Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-02
CHAPTER VI

measure again. | stared at the gllm-
mering amethyst, 1 stared at the emp
ty vial and, as full realization OF all
his words implied seized my benumb-
ed faculties.
| felt the icy chill of some grisly
horror moving among the roots OF my
hair. lifting it on my forehead and fill
ing nv whole being with shrinking
and dismay.
Sinclair, with quick movement, re-
placed the tiny flask in its old receipt
acle. and then thrusting the whole out
of sight. seized my hand and wrung IT..
81 am your FRIEND" he whispered.
aRemember. under all circumstances
and in every eXigency, your 1rienu.
"What are you going to 90 WIN
those?" | demanded when regaineo
control of my speech.
al do not know" ~,
What are you going to DO with
with Dorothy? ,o,o
"The physicians will soon be. here
II heard the telephone few minutes
ago. When they have pronounced the
old woman dead we will give the-
the lady you mention an opportunity
to explain herself"
| Unconsciously l shook my head.
at is the least we can dc" ne gent
" persisted. "Come, we must not De
, seen with our heads together-not yet.
/. am sorry that we two were 1ouha
more or less dressed at the time OF
tbc alarm. It may cause comment.
"She was dressed, too" l murmureo'
as much to myself as to him.
Unfortunately, yes" was the NUT :,
TERED reply, with which he drew on ana
FASTENED into the hall, where the new
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT household stood IN
. Great group about the excited most
] ess. 49, ,or,or
FOR an emergency. With streaming
hair and tightly-clutched kimono, she
was gesticulating wildly and bemoan-
inc the break in the festivities wnich
this event must necessarily causc'
Drawing up to the outside OF the Cif-
ole. i asked Beaton if he knew no"
Miss Camerden was, :,
"Retter, hear. Poor girl, 1t was d
great shock to her -
ventured nothing more. Inc con-
ventionality of his tone was not TO De
mistaken. Our conversation on tne
yeranda was to be ignored. l did not
know whether to feel relief at TINS OF
an added distress. slid away to my
room happy to escape the murmurs
and snatches of talk rising on every
edo One hitter speech, uttered by
do not know whom, rang in my ears,
1t was this: ooo
"Poor woman! she was angry once
FOO often. | heard her scolding Dor
othv again after she went to her
room. That is why Dorothy is SO
overcome. She says 1t was the VIZ,
lence of her aunt's rage which killed
ber.-a rage of which she untortuna'-
~ was the cause" oo,,
So there were words again between
these two after the door closed upon
them for the night! Was this what we
heard lust before that scream went
nno It would seem so. Thereupon,.
quite against my will, | found myse!i
thinking of Dorothy's changed posi-
ton before the world. Only, yester-
day a dependent slave; today, tne
owner of millions. Gilbertine would
have her share. large one, but there
was enough to make them both
wealthy. H.. .h;s,
oh, anything was better than this
Dashing from my room joined one OF
the groups. The house had oeen llsh',
ed from end to end. All were engaged
in discussing the one great Topic. l
waited for the front door bell to ring
Il sounded while one woman was say
ing to another: ak1o 70
take their honeymoon on their own
yacht" could
made my way to where couio
watch Sinclair while the physicians
were in the room. | thought his lace
looked very noble. A tower oI
strength he was to me that hour. L
knew that mercy and mercy only
would influence his conduct. He would
he guilty of no rash or inconsideratc
act He would give this young girl
chance. L5
Therefore when the physicians had
pronounced lUt CeioN OhN
"a condition not natural under the
circumstances and the excitement
which had held together the various
GROUPS of uneasy guests had begun 10
subside. it was with perfect confidence
| saw him approach and address uii-
bertine. She was standing fully dress
ed at the starheaG, where she nad
stopped to hold some conversation
with the retiring physicians; and the
look she gave him in return ana Ine
wav she moved off in obedience to MS
command or suggestion assured me
that ne was laying plars for an inter-
view with Dorothy. Consequently, J
was unite ready to obey him when ne
finally stepped up to me and said;
Go below, and if you find the lib-
rary empty. as have no doubt you
will light one gas-jet and see that ire
door to the conservatory is unlocked
I REQUIRE a place in which 10 make
Gilhertine comfortable while l nave
some words with her cousin; -,
"But how can you reach her; 9le
is shut up in her own room. under the
care, I am told, of Mrs. Armstrong
,.o;J - 49,