Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 174: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

800 tarily, but, as if afraid to give sign of fear, played on. “ Adéle!” he said again. Her eyes met his, and a last chord crashed into silence. Before that look in his eyes, quite open now, she recoiled. “ Adéle!” he cried a third time, and took her in his embrace. “ Flaubert! Madame!” she cried. “ Madame is seven miles away by now,” he mocked, for the devil had full possession. “ Adéle, there is the second price to pay.” Once in his arms she ceased to struggle. “She loves me,” he exulted in his heart, “she does not resist!” But Adéle had fainted. He laid her on a couch, struck with a new fear. What if the drug worked on her more quickly than he thought? What if she died right here? He must re- vive her—water—stimulants— Somewhere a door closed. Downstairs! Steps on the stairs! He stood helpless. The terrified face of Joseph Bedard ap- peared in the doorway. Joseph’s jaw dropped, but courage of desperation came to stiffen him. ““ M’ sieu’,” he stammered. “ I came back. I felt something was wrong. My conscience, m’sieu’! I risked madame’s anger to leave her. ‘Suppose,’ I said, ‘he should take them, and anything should be wrong.’ ” “Speak, you fool!” cried Flaubert, ash- en, for Joseph had become incoherent. “The book!” accused Joseph, pointing at the wine-colored volume. He seized it. “Look,” he said, “see for yourself how temptation comes. It always opens at that place.” He pointed a trembling finger at the point where one could read: ; . But it is recounted that the apothe- cary, through the keenness and wit of his as- sistant, was discovered in the thing that he did, and the assistant made secret substitution of certain drugs of his master’s own using for his stomach’s sake, and the apothecary took thereof, and on the third day died of his own subtle poison. The book fell from Joseph’s hand. They had forgotten the girl—facing this thing. : Flaubert said slowly: ‘‘ You—you sub- stituted them?” — “ M’siew, but yes. The four for La _ bitterly. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. Marche, for the four which I knew to be in the box on your desk.” Joseph cringed. “It was the story, m’siex’. I do not know what possessed me to do it, for it is folly to think that you— Yet it worried me, and IT came back. M’sieu’, why do you look so?” Joseph’s eyes, following those of his mas- ter, were recalled to the girl on the couch. “ M’sieu’ ,” he cried, horror stricken. “ You did not give her—” Flaubert Deschesnes straightened him- self, and smiled oddly. “No, Joseph,” he said, “ fetch water, and lave her hands and face. Madame La Marche was taken suddenly ill and dropped in here.” Joseph was relieved. “ There—I told madame, my wife, that something called me back—so you see I shall laugh at her later. But, m’sieu’, Y am glad the tablets are not as I fancied in my folly.” “« Joseph,” said Flaubert Deschesnes, again with that odd smile, “ don’t get mixed up with the devil’s tools.” He picked up the wine-colored book and laid it on the table. “As for the pills, have I not told you before, take one or six, it matters not!” Adéle de Carigny responded slowly to the ministrations, sat up, staring rather vacant- ly at the two men. “Joseph will see that you get safely home, Adéle,” said Flaubert aloud. “ It is well you were near by when taken ill.” He confided in her ear: “ You need fear noth- ing. As for myself—I will not bother you again. In a couple of days from now I am leaving on a long journey. It is better so. I shall not return.” After*she had gone downstairs, he went to the window, watching her drive off with Joseph, who would see her home or in the care of the hired boy, and then call for. Madame, his wife. The square was poorly lighted, but across the way the little church was softly outlined. “ Sugar-coated nothings!” said Flaubert “Take one—or six—or four—it matters not!” He took the empty box from his vest pocket, and tossed it into a waste- basket. “Forty-eight hours, Flaubert Deschesnes,” he said, “and invariably death!” 10 A Comicboo ae 2" S- COM ge