"That's better," "Well, I waited for quarter of an hour, or more, when suddenly there came noise like people struggling inside the house Next moment the door was flung open and two men appeared, one of whom was Drebber, other was young chap whom I had never seen before This fellow had Drebber collar, and came head steps him shove and kick which sent him half across the road `You hound,' he cried, shaking his stick at him; `I'll teach you to insult an honest girl ! ' so hot that thrashed Drebber cudgel, only cur staggered away down the road as fast as his legs would carry him He ran as far corner, and then, seeing my cab, he hailed me and jumped in `Drive me to Halliday's Private Hotel,' said he

"When I had him fairly inside my cab, my heart jumped so with joy that I feared lest last moment my aneurism might go wrong I drove along slowly, weighing in my own mind what best take him right out country, and there in some deserted lane have my last interview I had almost decided , when he solved the problem The craze for drink had seized him again, and he ordered me to pull up outside gin palace He went in, leaving word that wait for him There he remained until closing time, and when out gone that the game was in my own hands

"Don't imagine that I intended to kill him in cold blood It would only rigid justice if I had done so, but bring myself I had long determined that show life if he chose advantage of it many billets which filled in America during my wandering life, once janitor and sweeper laboratory at York College One day the professor was lecturing on poisions, {25} and he showed his students some alkaloid, as it, which he had extracted from some South American arrow poison, and so powerful least grain meant instant death I spotted the bottle this preparation was kept, and were all gone, I helped myself to little of it fairly good dispenser, so I worked this alkaloid into small, soluble pills, and each pill I put in box with similar pill made without the poison I determined that when I had my chance, my gentlemen should each have draw out of boxes, while I ate the pill that remained It quite as deadly, and less noisy than firing across handkerchief day I had always my pill boxes about with me, time had now come when to use them

" nearer one than twelve, and wild, bleak night, blowing hard and raining in torrents Dismal as outside, glad within -- so glad that shouted out from pure exultation If any of you gentlemen have ever pined for thing, and longed during twenty long years, and then suddenly found it within your reach, understand my feelings I lit cigar, and puffed at it to steady my nerves, but my hands were trembling, and my temples throbbing with excitement As I drove, I old John Ferrier and sweet Lucy looking at me darkness and smiling at me, just as plain as you all room All the way they were ahead of me, one on each side horse until I pulled up house Brixton Road

" not soul seen, nor sound heard, except the dripping rain When I looked in window, Drebber all huddled together in drunken sleep I shook him arm, `It's time out,'

"`All right, cabby,' said he

"I suppose he thought we had come hotel that he had mentioned, for he got out without another word, and followed me down the garden I had to walk beside him him steady, for still little top-heavy When we came door, I opened it, and led him front room I my word that all the way, the father daughter were walking in front of us

"`It's infernally dark,' said he, stamping about

"`We'll soon have light,' , striking match and putting it to wax candle which I had brought with me `Now, Enoch Drebber,' I continued, turning to him, and holding the light to my own face, `who am I ? '

"He gazed at me with bleared, drunken eyes for moment, and then horror spring up , and convulse his whole features, which showed me that me He staggered back with livid face, and the perspiration break out upon his brow, while his teeth chattered head sight, I leaned my back against the door and laughed loud and long I had always known that vengeance sweet, but I had never hoped contentment of soul which now possessed me

"`You dog ! ' ; ` hunted you from Salt Lake City to St Petersburg, and always escaped me Now, at last your wanderings have come to an end, for either you or never see to-morrow's sun rise ' He shrunk still further away as I spoke, and I face that he thought mad So The pulses in my temples beat like sledge-hammers, and I believe had fit of some sort blood gushed from my nose and relieved me

"`What of Lucy Ferrier now ? ' I cried, locking the door, and shaking the key face `Punishment slow in coming, but it has overtaken you at last ' his coward lips tremble as I spoke begged life, but well useless

"`Would you murder me ? ' he stammered

"` no murder,' I answered `Who talks of murdering mad dog ? What mercy had you upon my poor darling, dragged her from her slaughtered father, and bore her away to your accursed and shameless harem '

"` not I who killed her father,' he cried

"`But you who broke her innocent heart,' I shrieked, thrusting the box before him `Let the high God judge Choose and eat death in one and life other take what you leave justice earth, or ruled by chance '

"He cowered away with wild cries and prayers for mercy, but I drew my knife and held it throat until he had obeyed me Then I swallowed the other, and we stood facing one another in silence for minute or more, waiting to live and to die Shall I ever forget the look which came over his face first warning pangs told him poison was system ? I laughed as it, and held Lucy's marriage ring in front eyes but for moment, action alkaloid is rapid spasm of pain contorted his features; he threw his hands out in front of him, staggered, and then, with hoarse cry, fell heavily floor I turned him over with my foot, and placed my hand upon his heart no movement dead !

"The blood streaming from my nose, but I had taken no notice of it I don't know what it put it into my head to write wall with it Perhaps some mischievous idea of setting the police upon wrong track, for light-hearted and cheerful I remembered German being found in New York with RACHE written up above him, and argued newspapers secret societies must it I guessed that what puzzled the New Yorkers would puzzle the Londoners, so I dipped my finger in my own blood and printed it on convenient place wall Then I walked down to my cab and found that nobody about, and night was still very wild I had driven some distance when I put my hand pocket I usually kept Lucy's ring, and found not there thunderstruck , only memento that I had of her Thinking that dropped it when I stooped over Drebber's body, I drove back, and leaving my cab in side street, I went boldly house -- for ready to dare anything rather than lose the ring When I arrived there, I walked right arms of police-officer who was coming out, and only managed to disarm his suspicions by pretending hopelessly drunk