Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-12-26
TIE
SKYLINE
SPRUCE
h MARSHALL
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GpQQ-liule. ppuun & Company

Matters reached a crisis between
Fenris and himself one still, warm
night in late July.
go ahead if you like" Ben told
him. God knows it's your destiny"
The wolf seemed to understand
| With a glad Dark he sped away and
| almost instantly vanished into the
gloom.
But Ferris had not broken all ties
with the cave. The chain was too
strong for that. Fenris had Joined
his fellows, to be sure; but he still
kept watch over the ave
CHAPTER XIV
The Poison Plot
Beatrice had kept only an APP
proximate track of the days; Yet she
knew that an attempt to rescue her
must be almost at hand.
The wolf had gone now to join his
fellows. She was not aware OF his
almost nightly return. Perhaps h
fact of his absence gave her an op.
portunity to save her father from
Ben's ambush.
The thought was with her, and
she was desperate IN long, warm
afternoon as she searched for roots
and berries in the forest. And all at
once her hand reached toward a lit
tie yine of black berries. each with a
green tuft at the end.
As il by instinct, hardly aware OF
the motion, she withdrew her hand.
She knew this vine. 1t was the
deadly nightshade and a handful OF
the berries spelt death. She started
to lock elsewhere.
But presently she paused, arrested
BY an idea so e~ngrossing and yet so
terrible that her heart seemed 10
pause In her breast.
Her fathers life was in imminent
danger. Another day might find him
stretched l~ifeless before her. Ben
pom in his power; she should not
hesitate now.
Eagerly her fingers plucked the
black berries.
In one of the tin cups Beatrice
pressed the juice from the night
shade, obtaining perhaps q table
spoonful of black liquor. To this
she added considerable sugar.
Then she concealed the cup in a
cluster of vines, ready for the mo-
ment of need,
Then she hesitated up the ridge to
meet Ben on his way to the cave
She waited a few minutes, then
spying his stalwart form at the
edge of the beaver meadow, she
tripped down to meet him,
She walked to the door Of the
cave, procuring a handful OF dried
red -root leaves that she used for tea.
Through the cavern opening he saw
her drop them into the bucket that
served as their teapot.
Then she came back for the oiled,
cloth bag that contained the last of
their sugar. He began to eat his
All that he had told her concern
ing kis war with her father REQUIRED
to her in one vivid fash. Could it
have been that he had told the truth
her father and his followers
hao been the attackers in the kegin-
ming?
But even as these thoughts came
TO her, she had walked boldly to the
fire and emptied the contents OF the
cup into the boiling water in the tea
pot.
Then she took the pot off the fire
and poured the hot contents into the
cup that had just held the potion.
She brought it steaming to Ben's
side. H al
ITS pretty strong, I'm afraid"
she told him. The leaves weren't
very good, and l boiled them too
long. I'm afraid you'll find it bit
IN drink it, if it's bitter as gall"
he assured her.
His hand reached and seized the
Of the cup,
Then she seemed to writhe as IN B.
Her voice rose In a
piercing scream. "Ben-Ben don't
drink it," she cried. God have
mercy on my soul!''
She reached and knocked the cup
from his hand; and its black on
tents, like dark blood, stained the
fioer OF the eavern.
Never mind. Beatrice" the naaa
was saying, his deep, rough ve.cs
gentle as a woman's. Don't cry
just forget all about 1t, Let's go
over to your hammock and rest
awhile"
But you don't understand-you
don't know-what 1 tried to do"
His rugged face lighted as he
smiled, kindly and telerantly. But
her solemn voice arrested him.
wait Ben. I want you to know
you won't trust me again. The