The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-05
CHAPTER NuI,

I had had anything to do with the fall of the picture, though: was too all that it was I myself who had arr ranged for Gene to sit there; and even that didn't bring the slightest inkling of the truth to their under standingt
 The police mustn't come. not at least until Gene and one or two more had been removed. I had only that night in which to stop. Richard and Ing with my plans, and I hopAd that they would fajn downstairs and break their necks in the morning before they could Qeave the house. That mind and got my lovely, bright new saw and crept past the room where they were talking and sawed through the top step of the stairs that's why no one ever knew. I gath cred up every speck of sawdust and took it to my room; and the next morning burned it in the tray of the parrots cage, which I had removed ostensibly for Jane to clean, and hid the ashes in Genes grate.
 That wicked Ctssie was the means of nearly bringing my secret to fight; and for that I determined that she should be the next to go. She tried to run away, and when I stopped her at the very door she sneered at my love for Rannie. I would have killed neT LUSIl, l ohly lilS youilG AAAAAA from headquarters was in the draw ing room, and I remembered in time that I must not use strength My seeming weakness was the most per feet evidence in my defense as long as could keep people from knowing how strong I really was"
 Mrs .Gaers words returned to Odell again, and with them a complete un- tlerstanding of her attitude. No won der that in view of her own former detention she dared not speak and proclaim the lunacy of this woman, who with the cunning of madness mad rest of the world even while realizing and glorying in it.
 Fife Meade had been swaying to and fro in an ecstacy of triumphant glee; but all at once she stopped and glanced at the fragments of the cup upon the floor.
 "That too would have worked my will" she muttered. "When Cissie went into the drawing room to talk to that young upstart from the DO lice who was trying to discover my secret I listened and heard her de fame my darling, my Rannie. That minute decided her fate, but was forced to dissemble. I did not want her to die as Julian had; I wanted her to suffer, to fade before my eyes as her mother had; that mother whom She was so like.
 1T delved through Rannfe's books once more and found out about the white powder and how easily it could be obtained. told the clerk In the drug store that I wanted it to kill rats; and 50 did! The rats who stood between my boy and the wealth which I meant should be all his.
 "I began to give the arsenic to her the very next day, but it was not un- til Saturday that she showed the first effects, and when she complained l re1oiced- ,u young police officer: not that ne dreamed mine was the hand, but he had probed into my sisters death and her son'c, and discovered the severed pictutre-cables and the sawn stairs. This morning he took from Peters the broth intended for CiSsie and spilled it; and when latter the doctor put me out of her room and took my place, knew they were aware Of her real condition; and if did not want to fail as had in Genes case l must work quickly.
 'I saved out enough arsenic for a death dose: and mixing the rest in a paste I spread it near a rat-hole m the wainScoting of fathers room, where its presence could readily be accounted for if it were found. The powder I had saved I put in a fresh portion of broth intending to give 1t to Cissie at the first opportunity, put was too careful to bring it up to her myself; T arranged for Peters to do that, so that in the end he would at least be equally under suspicion with the cook; for why should @ any 1,1d one desire the death of my lovely niece!
 .'The opportunity came just now and as soon as the doctor left me alone with her I rang for Peters to bring LID the broth.'' Suddenly the woman's figure stiffened, and she pointed a shaking finger at OdeH ''But for you, Cissie would now have gone the way I paved for her; pus and told me that you had taken the brotf from him once more and said that you wanted it for Rannle, and m atructed him to bring up more foi have killed him for whom I had planued it all!
 T saved him, though Cissie and tht others still live. Rannie, Rann1e, may rob you of a portion of th' wealth which should be yours, yoi will still be richer than an;' and nave made you sol"
 .sDon't speak to me, you deVil!' Loathing beyond the power of word filled his saking voice. "If you wer not mad I could kill you sit there Murderess. You have done me greater injury than when i"as child!"
 .- It was for you! They hated yor all of them. They laughed at you infirnity; but I would have glVe the power to oNCA eihS't every one!" eFIr tones rose ono again to a s1riek. Fannie, l loV you love-
 The shriek ended suddenly in a rat ting gurgle; and she clutched at ne breast as the distortion of mania lei her face and a. look of wonder she with pain took it's place. A glow a of returning sanity suffused the star ing eyes for a feetfng moment; the they dulled, and her head droppe forward on her breast.
 ' Odell was by her side in an iT stant: but pr. Adams was before him and the detective retreated a step g the physician felt the woman's linn wris. and pressed his head again: her heart.
 .'She is dead" he announced. >'"Ths final paroxysm was too much for he already overstrained heart. and
 failed. It was a mercifu1 end"
 "It was the germ of insanity bor in her, the heritage from her father
 pr. Adams turned to Blake an
 Shaw Help me lift her to the bed
 "Still cannot understand, sergean
 how you first discovered the truth
 Richard Thorne, Samuel Titherede
 and the detective were seated in h