The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-17
what do you want." she demanded

what do You wantr she demanded
ITO como to an understanding Win
YOU" Judith told her coolly.
There 10 no understanding possible
between us: you know that as well u
l."
yet one there must be-"
IT insist that you leave this room q
once!"
Insist by all means-and be
damned! may leave this room-ano
l may not, dear little sister. Bat one
of US will never leave 1t alive"
With . start Of terror. Rose shrank
back from this strange. wild thing
that wore the very shape and sem
blance Of herself.
what do you mean! You cannot
mean to murder me In cold BLOOD
JUDITH"
mot II" Judith laughed harshly.
But, since 1t 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 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 hand till then
fast clenched and disclosed a small
blue bottle with red label shrieking
the warning "POISON!"
"Strychnine," she explained COM
posedly. Gin 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, il 1t will! 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, shufile the cards, and deal"
she explained, suiting action to word.
"The one who gets the trey Of hearts
will drain that glass. Is 1t q bar
gain?"
Never! Oh, now l know that you
are altogether mad!"
Perhaps. Are you readyT And
Judith made as if to deal.
"No-never! l tell you refuse"
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 It on the table, ready to
her hand.
"You will shoot me IL l do not con.
sent?"
Not you-but him. II you refuse,
little sister, l will shoot Alan Law
dead when he comes to keep his sp-
pointment with you"
"Ah!" Rose cried In mingled fright
| and amazement. How did you ind
out?"
"Never mind. Is 1t a bargain, now,
about the trey Of hearts! Remember,
l shall keep my word about this pis-
toll"
With q shudder Rose bowed her
head.
Deal" she muttered fearfully. and
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 huttered 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 tt take
back my consent"
TOO late!" said Judith, lifting the
glass and cycling its contents with q
strange smile.
Judith! you cannot mean to drinl
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 swayins
and dropped to the floor in q complet,
faint.
Delaying only to recognize this phe
nOmena with plying smile for tn,
weakness of spirit that caused 1t, Ju
dith's glance darted through the win
dow and saw that which caused her I,
stay her hand an instant longer.
On the topmost tier Of Orders Of tn,
building opposite. Alan Law stoo,
amid little knot Of amused and ami
mated laborers. one foot in the grea
, steel hook of the hosting tackle. boil
hands clasping the chain that linke,
It to the gigantic block.
And as Judith stared. he smiled q
,, something said by one Of those abou
him, looked back, and waved Q han
to some person invisible.
Immediately the arm began to III,
> the tackle to move slowly through tn
blocks. Very gently he was swung u
and outward.
With cry Judith fung the poiso
heedlessly from her, leaped across tn
: room. and snatched up the street ga,
2 ments Rose had dropped at her sister
entrance.
In another moment she was stru,
Cling madly into them.
+ Before the shadow of Alan, ciingin
to the hook and chain, fell athwart tn
: N ~