The Tomahawk., 1917-04-05

her In her private apartment, watch
ing her and each other like cats. She
chatted and gossiped-and all the
while her eyes were filed with fires
of slumbering hate. And presently l
began to notice that our conversation
was of a peculiarly restricted kind.
It never dealt with current events.
For instance, when Tarrant made
some passing allusion to the war in
China she looked at him without com
prehension, and yet as though she
were on her guard ind dimly aware
that something was wrong. And when
addressed as Miss Aldyne she an
swered as though she had assumed
that name-that is the best way in
which I can explain the strange man
ner Of her speech.
"WeM, Madam" said DR.. Emmanuel
presently, you are SO much better
that I think we can let you go home
tomorrow. You seem to have realized
now that your beliefs are only lllu'
sions, have you not?"
my beliefs?" she answered, as
though with an effort of thought.
"Yes-I think so.'
"For example, that absurd delusion
Of yours that you have some outland'
ish name like Gladys, and that you
are engaged to your worst enemy
"Crassides!" she exclaimed, as
though the name had suddenly come
into her mind after she had long Tor
gotten it.
'sThe man who insulted you and
spurned your love-" went on I'M
manuel remorselessly.
She clenched her fists and closed
her eyes and lay back in her chair,
apparently overcome with the most
intense accession Of hatred.
"But he is dead!" she cried, start
ing up suddenly, like a. fury. Il pols-
oned him."
AT the banquet"
"What else should have done?"
she cried. Eyes. I babe him to the
banquet and lavished caresses and
loving words on him. Then when the
wine was to be drunk I had set be-
fore him a goblet into which 1 had
poured Partisan poisons, so swift that
one dies instantly and without knoWl-
edge of it. It had been my purpose
to give him that German drug which
brings a sure and lingering death. I
had wanted to gloat over him, dying
but my heart misgave me. could
not torture the body that I had loved.
So I chose Partisan poison, subtle and
very swift. And then I pledged him,
and we drank; I from my goblet OF
pure wine and he from his poisoned
cup. And so he died."
"Ah! You are sure he died?" asked
Emmanuel keenly.
A convulsion seemed to seize her.
Fer lips parted, she glared at him.
seemed about to answer-and then
GLADYS Aldyne was looking out of her
eyes at us. She looked round blankly.
"Why, my dear Doctor, how in the
world did get up here?" she asked.
II thought we were at the dinner ta-
ble."
"Ah! You forget" answered the
Doctor lightly. "But your memory is
growing stronger, my dear. Well
have you out Of here and back with
Seth next week. And now am going
to send you to bed. You want all the
rest you can get. Good night"
"Good night, Doctor" she answered,
taking his hand in hers affectionately.
She babe us good night also, with less
spontaneity but much good will, and
so we left her.
'Well, gentlemen" said, the Doc
tor, as we fingered at his door, TO-
morrow I hope to exercise Mademol-
selle Claudia for ever I have learned
quite a. good deal about her.. She was
the daughter of a Greek senator, an
only child, and mistress of a house
hold of slaves, whom she abused in
quite the conventional fashion. Her
memory is pretty clear, but when she
spoke of Partisan and German drugs
there was little confusion-she
meant Egyptian and Scythian, proba-
bly,. What part young Crassides
played in her affairs you learned this
evening. I have certain theory
which I think will enable me to put
her back in the limbo to which she
D6lOQSS-UuC i uoSO LOU q oS'AA VI ="
time waking her up sufficiently to
learn her history. You won't forget
that exquisite confession she made
about the poisoned cup? ALI right:
one word more. Tomorrow night we
four dine alone in a. private dining
room which has something Of the
character Of property room. There
I reconstruct my scenes for just such
occasions as this present one. And,
gentlemen, you will not see Miss
Gladys tomorrow before dinner-nor
Mademoiselle Claudia, either"
Nor did we. see the Doctor. We
spent the day strolling round the fine
grounds OF the institution, and in
looking over the interior. The ar
rangements were perfect, and the pa
tients all sufferers from those forms
of mental maladies in which DR.. I'm.
manuel was specialist He did not,
I was told, take any incurable cases:
At six O'Clock there came tap at
my door. I opened ito find the
Doctor standing outside, wearing a