The Silver Bullet

ob, she flung her apron over her head, and began to lament loudly for her dear padrona. Her voice ascended shrilling in a long wail, like that of the Corsican vocieri. Luckily there were few pe

and dragging her inside by

t he could hardly speak. The prophecy of Sidney, the hurried journey to Beorminster on a grocer's cart which he had met near Saxham, and now the terrible confirmation of the

coals." Then after a muffled wail, she burst out into rapid Italian which

ora called me. She looked white, so white. The letter was before her. She told me to give her the chloral as she wanted to sleep. I asked her if she had bad news in the letter. She said no, but that she felt suddenly sick. I gave her the medic

was that

ys take up the Signora's tea. Oh, she is dead a

ed. The hour was that which Sidney had named.

n the tray I turned to see that she was quite still, her face pale as snow. I put my hand to her heart. She was dead. Ah Dio mio, she must have passed away when I entered the room. I heard a sigh at

en face beneath. Every wrinkle had been smoothed away, and there rested a peaceful expression on that once stormy countenance. As Marsh stood tearlessly looking at the dead, he hear

replying to the unspoken though

e left him in a chair and went into the dining-room, whence he returned with a decanter and two glasses. Pouring out two stiff glasses of bra

the death had been made, shocked him deeply. Herrick went out to see Petronella. He found her in the death chamber. A genuine Romanist, she had placed candles round the bed, and a crucifi

said," he said in a low voice.

leep he had dreamed--so he put it--that he was standing in your mother's bedroom. She was dying in a stupor, and he saw the b

can believe anything"

"he described the bedroom exac

y not. And he

the door with a tray and placed it beside the bed. She then put her hand on your mother's

h, oh!" and he fainted. Herrick scarcely wondered at it; he felt deadly sick himself and it needed a

he told several people of Mrs. Marsh's death and the hour at which it had occurred. So the report spread, and that night Saxham, accustomed to Sidney's second sight, was in a ferment. Many believed, others doubted, and the upshot was that a few enquirers went over to Beorminster whence t

took it all placidly. "Why should I not say that Mrs. Marsh was

w her die, and the white spirit get out of her body. The spirit pointed to a bottle on the table beside the bed, and then I forgot all till I

nto the village the next day, he refused to talk of his dream or vision or whatever it might be called, and seemed quite cross when it was referred to. From that day Sidney was shunned as though he had the plague. Everyone was afraid of being told too much a

nd apparently she had done so at last. But when Petronella told him of the letter he changed his mind. What if she had committed suicide? He recollected her vague allusions to enemies, and her persistent declaration that she might not live long. At once he set ab

e grate on the day Mrs.

ttore. The gra

been swept away with the ashes. Humph! She must have got up and

from an overdose of chloral, but no one hinted at suicide. As Dr. Jim gave evidence of her use of the drug to alleviate pain and obtain sleep, it was concluded that she had miscalculat

he vault, the coffin was laid beside that of the late Colonel, and Herrick shuddered as he thought of these enemies lying side by side. Certainly, when the new vault was ready the body of the Colonel would be removed to it, in accordance with the terms of the will. But

had any connection with her sudden end. But although he questioned the postman and the postal authorities, he could gain very little satisfaction. It was a plain envelope stamped--

r into the next world. Herrick put the idea out of his head, as he had much to do in considering his future position. Three or fo

said. "I can do no more good here;

grown used to you as a companion. I like you more than any man I ever met, and w

blished in West Kensington only for two years. If I

ll Herrick. I am rich, and I can allow y

u Marsh. Did your mothe

d not. Why

to stay with you, and p

this much at least for her memory. So she wished you to r

his back on such good fortune. All the same Marsh, if I did not like you personally; i

?" cried Stephen str

ut scruples as to taking such a large amount of money," said he. "I make o

ce you came into my life. You have shown me how to look at things in a broader spirit. I am less

cessary to your existence; you will not want me. I think we had better make an agreement for three years. By that time I shall have done you

ying, I dare say I shall marry. Already I have"--here he broke off abruptly, "there are some things a man ca

rather stiffly, "I have no wish

. On the other hand--well," he dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "

a Endicotte or whether it was Bess who attracted him. Time alone would reveal the truth, so Herrick for the moment thought no more about

e for a time. I have arranged to let Petronella live here, on a small income. I thought she would like to return to Italy, but she begged m

n for a couple of weeks

further afield and

put in Dr. Jim. "You must pay a monthly visi

travel until the year is at an end. But even if it so happened that I did not go t

re-appear and explain his flight and prove his innocence. On the face of it, it would seem he is guilty but the evide

e other tradesmen whose goods I may need. I want you to educate me Dr. Jim. You have had a

s! I have travelled in my time. I have been round Europe

ou suc

also been doctor on a liner to the East. Finally I went with an expedition into the interior of Africa. Now I am settled in the d

t we will go on the

settle down and be comfortable with a wife--I beg your pardon I am trenching on forbidde

rrick. You can do m

t hunt and shoot and golf and swim, and get yourself into a state of physical perfection. Your mind is all right.

so narrow, that I did not look after myself as a man should. Besides to tell you the

ted to athletic sports of all kinds. If I can infect you with my enthusiasm you will soon be able to take the deepe

as staying at the Carr

nsely trying at times. I don't suppose I should have cured him altogether, but I could have made him twice the man he was, had he only ta

ll succeed wit

re less selfish, and thirdly you are sensible enough to see sense--and that last is not given to many m

ut his new relations with Stephen. She expressed herself greatly pleased. "You will do him no end of good,"

od an opinion of

led him in many ways, but he was not so worldly-wise, nor perhaps so clever. However she was too much the woman to make a direct reply to Herrick's speech, and changed the

aper. "I want you to see if you can solve this," she said. "I have done my best and failed. It is a piece of paper I picked up in the Col

yellow kind of Chinese paper, tough, and wrink

S.h.k.k. 1.5.I.t.k.x. S.i.d.

was the secret of Colonel Carr! Perhaps if the writing could be read, the reason of his deat

think of it

Herrick said doubtfully, "

d Bess emphatically

ave failed, you say? Well Miss Bess, I don't know that I sh

st care of it. I have a copy to b

k to you safe and

then?" she asked w

range about my practic

have said too much she smiled in his face. "Of course I am glad," she cried g