The Washington times., 1918-10-03


their mercy, a poor victim OF the
Poison House. They, too, have
even invaded his house at Helm,
which had been free OF such in
trusion before Harold Borradale.
who vowed that he would destroy
the family secret. had become a
greater slave to it than was his
father. He even degraded himself
80 far as to attempt to drug his
wife-to drag her down to his own
level Why does he do this? Thai
Is a point which we have yet to
discover.
Now, a week ago. I said that
. Mrs. Borradale was in considerable
danger. / think that. for the pres
ent at least, the danger is averted,
for those who threatened her are
too much occupied IN providing for
their own safety. ] Go not believe
that they will escape. and with the
arrest of Valenski will come the
overthrow of the Borradale curse.
Whether We shall ever know the
deeper secrets of it / am not pre-
pared to say. but this l will swear;
the Borradale curse and Nalenski
make one. All the manifestations
that we have seen are due to Va
lenski. Who is responsible for
Harold's fall and degradation? Va
lenski and his infamous drugs.
Who is the inhabitant of the secret
rooms at Adderley? She-we con-
clude is a woman-is of the Va
lenskis. Who is at the back of
all the horrors that Adderley has
been witness? Valenski-I can
swear to il. Who owns the treas
ure which Zorska guards? Nalen-
ski. Who is responsible for the
carrying of OF the Meyer children
we know not for what reason?
Talenski. Who is responsible for
the carrying off of Basil Fleetwood
Valenski. Ask whatever question
you please In connection with what
we call the Borradale curse; the
answer is always the same: Va
lenski: Destroy Valenskis power
for i'll. and-you destroy the Borra-
dale Curse. That is the conclusion
Of all that ] have been saying.
THAT is to the capture OF Valen'
ski, therefore. that we must turn
all our energies. Everything else
will follow. ] am afraid, however.
that we are far more likely to de
stroy his agents, and that the arch
conspirator himself may escape our
clutches. In a few days hence I
hope to lay DR.. French by the heels
from him we may learn much.
Grimstead. too, who knows the
whole secret, is standing on the
thinnest of ice. The mystery shall,
be revealed-do not doubt it-but
Valenski-
He had risen from his seat and
was parading the room eNcitedly
He was interrupted by the sudden
entry of Dolman, who followed i'm
mediately after the maid who an
nounced him.
What is it?" asked Swan
You are wanted at once at the
hospital" was the hurried answer
"Probyn has recovered sufficiently
to make a statement"
Carefully shielded by screens
from the rest of the ward, Arthur
Probyn. former rector OF Helm,
lay upon his death bed. He was
dying. and he did not attempt to
conceal the fact from himself.
II was for Esther he had asked
when his consciousness returned to
him, and il was. therefore. TO Es-
ther that the police had sent. She
and Lillian had hastened to answer
Swan, the two ladies now found
themselves in the ward of the great
hospital.
An attendant led the little party
to the bed. which was screened off
from the rest OF the ward
As they reached il, two men. who
had been with the patient. emerged.
They were the coroner and a ply
sician, who had attended to take
the dying mans deposition. Seeing
Swan in the ward. they hurried on
to join him. and presently the three
men went out into the corridor.
Has he spoken" asked Swan.
Yes. We have taken all the evil
dence from him that we can expect
The poor fellow cannot say much.
II was Valenski who stabbed him.
They were having a row when the
warning OF the police raid was
brought to them. 1t appears that
for years Probyn had been indulg-
ing in the use Of some mysterious
drug Of which only Nalenski knows
the secret
''Valenski is in some sort or way
related to him. Probyn came down
in the world. and was practically
living upon NalenskTS charity But
he could not stand the doings at
the Poison House. and over and
over again he threatened to give
he show away. On the night of
the tragedy they were rowing
about the two children who had
been brought to WhitechspeI II
appears TO be true that Nalenski
proposed TO try some experiment
upon the two poor little creatures.
Some new poison or combination OF
Disons. He was always making
discoveries-so Probyn says He
wanted to find how much could be
ninistered in safety. and he could
only ascertain this with actual ex-
pertinent He has some sort OF
;;rudge against Mrs. WiIIoughby.
II nd chance threw the children in
is way just at the time when he
vas in search OF some one upon
whom to try the effect of his new
druR. He had already killed dogs
nd cats with IL. but that was not
"nough for him. He had drugge1
2 hem both-the children. Of course
that night. but only mildly as a
ort Of preliminary
'T thought So" interrupted Swan
That accounts for the hypodermic
~yringe which ! found by their bed
ide. Luckily. as you know. they
'yere not much the worse for Il,
: nd Mrs. Willoughby only attrib-
tied their sleep to chloroform,
'rhich was probably given 20 keep
lem quiet when they were moved
own TO the opium den"
We'll. Probyn was protesting
'1udly against this. lie threatened
go. away and report everything
- the police. Nalenski retorted
.Aat IL he did SO il would mean his