Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-09-25
CHAPTER XIV.
ChanaelInq.

pleAltY, rose anu UdtHtu ana uItHNtu
herself in neglgee
In the adjoining room She could hear
small, stealthy noises the sounds
made by her sister moving about and
preparing against the ungucssahle mo.
ment when her rescue would be at
tempted according to the Information
conveyed in that midnight message
For chance had couspIred With hen
insomnia to station Judith ia tie IT,.
cess OF her darkeued window, idly
viewing the gaunt framework at The
unfinished building from ali angle
which, when Alan edged out along the
girder showed him plainly in siIbou.
cite against the sky
In Judiths eyes his identity was I'm,
mistakable She had hardly needed
the nightglasses which presently she
brought to boar upon him at tHt mo-
ment when he was laboriousIy udiung
his message while grim death staked
him from behind
She had seen him throw the watch
and had heard the double hump of its
impact with the wall and floor Of
Roses bedchambe-
And she had witnessed with wildly
beating heart that duel in the air.
able to surmise its outcome only from
the fact that the victor spared The life
of the yanQuished
The clock was striking six as she
left her room across the street Work
ingmen were streaming into the build
ing to begin the labors OF the day
Brushing unceremoniouslv past The
drowsy and Indifferent guard III the
corridor outside the door to loses
room Judith turned the key that re-
manned in the lock Oh the outside re.
moved it, entered, aud locked the door
behind her
Without any surprise she found her
sister already dressed % the point Of
DOMINIC her outer garments
Rendered half-frantc By this unex.
pected interruption, threatening as it
did the perilous scheme that Alan had
proposed, Rose greeted her sister with
a countenance at once aghast and
wrathful
What do you wanto' she demanded
tenseIy
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
q insist that you leave this room at
once"
Insist by all means ana be
damned may leave this and
l may not, dear little sister Eut one
of us will never leave ii alive
With a start OF terror, Rose shrank
back from this strange wild thing
that wore the very shape aud sem
blance of herself.
what do you mean? You cannot
mean to murder me in cold blood,
JUDITH
Not Il" 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 side
table, Judith took up glass from a
tray that held silver Vater-pitcher.
and returned with it to the table that
occupied the middle Of the floor At the
same time she opened a hand till then
fast clenched and disclosed a small
blue bottle with a red label shrieking
the warning "POISONi'
"Strychnne, 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
Not 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 | 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 it bar.
gain?'
Never! Oh, now know that you
are altogether mad"
Perhaps Are you ready?" And
Judith made as if to deal
"No-never tell you l refused"
Rose chartered, terrified.
You dare not refuse"
"Why?" {
Because of this"
Whipping a small revolver from an 9
other pocket of her dressing-gown, Ju
dith placed 1t on the table, ready to
her hand. G
you will shoot me If l do not con.
sent?"
Not you-but him. If you refuse, Q
little sister, | will shoot Alan Law
dead when he comes to keep his APP
pointment with you
All" Rose cried in mingled fright a
and amazement. How did you find
out?
Never mind. Is it bargain, now,
about the trey of hearts? Remember, S
shall keep my word about this pis- n
tol." !,
With a shudder Rose bowed her
head. tt
Deal" she muttered fearfully, "and ii
may God judge between us!"
One by one she stripped the cards
from the top of the deck, dealing first
10 Rose, then to herself. a
One by one they fiuttered to the
able on either side the glass of poison,
md fell face uppermost. fl
The trey of hearts fell to Judith. a
There was an instant of silent dread, 4