Liverpool Weekly Courier. — 1893-07-29 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

QUO 11.1,1410111 " Tastes a bit queer :' he muttered, glaring facetiously at Bell, who merrily sipped at her whisky and water, watching Black George keenly. " You hell-cat I You've changed the glasses !" and he jumped from his chair and tried to seize Kell, but almost immediately sank down again. The drug was doing its work so quickly that it is probable had Bell drank it the effect would have been fatal. "Busted—and by a woman!" he muttered, as his head sank on the table. " The murderous wretch I If the stuff he put in the glass intended for ate has so soon sent him off to Sleep, it might have killed me, and no one would have known who committed the crime. I must have that 'little bottle ; it might be useful some day," and she groped in the pocket from which she had 111)1111 hire take it. " Here it is ! Now, Mr. Algeruon Silwester, if you go beyond a timid woman's endurance, look out.' She had barely time to hide the phial in the bosom of her dress ere the step of the MR she had named was on the etair. " Black George here' and asleep I What does it mean l" and he looked suspiciously at Bell. "Taste the drop of stuff left in (het glass ; may be thje will tell you what you wish to know," sorted Bell, scornfully. " t's naety enough, but that is all I know about the stuff." " He intended that for me, but I managed to change the glasses while he was taking in a letter, which he opened and read, although it is fur you." " The deuce he did I And so youj turned the tables on the vagabond I'll teach him to play such tricke I" and opening the door wide, he dragged the miconscioue man to the landing, and [then delibetately rolled him down the staiia, his head thumping violently against the edges of the steps as he descended to the ,next landing. Mrs. Bickford, the landlady, came out of her room to see what the uproar meant, and as she could nit rouse Black George, she gent for a constable, acidly the course .Bilvereer intended should take place. When Bleak George woke up from his prolonged dumber he found himself in police cell, apd to his dismay a gold signet ring, molt of the proceeds of the burglary committed the preceding night, was found in one of his vest pockets. Asked to account for at, he preserved a dorged silence, and though no evidence beyond the possession of the ring could be brought against his to connect him with the burglary, he was sentenced to • year's imprisonment under the prevention of crimes act. " Black George will not trouble you again ' for one twelve mouths., Bell," remarked Silvester, when he returned from the police court. " Aren't you afraid he will tell the police all he knows I" asked Bell, wishing to propitiate him. "He daren't He would be a dead 'en before a month passed. Even in prison he wouldn't be side, for it's only the other day • chap who had been nosing for the police fell off a ladder in the yard at Belle Vue. He WI oft because a brick was dropped on hiut." And Bell shuddered as she listened, the cool, contemptuous way in which he referred to the deed of thieves' reveuge being Wended to still further frighten her. "You had better look the door when I am out. My companions have been accustomed I. look upon this room an a sort of liberty hell, and one of the others might take it into their silly heads to fall in love with you.,, "And this is the kind of miserable existence lam to lead l" she asked. "Let in. go home, for pity's mike I" "(in back home, eh I Think your collier , husband would welcome you with open arms, no doubt I Better not try it ; my pals would , pot a black mark against your name, and ru 181, than a week you would follow happy Liz," and Bell's cheeks paled and her blood , mu cold as she realised the full meaning of , the threat. it is impossible to describe the wretched-, , nests of Bell's esistence during that winter. ,Dlow that he had thrvwn oft the maak,Algetv  th".,l  I Private  to iumats  to rata. " It  *owl  WY I  growled..l,the  salhesag, A I