The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-20
CHAPTER I

ulIkSs IVuSll .k1ASI0llS St1AO INV ny
self, was the happy man, had my
own causes for excitement, and
sought the veranda for a solitary
smoke in sight of the ocean and a
full moon.
I was in condition of rapturous
delight. That afternoon little hand
had fingered in mine for just an in
slant, and small as the favor may
seem to those who do not know Dor
othy Camerden, to me, it was sign
that my long, if secret, devotion was
about to be rewarded and that at last
/ was free to cherish hopes.
I was reveling in these anticipa-
tions when a sudden shadow fell
across the broad band Of light issu-
ing from the library window and Sim
clair stepped out.
He. had the appearance of being
disturbed; very much disturbed, l
thought.
81 have something to say to you,"
he whispered "Come where We shall
run less risk of being disturbed"
t"'What's wrong?" asked. II never
saw you look like this before. Has
the old lady taken this last minute
to"
"Hushv' he prayed. "The little
room over the west porch is empty
just now. Follow me there"
sauntered in after him. thought
I understood his trouble. The pros
pective bride was young-a mere slip
of a girl, indeed-bright, beautiful
and proud, yet with odd little re-
straints in her manner and language.
The fault was not with her. But p
had for a guardian (alas my dear
girl had the same) an aunt VINO was
a gorgon. This aunt must have been
making herself disagreeable to the
prospective bridegroom.
But, once confronted with Sinclair
in the room above, perceived that
had better give my full attention to
what he had to say. For his eye was
clouded and his manner, when he
strove to speak, betrayed a nervous
ness l had considered foreign to his.
nature.
Walter" he faltered, something
has happened, something dreadful,
something unprecedented-yop may
think me a fool-God knows l would
be glad to be proved so, but this thing
has frightened me. l." He paused
and pulled himself together.
"Don't beat about the bush. Speak
up! What's the matter?"
He gave me an odd look full of
gloom, then coming closer, he whis-'
pered in my ear:
81 have lost a little vial of the
deadliest drug ever compounded; a
Venetian curiosity which I was fool
ish enough to take out and show the
ladies, because the little box which
holds it is such an exquisite example
of jewelers. work. There's death in it's
taste, almost in its smell; and it's
out of my hands and"
"Well III tell you how to fix that
up" put in. "Order the music stop
ped; call everybody into the draw
ing room and explain the dangerous
nature of this toy. After which, if
anything happens, it will not be your
fault, but that of the person who has
so thoughtlessly appropriated it,
"1mpossible! 1t would only aggra-
vate matters, or rather, would not
relieve my fears at all. The person
who took it knew it's nature very well
and that person.
"Oh, then you know who took ftv'
l broke in. -...
NO." he modify corrected. 81 do
not know who took it. That is, I do
not know the exact person. Only
Here ne made fresh beginning.
when l came here I brought with
me a case of rarities chosen from the
various collections. In looking over
them, | came across the little box
have just mentioned. 1t is made of
single amethyst and contains-or
SO was assure when I bought it-a
tiny flask of some very, very dead
ly poison. Conceiving that the sight
OF 1t would please the ladies', l car
RED it down into the library and, in
and evil hour called three or four OF
those about me to inspect it.
y was holding it out on the palm
OF my hand, when someone inquire d
to what use so small and yet so rich
receptacle could be put. Expect
ing no greater result than lifted eve
brows or flushed cheeks, I answered
by pressing little spring in the fill
lgree-work surrounding the gem. In
stantly the tiniest of lids flew back
revealing; a crystal flask Of such mi
mute proportions that the usual as.
tonlshment followed its disclosure.
:" You see,' / cried, 1T was made
to hold that! And l caused to shine
in their eye single rope Of yellow
liquid itEstll held. 'Poison'r impress.
lively: announced. This trinket may
have adorned TIC bosom Of a Borei;
or flashed from the arm of som.
great Venetian lady as she tlourishe d
her ran between her embittered hear
and the object of her wrath or zeal
ousy.
.s"At the utterance of the wor
poison a quickly suppressed cry es
capped from the lips Of someone be