THE DETECTIVE AND THE POISONER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 166, 16 July 1898, Page 6

THE DETECTIVE AND THE POISONER.

BY ST. GEORGE RATHBQRNE.

Author of " Doctor Jack," " Captain

Tom," etc.

CHAPTER VIII. WHAT JOE SAW.

It is Westerly himself!

Acting under the instinct that selfpreservation is the first law of nature, I have drawn back the heavy cane, and stand ready to defend myself against assault; but the words that greet my ears disarm me. \Joe!' I exclaim.'

'Good, heavens! is it you, doctor?' His arm falls to his side —he bends forward as if hardly able to believe the evidence of his ears. 'How came you here?' he asks, hoarsely. 1 tell him that his case so excited me or the cigar he gave me to smoke, I knew not which, that 1 could not Bleep, and strolled forth to get a little more exercise, when perhaps 1 Blight be able to lose myself. 'How long have joxi been out? he asks again. J tell him half an hour and more.

'Doctor, did you see them?' Ah! then, he knows all—l shall not Jiave the unpleasant task of telling him his wife has been clandestinely meeting some one. 1 answer in the affirmative, and then immediately question Joe as to what brings him out again. His story is .briefly told. 'When I left you, doctor, I went to jny room, which is at the other end of the house, a corner like your own. Adjoining it is my wife's room, for •we have carried the continental custom over with us. Still further beyond lies the apartment of Miss Morrison. '1 too was unable to sleep, and-1 sat at the window endeavouring to shade tHe chaotic features of my thoughts into something like order. 'I do not know how long I sat there, but I suddenly heard a door close, not roughly, but in a careful manner. My mind instantly leaped to that rascal with whom I had had the encounter, and I reached out for my revolver, which I had placed on the deep sill of the window. 'In so doing my eyes were turned outside. To vay intense amazement I saw a woman's form gliding down tho walk, having just left the verandah. She was cloaked and veiled, but I believe I would know Muriel among a thousand. Imagine my horror and despair, doctor! 'Then it flashed upon my brain that perhaps another attack of the dreadful malady had come upon hei% and that she was going to end her woes in 'the sea.

'This electrified me, and I determined to follow at once, to save her from the consequences of such a mad act. '1 had the good sense to thrust my revolver in my pocket, though why I did this I cannot now say—it, was mere habit, I presume. Then gently opening my door, I crossed the piazza, leaped lightly to the" ground, and followed.'

'Stop a moment, Joe. The thought never occurred to you to enter your wife's room and see whether she were absent?' I interrupt. .

'Certainly not, because I- was as sure I recognized her figure and walk as that I kn&w whom I am addressing DOW.'

Troceed,' I say, calmly, but at the same time make a note of Joe's neglect.

'At.first I intended overtaking her, but my ideas changed. I would see what she meant to do. So I followed at a little distance.

■ 'She took the road we came up, and made in the direction of the sea, while I kept just so far behind, ready, to rush forward when it became necessary to do so. •

'My amazement became more intense when at the foot of the slope I saw a man step out and join Muriel. He attempted to take her in his arms but she eluded .him.

'I was stunned at first' —an awful numbness seeme,d to have fallen -upon my brain, and for a time I hardly knew what passed. Then I saw that they- had walked along, and were earnestly conversing- in low tones. He was threatening, she apparently defying him. .

'As my full senses came back to me, doctor, I was inclined to rush forward and shoot the villain down at her feet. You can understand the awful feelings of an. outraged husband upon making such a discovery. •One thing held me back —if I shot him dead, I believed she must go crazy on the spot, and thus I would be forever debarred from learning the truth—what connection, there could be between that man and my .wife.

'I am not usually given to schemingl, but at that moment I became as crafty as a fox.1 I would wait until they parted, waylay him, and at the muzzle of the revolver force his guilty secret from his accursed lips. Now I knew the shriek had tome before the shot on that night when I was wounded in the arm. My supposed burglar had not been there to steal, save that he robbed me of my wife. Yes, it all flashed upon me like an inspiration

'So.l.crept away from the place, and 'took up my position where I could see them if they walked toward the house. The minutes seemed hours to me, but at last they came along- the avenue of elms, just as I had "expected they would.

'I could not get close enough to hear what they were saying, but I believed he would come back alone, and creeping under the trees I waited, determined to have it out. 'Then some one drew near—l could just see it was a man, though wondering how he should come from the other direction. -The rest you know, doctoi\' „.

I hardly feel able to say anything1. It seems that Destiny has. taken, the thing in hand, and saved me the -trouble of telling him. , ; '

Presently he lays his : hand ,on my arm. ■'.•■'•■;>■> .-. ■ •-■. .■ ■'■ ■■ ■ ■■■

'Doctor, you can' never know what I am suffering at this minute. For myself, I would I were dead, and yet when I think of her,.! desire to live— .yes, live to unearth this dark mystery, and perhaps save her from' even greater evils. What is that man to her—can you tell me, doctor?'

There is no denying him, even if I feel inclined that way, and I do not.

'I heard him call her his wife!'

He groans at this, and the sound comes from his very heart, racked as never before. ■'My God! this is terrible, terrible! Muriel, oh, my darling, can it be true. I endeavour to calm him, and thanks to my judicious words succeed in bringing him around. He grits his teeth and breathes heavily,- but gives no further evidence of the intense emotion that sways him.

Then I talk rationally with him upon the subject, and. he begins to pity Muriel. At the same1 time he nourishes a slumbering volcano in his breast toward the party who has been the cause of his misery. Satan will indeed have to protect his own if Jacques ever falls into the hands of this man, for Joe certainly-cannot know the name of mercy.

I learn many little things now, connected with the past. They are plain to Joe, seen in the broad g-lare of this revelation, although at the time, they happened he puzzled over them without result.

Jacques has really haunted Muriel ever since her marriage with Joe — at least from the time her baby came. Then these ravings about money and jewellery, which he has believed to be a part of her madness, spring only from a tortured soul.

I am careful not to inflame Joe's mind, for I would not have his anger aroused toward Muriel. At the worst her error was one of the past, in not telling- him about Jacques, whom she believed to be dead.

Thus do the follies of youth arise to haunt our footsteps in later years. Some people call it retribution—this Nemesis that tracks its victim through scenes of. splendour, regardless of cirstances, while others believe it to be the hand of a just Providence.

What can'be done?

Nothing-at present. Affairs must go on as they are. If this man disappears, well and good—if he shows up again Joe means to take him in hand, and from the fierce curl of his lip when he declares this, I can easily guess what the result may be. Meanwhile he must be ready to seize the first opportunity fora talk with Muriel—she shall tell him' all, her head pillowed oil his shoulder. For the wrong she has done him Joe stands ready to forgive, and perhaps some path can be found out of the labyrinth. . Thus I cheer him up. God knows he needs it, poor fellow, and lucky indeed it is that, a doctor is at hand, as well as a friend, in this crisis of his life. At last we determine to return to the house as the hour approaches two.

lie goes with me to my room, for I know sleep will not visit his eyes this night unless -I. give him an opiate. -Lighting a candle, I-take out my medicine case and quickly secure the desired phial, giving him directions how to' take it. .

Then we separate, with a warm clasp of the hand that means much. 'God bless you, doctor. I don't know what would have become of me but for you this sad night,' he says, solemnly. When he goes out he crosses softly to the green sward, not wishing to walk the entire length of the piazza and arouse anyone. I cannot but admire his delicacy in so doing.

Left alone I prepare to retire. Only a few hours more and daylight will be at hand; but in that time I may secure much good out of slumber. I realise that an opiate may do me good, and have it in hand." My constitution differing from Joe's, I need another drug entirely.

One last glimpse I take outside before lying down upon the bed. A few clouds have drifted across the moon—they are no longer of the woolly type, but dark enough to bring a shadow upon the earth.

The growing sweep of the incoming tide makes a roaring sound that will lull one to sleep when accustomed to its music, but. it annoys-me. As the night is not cool enough to close the window, 1 leave it open about half a foot, for air, my invariable custom.

The opiate takes effect.. I gradually sink into a sound slumber, and even then my poor brain goes on weaving all manner of singular

fancies

Such a sleep is exhausting in one sense, the muscles alone securing- rest.

Qnce. I have such a realistic dream that I start up with a-'low cry of horror, believeing Leon Gabrielle is about to choke me in order to keep my lips from ever uttering his secret.

.Finding my head hanging over the side of the bed, I recover my proper position and again go to sleep. Once more I dream, but now the vagaries haunting my fevered brain are of a more comfortable nature, though leading up to trouble that arouses me for a second time.

I get up and. look at my watch in the moonlight, which still creeps in at the window having- a southern exposure. ■'■■■■' ■■ . . Half-past three! Will this terrible night never pass? A few more of the same nature must undo me. Instead of a benefit from my vacation I may be put back. y With a groan I throw myself on the bed again, and prepare to doze for a few more hours. My thoughts not being focussed on any point are easily subdued now, and I feel myself drifting, away on the tide, when, without warning of any sort, a woman's shriek rings through the house, followed almost instantly by , a pistol-shot. (To be continued, daily.)