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Show BY WHOSE HAND ? By EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER, J Author of "By a Ihlr'M Drecith," Th DlMck Diamond,' Cio. 1 Copjrltht, mi. If Wlllatit Fuclitr & Co Corjrlihi. 1900, j Street ft Smith, i m CHAPTER III. Continued. "Yes, rmS wns unable to sleep for tho storm, and wns up nt the head of tho stalm watching tho lightning. Sho wns nt first very cruel to mo, and made rail feol thnt nt any momont sho might dennunco mo." "Why wns sho cruol to you? One would think thnt so loving n sister, as sho scorns to bo, would nnturnlly try to hush up rucIi n tcrrlblo nffnli-." "O, don't you know that Sntano nnd Uox onco loved each other? Ilox was engaged to bo married to my slater, sla-ter, when I enmo homo from school, nnd ho fell In lovo with mo." "No, I had novor heard that," I slowly answered. "Yes, nnd 1 fnnclod thnt Sntnno had remembered tho unhappy termination of her lovo, nnd was taking revenge by holding this over mo." "You think, then, sho would not scruplo to rcvongo herself?" "Possibly I mlsjudgo her," Angclo mournfully ropllod, "but Satano was always vindictive" I drew n long breath nnd looked nt this woman In nmnzomont. She no-knowlodged no-knowlodged thnt her slstor wsb of revengeful re-vengeful disposition; sho stntod a clr-cumstnnco clr-cumstnnco which might hnvo given Satnno tho best posslhlo cnuso for tho dcslro of vongennco; nnd yet, sho hnd not suspected her of being tho ono to uncago tho cobrn. Angolo left tho Professor's room nt two o'clock. Plenty of tlmo nftor that for nnothor person to hnvo visited tho serpent, nnd to have put into execution execu-tion a design, which may hnvo boon suddenly suggested by Angolo's Inox-pllcablo Inox-pllcablo call, nt dead of night, nt her cousin's npartmont. Theso thought flow with lightning rapidity through my mind, even as I evolved my next questions. "Hut your sister scorns now to bo kindness Itself to you. Is sho so In reality or Is It but a graceful feint to decelvo strangers?" "You are not guilty of the awful deed." "Her conduct wns extraordinary," returned Angolo, "Sho changed so uddonly. One day so arbitrary, so offonslvo, bo domlneoring, so threaten log; tho noxt nil gentleness nad tenderness. ten-derness. It soemed as If sho wnntod to ntono for hor past cruolty to mo." "What could hnvo caused such a transformation?" I wondered. "I cannot conceive Onco I started to ask her, but she Interrupted mo. 'Angola,' sho said, 'I beg you will not speak of this. I havo been n very wicked woman, I wish to ntono.' Thon sho kissed mo, and hurried away, but I saw tho tears In her eyes as sho went." "Hnvo you nny reason to bollevo that nny other human being suspects you?" "No," sho sighed, "none." "Listen, Angole," I Bald, as I drew her to mo, "you nro not guilty of this nwful dood. From this moment I do-vote do-vote my llfo to you and to the solution ot thU mystery. You fancy that you did not close the cobra's cngo. I am convinced thnt you did, and that after you some other person outerod tho room, and released tho reptllo to do Its horrid work. It shall be the business busi-ness of my life to discover who that person was. Already you havo glvon mo a cluo; already I havo n theory on which to set to work. My darling, my darling, I will clear you of every suspicion sus-picion nny, moro I will bring tho guilty ono to Justice. Trust It nil to mo. As for you, dear, I believe In your purity, your innocence, ns I believe be-lieve In Qod." "O Gerald," she sobbed, "you nro so good to mo." "Good to you, my poor, suffering Uttlo lovo. I am only Just to you. I bollovo you to bo tho victim of some abomlnnblo machination, which e strengthened by your own bollof In your guilt. Hut I will solve this mystery. mys-tery. I will discover who It was that sot tho serpent froo.' As I uttered these last words, there slowly passed beforo the open window In his long, whlto linen garments, the swarthy, black-browod Hindoo, Babu. Ho gveme"'onf quick glanco from ,hlu fleryjoycs.'utTd.'thon passed on Into thoshnibberyr'- ' " "l wondorjf ho heard e," I said, M I looked after him, "I think not," replied Angele, "and ,.l ' ' even if ho did, ho understands only a few Kngllsh words." "Now, Angole," I said, "I Insist thnt yon do nut dospnlr. Give over nil theso nlnrmlng fanclos, nnd employ yourself constantly with Mnrccllo, or with somo cheerful occupation. I purposo to chaso this shadow from your life. Go now, dear, and rest. You must bo completely worn out. First, howovor," hero 1 bent my head, "hiss mo, dearest " Hut Instead sho took my fnco bo-twoon bo-twoon her hnnils and said with solemn enrnostnoss: "Wnlt, Gerald, until you can prove mo Innocent then" sho blushod divinely, and. eluding my out Stretched nrms, fled to hor room. I strolled out Into the ground!) to recover myself. It had boon n mpst trying Interview, nnd, coming Inimo-dlntoly Inimo-dlntoly upon tho adventure ot the morning, had unnerved me a bit. Moreover, i wished to think. 1 had taken a serious task upon myself, nnd must nt onco decide upon my first stops, t suspected Sntnnc. Her nature, na-ture, her rescrvo, her wrongs, all pointed accusingly townrd her. Her own words "I hnvo been n very wicked woman, nnd Pwlsh to ntono." might hnvo hnd a hidden meaning. How easy for her to havo accomplished a twofold revenge in this ghastly fasti-Ion; fasti-Ion; to hnvo dono tho husband to death, nnd then to havo torturod tho wlfo. As I musingly walked along, my head bent, my linnds clasped behind me, I was suddenly aware of tho presence pres-ence of the Hindoo, who glided noiselessly noise-lessly from the shrubbery on my right. Approaching me, ho mndo a profound salaam, nnd then spoko In n gutteral voice: -- "Sahib Bay serpent to clear up." What was tho heathen driving at? I simply stared at him In bewilderment. bewilder-ment. Ho slowly repented theso fow words nnd pointed townrd tho library window. Thon It dawned upon me that ho had overheard me say I would clear up tho mystery of tho serpont. Could this poor Hindoo assist mo In any way? Possibly, At, all ovents it was worth my while to draw him out. "Yes," I gravely said, "I will clear up tho mystery. Can you help mo?" He smllod sardonically, nnd nodded his head In nmrmntlve. "llahu help Sahib," ho said, "hero sho devil Beo!" And thrusting his lean, brown hnnd Into the folds of his fluttering whlto gnrmonts ho cnutlously drow forth a soiled, crumblod bit of pnpor, which ho handed mo; oponlng It I road tho following: "Hello Couslno: 'Tho cobra can bo enslly tempted from Its cage. In what fashion I have oxplalnod to you.' You uro n clover woman nnd my admiration for your skill Is unbounded. 1 must at all hazards seo you to-night. "A tol, "II. B." Tho note was not dated. Who was "Hello couslno?" "Where did you got this?" I askod. N'Sho devil drop, Snhlb. Mo pick up in Professor's room." 1 reflected a moment The "sho dovll" was undoubtedly Satano, ns tho devotion of tho Hindoo to Angolo was a woll-establlshcd fact. So this noto had boon dropped by Miss Capel. Now, who tho deuco was H. p.? I.lko a flash came tho answer He irl Bollonu the cousin tho Professor CHAPTER IV. So, Miss Satanc Capel. you hnvo an nccompllce In this Infamous buslni ss. "The cobrn can bo easily temp ad from Its cngo In what fashion 1 h vo explained " Very well, M. Lo Professeur; I I uj mnko It my nffalr to discover t at fashion. "I will keep this," 1 said" to tho Hindoo, "moanwhlle " hoN I pressed In his not unwilling ham a gold ploco. Hi modo another 0. found Balsam nnd took hlmsolt av y. I returned to the library, nnd, sellt Ipg some yoluraes of natural hlstofy rend jitf 'oiijUie habits of tho colL until tho b'elf summonod ma to luEL! eon. During this meal I stadlodf4e features ot my two companion Uq. gele's luncheon was served in l&Tr M worn), montnlly wondering rr tnt thoroughbred, handsomo faces wero rjut masks that concealed hideously deformed souls. The Professor asked mo to Join hltn alter luncheon In his room far a cigar, I accepted this Invitation vlth alacrity, After wo hnd chatted on many Indifferent In-different subjects for a time I carelessly care-lessly sold; "Prof. Bolleau, I regret ono thJng, that I never saw this famous cobra of yours, 8ho must havo been n handsome hand-some roptlle." "A beauty my friend, a beauty. It wns a great blow to mo when sho died. I wns very fond of my t'rens-uro t'rens-uro In Bplto of tho cruel harm sho did. "Did sho know you?" Did she know mor Sho wns my slave and oboyod my every command," com-mand," "Could you charm her?" "1 novor attempted nny special feats with her. 1 used to feed hor, how-over, how-over, nnd she would nllow mo to caross hor." "Dhi you over take her from her cage?" "No, novcr. I often thought I would Dtlompt It, but thoro wns somo risk, you know, nnd nfter nil, llfo Is sweet." "I nave read that milk Is the favor Ito diet of this serpent Is that so?" "Yes, the cobrn Is exceedingly fond of rice nnd milk, but there Is a root known ns tho nrrac, for which It has an absolute passion. It will scent it for many rods, nnd will nlwnys senrch It out." "Is It possible Thnt Is an Inter isting fact." "Is it not?" asked tho Professor, rising, ris-ing, "I brought a small quantity of that root from India. I bollevo there Is a bit left in tho Jar let mo seo. Ahl yes," and going to the carved cabinet between tho windows, he reached a Jar, and, bringing it down, opened it, nnd showed mo a small pleco of tho root. "Now this," ho said, as he held It botwecn his finger and thumb, "if tho cobra wero here, would bo sufficient to tempt hor from tho cage. You might conceal it anywhere in this room or In tho hall yonder, or In any of those adjoining rooms, nnd the serpent. If nllowed liberty, would find and ravenously dovour it. Remarkable, Remark-able, Isn't It?" nnd blowing n bit of dust from the root, he rostorod It to tho Jar and replaced tho latter upon tho shelf. I sat silent Could this root havo been tho bait with which the serpent was tempted from Its cngo on thnt fntnl night? If so, by whoso hnnd was tho luring morsel prepared? "What Is your theory?" I abruptly asked. "Do you fancy It was duo solely to accident that poor Dalrymplo met that frightful end?" Tho Professor regarded mo steadfastly stead-fastly for a moment. "Without doubt," he answered. "You soo, Severance, tho cobra was nn object of mingled terror and attraction to tho entire household. Tho sorvnnts often begged beg-ged permission to entor and watch its graceful movements. My Idea Is that somo adventurous person from tho sorvnnts' quarters slipped In hero after Babu had securod tho snake for tho 'night, nnd opened tho door to slide In somo dnlnty. Thon, bocoralng suddenly nlarmed by somo real or Imaginary Im-aginary nolso, hastily loft tho room, leaving tho door open. Noxt morning, horrified nt tho result of this culpablo negllgenco, this adve.nturous ono keeps his own counsol, and doubtless will forever." "Who was the first person to discover dis-cover that Dalrymplo was dead? Oh, yes! I remember his man, Williams, wns It not?" "Yes." "Whcro Is ho now?" I asked in an off-hand manner. "I havo not tho slightest Idea," rejoined re-joined tho Professor. "Ho ntmalnod a fow weeks nfter my return, thon betook himself to Now York." (To bo continued.) |