Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-03-20

he assemblies all the members of the
lawyer in tho room, of Ranfse Meade.
Lornc's s,erson and cripple. and he
Joining room. whom. he suspects. be-
iicrc Runnie Is to BE- poisoned.
Concluded From Last Sunday
Then the others began To be afraid
and knew and felt my power. II
was Sweet to me after the yeart
when had been merely tolerated
7 used TO look around the table some
times and try to choose which SHOULD
be next: for they must all go now,
and quickly. Every bit of food they
put into their mouths meant so much
money out of Rannfc's pocket-moncy
which would help him 10 forget the
Injury had done him!
II had read scmcwhcrc or mir
ror falling and killing some one;
and l thought Of that heavy portrait
over the desk in the library and how
I could coax Gene To sit mnlar 1t; for
he would have been OF age in another
month, and i decided that he must
never get his hands on his property
or 1t would be gone In II year.
II was strong: nobody knew how
strong ! was
Nobody knows how strong I am
\ raucous echo burst upon their cars.
and for moment the Mortified. fasci-
mated gaze OF the others turned from
the crazcd woman to the huge cage In
the corner. where Socrates danced
excitedly upon his perch and faith
fully repeated the message. which he
had ut some past moment OF Gloatins
triumph learned from her lips.
~ was strong, out / couldn't break
that cable which held up the picture
until one day / overheard couple
OF workmen next TO INC in crowded
and what II would do. | went 20 an
electric supply shop and Saw those
files; and one OF them went away with
me under my cape. although l had
asked for and purchased only a
toaster. I though I might need Il
dig saw. too; and that l got nj a Ina rd-
ware store over In Brooklyn. DO
you see how clever | am? No one
could ever know.
Il hid the tools up In fathers room
until | got Genes promise TO go
through the letters of coincidence and
persuaded him to use that desk tina.
evening. Thon In the afternoon when
every one. was out. / slipped down.
locked myself In the library. and fled
through the strands Of tina; cable so
taat they could not hold more than
q few hours at most. After that |
did the clevercst thing Of all. | tel
ephoned to tho first carpenters shop
whose number could find in the
book for them to send some one early
on the following morning TO rehanG
that picture. before any Of The rest
OF tie family were up. didn't war,
them to notice those fled cablc-ends.
and they wouldn't have II only that
meddlcsomc old lawyer there hadn't
suggested calling In the police
MDlDN'T want that. not Just yet
with only two gone; for Gene cs-
capped by Il miracle. Nobodys thought
had had anything 10 do with tho
fall OF that picture, though: l was too
clever for them. ] reminded them
ranged FOR Gene to sit there; and
even that didn't bring the slightest
linking OF the truth to their under
standing!
The police mustn't come. not at
least until Gene and one or two moro
had been removed. had only that
nighr In which to stop Richard aud
this idiot Tithcredge from interfering
with my plans, and hoped that they
would fall downstairs and break their
necks in the morning before they
n 4. -;..t.
brought a new inspiration to my
mind. and ] got my lovely, bright
new saw and crept past the room
where they were talking and sawed
through the top OF the stairs.
Il never forgot single detail;
that's viii" no one ever knew.
gathered up every speck OF sawdust
aud took II TO my room: and the next
morning burned II in the tray OF
moved ostcmsibiy for Jane to clean,
and mid the ashes in Genes CRATE.
THAT wicked Cissic was the means
OF nearly bringing my secret TO
light; and for that determined that
She should be the next to go. She
tried 10 run away, and when
stopped her at the very door she
sneered at my love for Rannie.
would have killed her then. think,
only the young man from hcaduuar-
ters was in the drawing room. and
remembered in time that ! must not
use strength. Ny seeming weakness
was the most perfect evidence in my
defense as long as could keep peo-
PIE from knowing how strong l really
was"
Mrs. Gacrs words returned 10
Odell again. and with them com
plete understanding OF her attitude.
No wonder that in view OF her own
former detention she dared not speak
and proclaim the lunacy of this wo-
man, who, with the cunning of mad
ness. had concealed her condition
from an the rest of the world even
while realizing and Glorying in il.
Ellie Meade had been swaying TO
and fro in an ecstasy of triumphant
glee; but all at once she stopped and
glanced at the fragments of the cup
upon the floor.
'"rhat. too, would have worked my
WILL she muttcred. When Cissie
went into the drawing room to talk