Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-04
CHAPTER VIII

"Whv we're 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.
'Twas not in the room because was
troubled by my discovery. l THINK L
had some idea of returning the box TO
the shelf from which l had taken 1t.
At all events, | found myself on
the little staircase in the rear when
that cry rang through the house. !
do not know who uttered it; | only
know that it did not spring from my
lips?" 49,, =, ,r,;snorod
at was she who took the vial out oil
the box: who put it to her own lips;
who shrieked when she felt her vitals
gripped. Had you stayed you would
have known this. Can't you say so !.
Don't YOU think so? Why do you look
Of me with those incredulous eyes!
Because you must not believe he'
Because you are too good man TO De
| sacrificed. 1t was younger throat
than my aunt's which gave utterancc
10 that shrek. Mr.. Sinclair, be advis-
ed; do not be married tomorrow; =,
Meanwhile ] was pacing the hall
without in delirium of suspense. Sud
! denly heard hoarse cry break from
within and saw the door fly open ana
Dorothy come hurrying out. ohe
shrank when she saw me and soon was
up the stairs and out of sight l
rushed into the library.
found Sinclair sitting before a
table with his head buried in his
hands. In an instant, | knew that our
/ nositions were again reversed. | oar
ed and laid my hand on his shoulder
He shuddered but did not look up,
and f was minutes before he spoke.
Then it all came in rush;
Cool, fool that ! was. And / sa"
that she was consumed by fright the
moment it became plain that was IN
tent upo nhaving some conversation
with Dorothy. Her fingers where they
gripped my arm must have left marks
behind them. But | saw only woman
lv nervousness where a man less bind
would have detected guilt. Walter, !
wish that the mere scene of this emp
tv flask would kill. Then | should not
have to reenter that conservatory door
or look again in her face, Or
asked with all the calmness posi-
BILE: Is W.,
have your suspicious returned to Gill
bertine?" -.
dorothy had the empty box; but
the vial! the vial!-that had been tax
en- by a previous hand, Do you re- :,
member the white silk train when
Mr.. Armstrong saw slipping from TINS
room? l can not talk, Walter; my
duty leads me there
He pointed toward the conservatory
| sank into a chair. He advanced TO
the conservatory door.
But in another instant ! was on my
feet. could hear him rushing about
among the palms. Presently ! heard
his voice shout out the wild cry;
"She is gone! l forgot there was
another door communicating with the
hall"
entered where he stood gazing
down at an empty seat. Never shall
7 forfeit his face. To him this flight
bore but one interpretation-gullt'
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 1t
confronted Sinclair, looking haggard
and unkept. AS he entered the frst
clear notes of the breakfast bell cou!a
be heard rising up from the lower
hall. r
81 have not slept" he said. 81 have
been walking the hall all night listen
ing bv spells at her door. God Tor
Give me, but | have said nothing to
any enc OF what has made this aiialI
an awful tragedy to me DO you
think I did wrong? waited to give
| Dorothy a chance. Why should not
shorY the same consideration to GiIber-
tine?"
"You should" -,
~ shall not 90 to breakfast" he now
declared. 81 have written this line 70
Gi!bertine. Will you see that she geVS
it? 10.
Be sure, when you give it t? her,
that she will have an opportunity OF
reading it alone. I shall request the
use of one Of the little reception
rooms this morning. Let her come
there if she is so impelled. she VIII
find a friend as we'll as Judge"
| endeavored to express sympaTny'
urge patience and suggest hope but
he had no ear for words. 80,
I found the lower hall alive WIN
eager guests and a few, outsiders
News Of sad event was slowly max,
ing its way through the avenue and
some of the Armstrong; nearest
neighbors had left their breaktas'
tables to hear the particulars Mr'
Armstrong was nowhere in slgnt'
For him the breakfast waited: | re-
NAMED near the staircase waiting loI
some one to descend who could give me
news concerning Miss Murray. But
little Miss Lane would be sure to aP-
near. she would listen TO my cues
tons and give me the answer l need
ed for the carrying out Of Sinclair :,
wishes. But before her light toot-fali
was heard, three men came down: one
after the other, followed BY MISS Arm
strong. Two of them were the pnys.-
clans who had been called in the night
H@A