Show BY WHOSE HAND s by EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER author of by a hairs breadth the black diamond etc copyright 1889 by hard fracher co abt 1900 by street smith PART I 1 the mystery CHAPTER 1 the story of angele dalrymple the night had grown very sultry the hot gusts of wind lifting the lace draperies at the windows were like the breath of a sirocco banked low on the horizon was a mass of murky clouds through which from time to time the lightning darted with wick fed glances while an ominous angry muttering of distant thunder told that the storm would soon burst down on the beach too the waves were breaking with that dull heavy boom which of late had seemed so monotonous so unbearable and which tonight to night was maddening but the approaching storm furious as it threatened was as nothing to the tempest that raged in my breast I 1 had stood before my great dress ing table until my limbs were well high paralyzed I 1 had stared at that white faced woman in the glass until I 1 loathed her image over and over I 1 had mechanically fingered the silver backed brushes and cut glass toilet bottles at least fifty times had I 1 drawn the pins from the plump yel low satin cushion and then cally restored them to their places again and again had I 1 resolved to go to bed and wait until morning and as often had I 1 said determinedly no it must be to night I 1 raised my heavy eyes as the clock slowly struck midnight I 1 had stood there three hours waiting waiting it was nothing new to wait for him when indeed had 1 not done that after the first few weeks of our williams white gasping staggered forth marriage our marriage As in a dream I 1 saw it saw the old stone church the altar the afternoon sun tailing on the gay wedding party the pretty silken gown I 1 wore yes the ring he put upon my band I 1 could feel his touch could hear his voice as he made those sacred promises that was six years ago tonight to night I 1 stand here waiting for him to come with treachery in his heart and lies upon his lips hoodwinked deceived cheated tor years insult added to in suit outrage to outrage infamy to infamy I 1 know how he will come bonfi dent smiling careless to my door to bid me an indifferent good night then away to dream of his latest con quest but that he shall not to night he shall hear every word I 1 have to eay he shall listen while I 1 tell him of the awful frightful secret I 1 have discovered today to day in my household then hark he Is coming up the stairs with an unaccountable impulse I 1 extinguish the light and fling myself upon my led after all I 1 cannot see him I 1 will wait until tomorrow to morrow his step is at my door he pushes aside the portiere port lere A sudden flash of lightning illumines the room and for an instant only an instant I 1 see his face the soft blonde hair carelessly falling over the low brow the sen eual eyes the soft passionate mouth he stands one hand holding back the portiere port lere looking straight at me angele he says I 1 do not answer I 1 breathe as one asleep ho listens a moment then there Is the taint tinkling of rings as the curtain Is dropped and be Is gone gone relieved to find me fast asleep as he supposed gone to live over the pleasure of the evening to hear again the sound of some fair woman s laughter and to feel once more her on his face what a tool aye worse a coward I 1 was why did I 1 not confront him why did I 1 not demand an explanation upbraid threaten hima why did I 1 slink away and hide myself in the darkness why should I 1 longer play the role ot a patient griseldis why suffer every fiber of my heart to be torn and lacerated and bruised why carry tor one more agonizing moment the burden of this wretched dincov ery I 1 will not I 1 will go to him I 1 will tell him the morning Is too far away A thousand things might die yes he snail know that I 1 know the rain is coming now drop by drop splash by plash upon the roof A vivid flash shows me the clock ten minutes of one in feverish haste I 1 snatch my dressing gown and wrap it about me no need to light the taper I 1 can pick my way by the tre quent gleams of lightning crash the thunder resounds the great house like the uj ai laughter of demons I 1 pause a mo ment then sweep back the portiere port lere and rush into the hall suddenly a thought selves me a hope which enthralls me with delight and sends pie blood rioting through my veins it he were to be glad to see me ah I 1 would forche what would I 1 not forgiven 9 five minutes of one was it so short a time since I 1 left this five minutes let me yes I 1 remember I 1 was unable to sleep until I 1 had seen him I 1 was furious almost beside myself with rage then some gentler 1 tool possession of me I 1 was almost happy as I 1 lel the room and nowa do I 1 feea see I 1 try to move my hands but but they fall like n eights possibly because they are so icy and yet it is a warm night an hour ago it was torrid the rain has cooled ane air somewhat still why am I 1 so oo 00 da I 1 think I 1 w 1 go bed now after all it would have been better to wait until to morrow until to morrow I 1 was dimly conscious that it was morning the gray dawn had stolen into the room I 1 still lay where I 1 had flung myself face down on my pillow it was many seconds before I 1 fully realized where I 1 was then slowly consciousness returned I 1 rose wearily and looked about me suddenly with a rush came mem ory thrusting a mocking face in mine and pointing an accusing finger at me 0 the agony the despair of that moment I 1 staggered to my feet and looked wildly about tor some aid some assistance some hope my eyes fell upon the prie dieu in the corner and then upon the carved ivory crucifix hanging above it the next instant I 1 was groveling before tt As I 1 fell upon inv knees before my ashen lips had trembled into a prayer there came to me the sound of knock ing it was 1 ke the falling of earth clods upon a coffin lid from a child the knocking at the gate in macbeth has always puzzled and terrified me and now as I 1 knelt there in despair every knock upon the door of my husband s room seem ed to resound through my frozen heart and aames of terror rushed over me as I 1 recalled the dread knocking of the murdered duncan still the sounds continued and I 1 could hear my husband s valet shake the door gently then with force at times he called mr dalrymple sir but there was no answer I 1 rose from my knees without hav ing uttered one prayer pushing back the port leres I 1 looked into the hall williams stood before reas door with the hot water his head was bent to the keyhole and he was bening for a response to his mappings rap pings what is the matter 7 I 1 asked indeed ma am I 1 do not know I 1 cannot seem to rouse mr dalrymple and him a light sleeper too he now shook the door fiercely but no sound came from the room beyond go around through the professors room I 1 said and awaken him there was a rustle on the stairs above me I 1 looked up catane stood there her purple black hair tumbling over her white dressing gown As she leaned over the baluster and fixed her marvelous eyes upon me her beauty was so dazzling so startling as to seem almost unearthly what Is it angelaa she asked has overslept and wil hams I 1 never finished the sentence for at that moment an awful cry was heard it came from within my bus band s room then there was the sound of the key quick turning in the lock the door was flung wildly open and williams white gasping panting staggered forth he tried to speak but could only raise his trem bling hands in agonized appeal for gods sake speak cried sa tane as she clutched bis arm and shook him tell us what has hap bened beyond this cowering frightened man through the open door I 1 could see my husband s led without one word one question I 1 pushed williams desperately out of my way and rushed in dont look at him dont look at him williams moaned behind me but standing by the bed I 1 stared at what lay there he was dead dead he had died in horrible agony his beautiful head was thrown back back and on his firm round white throat the throat I 1 had so often covered with kisses were tour hideous livid marks CHAPTER II 11 it may have been minutes 11 nai have been hours after that that some one who was ita of the group of screaming terror stricken servants snake the snake look the si s cage is open I 1 ad not stirred since I 1 had reach ed a bed fascinated by the awful sight I 1 had stood as if changed to stone until this cry penetrated my dulled senses with a swift movement I 1 turned and passed into the next room at the farther end of the apartment stood the cage containing the cobra which the protessor Protes sol had brought from india a month since in the front of this cage was a sheet ot plate glass which was raised and lowered like a window and through which the serpents food was passed it was now wide open and through it could be seen a moving object the servants were shrieking and pushing each other to get out of harm s way the professor s hindmo servant crouched rear the cage seem angly transfixed with horror suddenly through the excited group with her gliding grace came the senorita she approached pro ached the cage with a waving un movement and coolly and quietly closed the glass door then turning she snapped her fingers scornfully at ahe frightened servants and hissed fools cowards bah suddenly from across the room her eyes met mine narrowing bilat ing narrowing again they held me that glance was like the i of the cobra herself with an effort I 1 released my bascin abed gaze as williams wildly cried out yes that damned hindmo forgot to close the cage last night the snake has killed my poor mas ter then I 1 heard no more I 1 learned afterward that while I 1 ay incoherently muttering and bab bling of serpents and snake charmers and knockings that there was an in quest at which the fact was dished that my husband came to his death from the bite of the cobra I 1 was also told that on the day ot his death he had suddenly come upon the professors hindmo servant in the conservatory and discovered him in the act of breaking some of his choicest in his anger he had struck the man across the face with he light riding whip he carried to be continued |