The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-29
Chanter VIII

AVN So"~AN
servatory, then heavily demanded:
a"Why were you out Of your room!
Why did they have to look for you!
And who was the person who uttered
the scream"
She confronted him sadly.
"I was not in the room because l
was troubled by my discovery. l
think had some idea of returning
the box to. the shelf from which l
had taken it. At all events, found
myself on the little staircase in the
rear when that cry rang through the
house. l do not know who uttered it;
1 only know that it did not spring
from my lips"
"It was your auntv' he whispered.
"It was she who took the vial out of
the box; woh put it to her own lips;
who .shrieked when she felt her vitals
grippN. Had you stayed you would
have known this. Can't you say so?
Don't you think so? Why do you
look at me with those incredulous
eyes?"
because you must not believe
lie. Because you are too good a man
to be sacrificed. It was a younger
throat than my aunt's which gave ut
terance to that shrek. Mr.. Sinclair,
be advised; do not be married tomor-
row!"
Meanwhile l was pacing the hall
without in a delirium of suspense.
Suddenly I heard a hoarse cry break
from within and saw the door fly
open, and Dorothy come hurrying
out. She s!rank when she saw me
and soon was up the stairs and out
of sight. l rushed into the library.
l found Sinclair sitting before a
table with his head buried in his
hands. In an instant l knew that
our positions were again reversed. l
dared and laid my hand on his
shoulder.
He shuddered but did not look up,
and it was minutes before he spoke.
Then it all came n rush.
r,,"Fool! fool that I was! And I saw
that she was consumed by fright the
moment it became plain that l was
intent upon having some conversa-
ton; with Dorothy. Her fingers
where they gripped my arm have left
marks behind them. But l saw only
womanly nervousness where a man
less blind would have detected guilt
Walter, I,wish that the mere scent of
this empty flask would kill. Then l
should not have to reenter that con-
servatory door-or look again in her
face, or"
Il asked with all the calmness pos
siblc: ,
"What is all this mystery? Why
have your suspicious returned to
Gilhertine?"
dorothy had the empty box; but
the vial! the vial that had been
taken by a previous hand. Do you
remember the white silk train which
Mr.. Armstrong saw slipping from
this room? can not talk, Walter;
my duty leads me there"
He pointed toward the conserva-
tory. l sank into a chair. He ad-
vanced to the conservatory door.
But in another instant l was on
my feet. I could hear him rushing
about among the palms. Presently
heard his voice shout out the wild
cry.
''She is gone! I forgot there was
another door communicating with
the hail.
~ entered where he stood gazing
down at an empty seat. Never shall
I forget his face. To him this flight
bore but one interpretation-guilt.
I found my way to my own room
alone. / fell asleep very soon after
and did not wake till reused by a
knock at my door. On opening it
confronted Sinclair, looking haggard
and unkempt. AS he entered the first
clear notes of the breakfast bell
could be heard rising up from the
lower hall.
II have not slept" he said, 81 have
been walking the hall all night, list
ening by spells at her door. God for.
give me, but I have said nothing tt
any one of what has made this affair
an awful tragedy to me! Do yot
think I did wrong? waited to give
Dorothy chance. Why should no
show the same consideration to Gil
bertinc?'
o&"You should"
II shall not go to breakfast" HI
now declared. "I have written thi
line to G;lbertine. Will you sec tina
she gets it?
Be sure, when you give it to her
that she will have an opportunity o:
reading it alone. I shall request thu
; use of one of the little reception
rooms this morning. Let her come
there if she is so impelled. She will
find a friend as we'll as a judge"
l endeavored tn express sympathy
- patience and suggest hope. Blu
he had no ear for words.
found the lower hall alive will
eager guests and few outsiders
News of the sad event was slowl.
making its way through the avenue
and some Of the Armstrong; neares
neighbors had left their breakfas
tables to hear the particulars. MI
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