Evening star., 1935-05-05

he Qlo not Orlnk curing the week, ana MS
Saturday experience was at once an adventure
and habit. One small glass of whisky reduced
him to taciturnity. Twelve glasses of whisky.
or one bottle. made hinn limp. silent sack of
humanity. incapable Of speech or movement
but, quite remarkably, not a senseless
creature.
When the kitchen clock would wheeze
twelve O'Clock, Mile would fold her ironing
board and turn up the irons on the stove to
cool. Then she would 60 into the living room
and take away the glass and empty bottle.
50 that the daily help should not see them in
the morning. She extnguished the gas fire.
then attended to Henry.
About fortnight after her first visit to
Doctor Crupiner - the doctor. at Henrys
suggestion. had increased her dose of Tenders
pills from three to five day she went
through her Saturday night ritual as usual.
At the outset of his present project. Henry
Brownrigg had thought of foregoing it until
his plan was completed, but he realized the
absolute necessity of adhering rigidly to his
normal course of life. % that there could be
no hook, however small, on which the garment
of suspicion could catch and take hold.
On this particular evening, Millie quite
exhausted herself gettingh him upstairs and in
to bed. She was 20 tired when it was all over
that she forgot to takesthe pills that Henry
had left on the dressing, table for her.
In the morning. Henry found them still in
the little box. He listened to her startled
explanations in silence and then. as she added
apology to apology. became himself again.
Dear Millie." he said, in the old exas-
perated tone che knew % well. isn't it enough
for me to do all l can to get you we'll without
you hampezing me at every twnl"
Mile bent low over the stove and. as if he
felt she might be hiding sudden tears his
manner became more oonciliatory.
Don't you like them3" he inquired, softly.
Don't you like the taste of them1 Perhaps
they're too big1 Look here. old dear. III put
them up in an easier form. You shall have
them in jelly cases. Leave it to me. There.
there, don't worry. But you must take your
medicine, you know"
He patted her plump shoulder awkwardly
and hurried upstairs to dress. Millie became
thoughtful. Henry was clearly very worried
about her indeed, or he would never be 90
nice about her silly mistake.
There was work to do this afternoon. Mr..
Brownrigg went round the house carefully
and made sure that all the doors were locked.
The shop shutters were up. too. and he knew
that they permitted no light from within to
escape.
He removed his jacket and donned his
working overall. switched on the lights, locked
the door between the shop and the living room
and Get to work. Millie had gone over to her
mothers. and his assistant in the shop, young
Perry, was away. 90 he was all alone:
He knew exactly what he had to do. Millie
had been taking five Tenders pills regularly
now Tor eight days. Each pill contained n gr.
Nativelle's Digitalin, and the stuff was cumu-
lative. No wonder she was complaining of
biliousness and headaches. Millie was hope
less fool. He took out the bottle of Tinctwae
Digitalin, and looked at it. He wished he had
risked it and bought the Quevenne's, or the
freshly powdered leaves. He wouldn't have
had all his trouble now. Still, he hadn't taken
the chance, and on second thought he was
glad. As it was. the wholesalers couldn't pos
sibly notice anything unusual in his order.
There could be no inquiry; it meant he need
never worry afterwards.
Continued on page IS)