mot Il" Judith laughed harshly.
i-'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
zone moment" Crossing to q side
table, Judith took up glass from a
tray that held silver water-pitcher,
and returned with it to the table that
occupied the middle of the floor. At the
same time she opened hand till then
fast clenched and disclosed a small
blue bottle with red label shrieking
the warning "POISON!"
"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
fcontemptuously.
mot but Destiny, if it will! See
here" From pocket of her dressing
gown Judith produced a sealed deck of
playing cards. Let these declare the
will of Destiny toward us. l will break
the seal, shuttle the cards, and DEAL"
she explained, suiting action to word.
Tho one who gets the trey Of hearts
will drain that glass. Is it a bar
gain?"
Never! Oh, now know that you
are altogether mad!"
Perhaps. Are you ready?" And
Judith made as II to DEAL
ssNO-novorf toll vo,, roP,cotU
Rose chartered, terrified.
You dare not refuse"
"Why?"
Because of this"
Whipping a small revolver from an
other pocket of her dressing-gown, Ju.
dith placed 1t on the table, ready to
her hand.
"You will shoot me If do not con-
sent?"
mot you-but him. II you refuse,
little sister, l will shoot Alan Law
dead when he comes to keep his ap-
pointment with you"
"Ah!" Rose cried in mingled fright
and amazement. How did you find
out?"
"Never mind. Is it 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, land
may God Judge between us!"
One by one she stripped the cards
from the top Of the deck, dealing first
TO Rose, then to herself
One by one they iuttered 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 i'll take
back my consent"
"Too late!" said Judith, lifting the
glass and eyeing its contents with a
strange smile.
it?"
Cant I. thought" the other laughed
mirthlessly. Just watch men
With strangled cry Rose covered
her face with her hands to shut out
the sight, stood momentarily swaying,
and dropped to the floor in a complete
faint
Delaying only to recognize this phe-
nomena with a plying smile for the
weakness of spirit that caused it, 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 girders 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