The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-05-27

she laughed. sac selected q peach
and began eating 1t on the way up TO
her room.
The maid passed on into the library.
Whats this?" inquired Florence, a.
the maid held out the basket. She
selected a peach and was about to set
her white teeth into 1t when Jim In
terposed.
Wal. a moment, dear" Florence
lowered the peach. Jim turned to the
maid. who sent it?"
- don't know, sir. A messenger
brought it, saying it was for Miss
Hargreave."
Let me see If there is a card"
But Jim searched in vain for the card
of the donor. At Ii all his suspi-
cions arose. Don't touch them. Bet
ter let the maid throw them out.
] Fruit from unknown persons might
not be the healthiest thing in the
world"
What do you Think"
That in all probability they are poi
soned. But there's no need trying TO
prove my theory right or wrong. Ask
Jones. He'll tell you to throw them
away"
HORRIBLE" Florence shuddSed.
But they do not want to poison me.
I'm toe valuable. They want me
alive"
who can say" returned Jim
gloomily. They may have learned
that they canno beat us, no matter
what card they turn up. | may be
wrong, but take my advice and throw
them away. . . . Good Lord, what's
that?" startled.
Some one cried!"
20, Miss Florence!" exclaimed the
maid, terror stricken as she recalled
Susan's act. Miss Susan took .
peach from the basket and was eating
it on the way to her room!"
Good heavens" gasped Jim. Il
was right. The fruit was poisoned.
Jim had head enough to send for a
specialist he knew. The specialist ar
rived about twenty minutes after Sus.
ans first cry. To his keen eye il
looked like a certain poison which had
for its basis the venom of the cobra.
will she liver"
20, yes. But she'll be a wreck for
some months. Send her TO the hos
pital where | can visit her frequently.
And I'll take hat peach along for
analysis. No police AFFAIR.""
mo. We dare not call them ill.,"
said Jim.
That's your affair. I'll send down
the ambulance. Keep her quiet. She'll
have a species OF paralysis; but thatli
work off under the treatment. A
strange business"
so 1t u.s." agreed Jim grimly.
Florence knelt beside her friends
bed and cried softly.
you called me just in time. An
hour later, nothing would have saved
her. She would nave been paralyz.d
for life"
Jim accompanied the doctor to the
door and went in search of Jones. He
found the taciturn butler eying the
fruit basket, his face gray and drawn,
though his eyes blazed with fury.
"Poison!"
"A pretty bad poison, too said Jim.
I'VE can't do anything. We've just
got 10 sit still. But in the end well
get them. That she devil :"
mo, my friend; that he devil. The
woman is mad over him and would
commit any crime at his bidding But
this is his work. We van him. He
wasn't without courage to send this
fruit, knowing that | would instantly
suspect the sender. Yet, | have nc
definite proof. | could not hold hin
in court In law. He will have bought
the fruit piece by piece, the basket in
a basket shop. He will have injected
the poison himself when alone. Poor
Susan. That messenger was withou,
doubt some n over whom he holds
the threat OF the death chair. That's
the way he works"
Jim tramped the room while Jones
carried the fruit to the kitchen. The
butler returned after a while.
What about that blank sheet OF pa
PERI
1T has TO be dipped into a solution
after that you can read 1t by heating
l have already dipped it into the solu
ton. The moment the heat leaves the
sheet the writing disappears again
The ink 10 waterproof. I'll show you
Jones got a candle from the mantle
lit it, and held the sheet of paper very
close to the flame. Gradually, almost
imperceptibly, letters began to form or
the blank sheet. At length the mes
sage was complete.
Dear Hargreave-The Russian min
lister of police is at the Blank hoteI
under the name of Henri Servan. lie
is investigating the work Of the Black
, Hundred in this country and can free
you from their vengeance II you sup
ply the evidence needed"
Now, what evidence can he want?'