The Press., 1917-07-12

drink?"
 "No."
 As she made this reply my memory flashed at once to the glimpse of her that I had had at the window, but even without the sight of the wine glass I should have known that she was not telling the truth.
 Did he say what seemed to be the matter with him?'
 ''Yes; he was faint. He thought it was the cigar that he was smoking. He said his lips felt numb"
 T thought they looked queer" said Ford. Here's the cigar" showing us half of very small One II found it in his pocket. He was going to havefs examined, I suppose. We'll, I'll do that, but it's poisoned sure enough. Now" he continued, pointing his finger at the girl, ito whose advantage is this mans death-to whose advantageT"
 T beg your pardon" said I. 'Is this young lady under arrest?" At this moment nasty hand was laid upon the knob of the door which | communicated with the shop.
 You can't come in," said the mar shal. but he was mistaken. The lock of the door burst with rattle of splin- ters, and Frank Clifford precipitated himself into the room. .. .-a
 Can't come in, ehY' said he. "What do you think about 1t nowY ..-... =
 He strode across to the little milliner and, standing beside her, glared at tho marshal, who had not risen from his chair or even paused in cRressing his silky mustache.
 Glad to see you, Mr. Clifford" said he, speaking through his hand. Have seat and tell us where you got this cigar that you gave to your uncle."
 Before he could reply the young wo- was a picture.
 MT. Clifford-Mr. Duncan Clifford got that cigar here in this store," she cried. He told me so.'
 The marshal rose and stepped to the broken door, now guarded on the out side by some serviceable citizen who had appointed himself deputy.
 Send EdgewOrth in here" said the marshal, but it appeared that the to- bacconist-jeweler was not present. No one knew what had become of him.
 ''Ah, he told you SOL" said the mar shal, turning to the milliner and calm ly resuming the conversation. "HOw did he happen to do that?"
 II don't remember" she answered, but if the cigar was poisoned I know why. MT. EdgewOrth has annoyed me beyond endurance with his attentions. He knew that MT. Duncan Clifford came to see me often. He believed that l preferred Mir. Clifford, and he hated him insanely."
 ''So Mir. Clifford used to come to see you? Why"
 ITO persuade me to go away" was the reply. He offered me money. He was trying to separate me from Frank
 ''TO give up Frank?' said the mar shal. What are you to him?"
 II am his wife" she answered, ''but MT. Clifford did not know it.
 And if he had known 1t Frank might have lost half a million dollars. I see"
 The entrance of MT. Edgeworth in terrupted this line of questioning.
 "Ah, Edgeworth; good evening"" said the marshal.
 Good evening, Captain Ford" re- | spOnded the tobaccOnist in a deep, heavy voice that sounded strange from his narrow chest and thin lips.
 When did you sell this cigar to Dun- can Clifford?" asked Ford
 "I never carried these goods" he said. Its a sort of large tobacco ciga- rette, sold eight in a box-a little tin box. think they're called the Mar quiS."
 The marshal turned to Frank.
 Give me your cigar case or what ever you carry them in," said he.
 "YOu have no authority" Frank be- gan.
 Haven't I?" retOrted Ford, drawing revolver. You are under arrest. We'll search you at the station, and I know what we'll find"
 Wait one moment" said Frank, with more calmness than should have expected of so excitable a man. 'I will admit that gave that cigar to my uncle after dinner and another like it this evening. I do not believe that it is poisoned Of course it isn't. I had nothing to do with this crime, if it is crime, and"-
 T gave him wine in my rOom," cried Esther, panic stricken with fear for fhe man she loved. "The bottle has been uncOrked, where any one this man. She finished the sentence by a wild gesture toward Edgeworth.
 Clifford vsls i'll before you gave him the wine," said the marshal. You told us so, and you were telling the truth too. Sit down, all of you"
 Presently a man, red faced and breathless, burst into the room.
 He went home an changed his clothes!" cried this fellow in gasps. His other clothes was all wet. We found 'em."
 The marshal turned slowly toward EdgewOrth.
 q missed yOu." said he. Ut seemed queer. So sent this man to see about it How did your other suit of clotlet get wet?"
 There was long moment Of silence; then Edgeworth sprang at the marshal as quick as flash. Ford turned for a cllnch and half rose, but EdgewOrth lodged and flung himself against small table on which were the mar shafs revolver ana q lamp that was the only light of the room. There was a great crash and then darkness, with the noise of an indiscriminate strug. gle. Ford, his messenger, Frank and myself were all in a grapple, while Edgeworth, the object of our efforts, eluded us in the room, which he knew better than we did, and escaped by stairway to a loft, from a window Of which he dropped into the yard. But why had he fled?
 The clew that helped us was the wet clothes, for they suggested the canal.