The Argosy, March 1907 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

- "‘PHE LABEL ON THE BOTTLE. “You do not know our French law,” she replied with conviction. “It holds the prisoner guilty until he proves his innocence. What~evidence can I offer? Only my word! You believe me. But the law does not permit itself to believe the word of the accused against other evidence.”’ : I knew that she spoke the truth, and the knowledge chilled my heart. “They would never execute you,” I _cried. | “They would,” was her simple an- swer. ‘‘ For that matter, better that than lifelong imprisonment, the agony of years amid the worst foulness.” She leaned yet a little closer, spoke even more softly: “There is no escape for me—there is only the choice. They may find me here at any moment. [ would not live if life offered everything else, since I have killed him. But life can offer me nothing save death as a murderess. Oh, you meant to be kind when you took the vial from me—be kind now!” I looked up, swayed by the spell of her desire. ‘The burning eyes met mine and held them. I felt my strength of will flow from me as water. Slowly, I took the vial from my pocket and laid it in her out- stretched palm. Hypnotized still, I sat motionless, watching, while she uncorked it and emp- tied the contents into the glass of wine. With the glass at her lips, her eyes met mine again. “Thank you,” she said gently. I turned my face away. When I looked—again the glass was empty, and the girl lay huddled in her chair, her face ghastly, only the whites of her eyes showing between half-shut lids. V. I was startled from my trance of hor- ror by a brusk command. “Take her feet and help me carry her. Heavens! what a search I’ve had! My carriage is at the door.” I looked up and saw a tall, handsome Frenchman, pale with emotion. Still passive to another’s will, I obeyed. I wondered vaguely if he were a de-— tective sent to apprehend the supposed murderess—about to arrest a corpse. Together we carried the body outside the restaurant and deposited it on the cushions of the carriage. ; “Come on, please,” the stranger bade me. And, feeling still a vague compulsion, I obeyed again. The instant we were both in the car- riage the coachman whipped up _ his horses. Five minutes later- we stopped before a handsome house in a quiet street. That we were expected was evident, for the door was thrown open on the instant and a number of servants hurried out. The man with me made a gesture of command, and they stood aside, silent, while he and I carried the body inside, and on up a flight of stairs, through an exquisite boudoir, into a sleeping-cham- ber, where we laid it on the bed. ‘“ Revive her, Julie,” he said to a maid who had hovered about us, and he with- drew into the boudoir, to leave the serv- ant free to her ministrations. “Come,” he bade me, ‘“ But,” I cried as I hurried after him, ‘she is dead!” “Not a bit of it,” he retorted. ‘““T tell you she has poisoned herself. She is dead,” I repeated. “Pooh! She is subject to fainting spells.”’ “Who are you?”’ I demanded angrily. ‘“T tell you e ‘“T am her husband,” was the calm reply. I stood aghast at the incredible an- nouncement. ‘ ‘“ But—but,”’ I stammered, “ she killed you by mistake—poisoned you. ‘That’s why 9? ‘“ Ah! that’s why the water in this glass here tasted so.” He pointed toward a tumbler on the center-table. “She poisoned me out of this bottle.” He took from his pocket the vial marked with skull and cross-bones. “I saw it on the table in the restaurant and took it I stood in gaping amazement, and he continued impatiently: ‘“She showed me this once, when -she threatened suicide. So I took it secretly, emptied out the poison, and put in, in- stead, some tonic mixture I have. I thought it would be safer.” ecomicbookssco - as -. <= ~~ ow