The Redwood gazette., 1915-02-03

Not I.s Judith laughed harshly.
"But, since it has pleased Destiny to
decree that we must both love on6
man-let Destiny decide between US
and bear the blame of murder!'
Judith
zone moment" Crossing to side
table, Judith took up glass from a
tray that held a silver water-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 small
| blue bottle with red label shrieking
the warning "POISONi'
"Strychnine, she explained COM
posedly, 'sin solution" And emptied
| the bottle into the glass
4 "A measure Of courage returned to
Rose. do you expect to be able to
make me drink that" she demanded
contemptuousH
mot but Destiny, If it will! See
| here From a pocket of her dressing
\ gown Judith produced sealed deck OF
| playing cards. let these declare the
j will of Destiny toward us. will break
4 the seal, shuttle the cards, and deal,
she explained. suiting action to word
aThe 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 if to deal.
'sNo-never | 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 if / do not COM
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"
"Ah!" Rose cried in mingled fright
and amazement. "How did you find
out?"
Never mind. Is it bargain, nowS
about the trey of hearts? Remember;
/ shall keep my word about this pis'
tol''
With a 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.
!. Ona by one they futtered 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 Judiths hand moved
steadily toward the glass.
Judith" she implored. Don't
beg of you-I didn't mean it-I take
back my consent"
! "Too late!" said Judith, lifting the
3 glass and eyeing 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 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 pitying 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 a little knot of amused and ami
mated laborers, one foot in the great
steel hook of the hoisting tackle both
hands clasping the chain that linked
!. it to the gigantic block
: And as Judith stared, he smiled al
: something said by one Of those about
him, looked back, and waved hand
to some person invisible.
: Immediately the arm began to lift
the tackle to move slowly through the
. blocks. Very gently he was swung uI
and outward. .
I With 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
4 entrance
Q In another moment she was strug
Cling madly into them.
. Before the shadow of Alan, clinginl
! to the hook and chain. fell athwart the