Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1899-11-25 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XVIII. HOW TI!!' TRAIN WAS FIRED.  "We shall mitts the train." said Bertha, faintly, after a pause, during which she tried in vain to meet Herbert's stern, Cued gaze. "We shall nt'ss the train."  "What trait; did ;run intend tr, go by?" he inquired, in a voice the hariilnersof whicli euartrivell him.  "The eight-forty," answered. "Laet night you ?aid you were going by the ien-tive. Why did you make the aiteration the last moment! Why did you make the aliention" he repoated, aa made 110 reply. It it W:,B more--convenient—in many wares.- she etanunered, at last. " Wae it that you might avoid meeting me?" lie asked, ignoring her 'shallow explanation. "Why should I obkitt 10 meeting you?" 'he said, with a feeble attempt at defiance. " Where do you keep that brittie.*:'. he exclaimed, suddenly shifting the ground of ills attack.  ilertha turned, if possible, still paler than before, but madeno audible answer. "Where do you keep that bottle!" he said again,. .  What do you mean? Which bottle? Where do I keep what?" the asked, struggling like a trapped creative in the ertel jaws of a gin. That bottle which you found amongst your husband's chemicals. Where is it!" " How did you know—what do you mean! I do na understand you."  " You do not understand me!" he flamed out. "I mean that you have in your possession a bottle containing strychnine; that you took it from your husband's room in order that it might not be traced to you; and that for the past ten years you have been adding gradually increasing coses of the poißan to Gladys s medicine. ' . . . . .  It is not -true!" she cried; but be could see that ehe was shaking in every limb. _ .  " It is true!" he retorted. Last night I took home a portion of her draught and analysed IL" Suddenly, to his surprise, she abandoned all further defence and fel forward on the ground at his feet, crying to him to be merc:fol and spare her.  .- - " Mercy:" he raid. ecornfully. "You, the w01414-be murderess, dare to ask for that It is not for your sake. be azaured, that I hold my hand. Fetch me that bottle! If in five minutes you are not back with it. I ehall go to the nearest pohee etation." " I cannot," phe cried. piteouely: "I cannot. It ie peeked at the bottom of my box." "A h! he exclaimed. in fierce anger. "Then you were going to take it with you. To finish your abominable task unnofeed. unim.perted. Well, I will give you ten, but not one trinute mol.e. If you are not here by then, I leave the home instantly." . .  He usiluckeit the door as he spoke, looking et his watch while ehe plunk past him into the ball without. As in a dream, he pet watobMg the second hand of his watch go ticking round the little dial. One minute—two—three! Had he done tight, he wondered. Was it safe to trust to her tzrror of death Four—five—Fix! How long she was! Had she, perhaps, taken reinge in suicide? It might be better if she had. But no. that was not likely. Seren—eight—nine! . .  Still the little black hand moved on, itit'd Herbert rose and took is bat when it ncared the ending of the tenth minute. Even as he did so Bertha entered the room, and placed on the table betore him a small blue bottle, with an c...ratEge label, stampod large with the woid—  t.pz