Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1923-01-05
CHAPTER X

Thankful that it was |, rather than
Sinclair, who was called upon to meet
and sustain this shock, answered
with calmness | could:
eyes: Sinclair mentioned the mat
ter to me. Indeed, if you have any
curiosity on the subject, / think |
can enlighten you as fully as ne can.
Mr.. Armstrong drew me into his
private room. -.
81 find myself in very uncomtort-
able position" he began. "A strange
and quite unaccountable change has
shown itself in the appearance OF Mrs.
Lansing's body during the last few
hours; a change which battles the ply
sicians and raises in their minds very
unfortunate conjectures. What l
want to know is whether Mr.. Sim
clair still has in his possession the
box which is said to hold vial OF
deadly poison, or whether it has pass
ed into any other hand since he snow.
ed it to certain ladies in the library.
In Sinclair's interests, II not IN my
own, | resolved to be as true to our
host as our position demanded, yet, at
the same time, to save Gilbertine as
much as possible from premature II
not final suspicion.
| therefore replied: "That is
question ! can answer as well as SIN
clair. While he was showing this toy,
Mrs. Armstrong came into the room
and proposed stroll, which drew all
of the ladies from room and called
for his attendance as we'll. With no
thought of the danger involved, he
placed the trinket on high shelf IN
the cabinet, and went out with the
rest. When he came back for it, 1t
was gone"
The usually ruddy aspect OF my
hosts face deepened.
"This is dreadful" was his comment
"entailing I do not know what unfor-
tunate consequences upon TINS mouse
hold and on the unhappy girl
Girl / repeated.
He turned upon me with great gray
ity. "Mr. Worthington, l am sorry to
have to admit it, but something
strange, something not easily explain
able, took place in this house last
night. You know there is a detective
in the house. The presents are yalu-
able and thought best to have a man
here to look after them"
| nodded.
"That man tells me-" continued Mr..
Armstrong, chat just a few minutes
previous to the time the whole house.
hold was aroused last night, he heard
n step in the hall overhead, then the
sound of light foot descending the
little staircase in the servants nan.
He lowered the gas, closed his door ana
listened. The steps went by the door
again and looked out. A young glrl
was standing not very Tar from nm
in thin streak of moonlight. Sne
was gazing intently at something in
her hand, and that something had
nurple CLEAN to it. He is ready to
swear to this. Next moment, fright
ened by some noise she heard, she
fed back and vanished again IN the
region of the little staircase. 1t was
soon, very soon after this that the
shrek came Now, Mr.. Worthington,
what am to do with this knowledge:
I can not think that Miss Camerden-
The ejaculation which escaped me
was involuntary. a.,
"Did he say it was Miss Camerden?
hurriedly inquired. How should
he know Miss Camerden?"
"He described her." was the reply
Besides, we know that she was CIR
culating in the halls at that time.
declare have never known worse
business. Let me send for Sinclair; ne
is more interested than any one else IN
Gilbertine's relatives or stay, what
if | should send for Miss Camerden
herself? She should be able to tell
how she came by this box
| thought Sinclair would like me 10
answer. -.
at is serious ard very perplex-
ing piece of business" said l; ou't
if YOU will wait short time do not
think you will have to trouble MISS
Camerden. | am sure that eXplaha-
tons will be given. Give the iao!
chance" | stammered.
"She did not come down this MORN
ing"
"Naturally not" H.,
"If could take counsel oil my Wiz
But she is of too nervous temper@-
inent. Do you think can look Tor
Miss Camerden to explain herself oe-
fore the doctors return, or pelore MIs'
Lansine's physician, for whom nave
telegraphed, can arrive from Ne"
York;" :r ,o+
pass before you hear the truth Leaye
me TO work out the situation. Only
keep the gossips from MISS Gamer
"Everv one probably knows by this
time that there is some doubt felt as
70 tbe cause of Mrs. Lansing's death
You can not keep a suspicion OF TINS
nature secret in house so full Oh peo-
pie as this" .ho div
Should l find MISS Lane
there? Yes, and the place beside het
was unoccupied.
| was on my way to thatplace wheu
was struck by The extreme quiet llto
which the room had fallen. IN the
hurried glance | cast about. the board
NOT look met mine in fecognitioh
" what did It mean? Had they been
a,L;ng ahout me? Possibly and in