SHORT STORY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 716, 15 January 1910, Page 14

SHORT STORY.

POPPIES; ,01!-DEATH. ( V' : ; [!yl !;;;': {By.Beatrix : MrDo Burgh:)'.;':-■ •'-'■ :".; People -wereVbeginning ; to suspect... He was.' sure : of ;.it." A 'word, i, a glance, ,-just novrvahd.'then,,when liis mind seemed -to suddenly.'stop'working in the ; middle of a conversation,,-.when the;.'".- immediate ■ ■ surroundings faded without warning, and tho .visions (that (should. haye/.been visions: of the(night;;came in 'broad 'daylight He' was.troubled'at this, much.troubled, for ho. had 'prided:,himself on .the •' strength 'that had (kept his' brain calm, and un-. clouded (when^: so many: men' broke down in. the; same, circumstances as- his. - And, it was not'..'only in. his .leisuro|moments, ..his .--hours, (0f,.; social ..'enjoyment,( ; that' the yisiohf camel ,'.;.-:.Oncb'-': or '." twice : it:' vhad 'troubledihis : iwo'rkinß .hours,:; and.;.:his; superiors had, looked 1 at.'him i .'oddiy, ; ,- or lie had., ~;■.-.'',',.: -.>•.'. ;(It'was:always.'the .sarnie ..vision. Fields on'fields of (scarlet, ; 'flame-coloured poppies,* rippling "uhder^a'Bouth wind,- and coming towards him'.-as'-he"' lay- : crouched on.a bed of • the glbwingl blossoms, drenched : in ffie.snbtle. odour of; their crushed petals, a" woman.:■ Ho:had never'seen the woman, except in • the vision,-valid':'he:could not have'..described'. her;, if. he tried,;.. except to : .say> that "no ', .daughter.-;of'man - had ever beenso. .fair,', so, seductive, no. sound. -of.;.earthiy-::inusic<had: ever.,been, so soothing as: that strange monotonous song she hummed.'.'.The'• vision';had come 'with, his first .opium, dream—his.- first-- lapse into that .fatalivice 'of the. he had' novcr(. ' other,',' always . the : same with-.variatidhs, (it'is, true, (but, al- : Ways ..the same. ,'*'.-', '•.-.'.-.'ii- 1 -v'"v .... -:.;■.':.-; ; .--. ivHo!had.come ito know(,fie .woman 'so ■well .during .the-4bw,many years: was it since: that .first .'visit', to': the;. dark-room hidden in a crazy;bld'house in 'a:crooked alley:of tho Bazaar ?-':Sixf .Yes,- he'-had;, somodifaculb'" in counting, ho found, (but it'.: ae;: six.-.-.He. (was'sure, of ".because it was.'six;years since' hehad'-bcenlhome. Six years ainoe Jplin Jackson,' a (hardwbriang .:• and : successrul- member,of the Civil'.'-Service,.:-had' gone back'-to'England , for- long . leave preparatory; to:• taking' up' the i.bigrberth:he:had,.won.'by good.for-: tune-and-hard'work, v Six. since he had met. Mabel Trahsomo, and,loved: her,:with all;.th'e strengthv-of ..'a', quiet, * unspoiled: nature... Sis years'since'shb had: 'foole'di,him;'.,'and-: jilted.:him for; a richer. ;man>^:'an'dvsent; ; him :.back:;to take, up 'the, ..work -~i that.lhadybeen-'.a 'pride, .with Van.' (unending(sense-of:toil,and heartache; .:(. (:'And:justlwheu'the heartache was worst, 'aVfriehd-T-a,. m'cji: who had .made'..'a hobby 'of-the study'bf,'.'native him; for; 'aljoke,'to'ithit'.dark-.room,in';thb brooked: ;cbi^er.- , bf''tbe.Bazaar;.v.:He.liad been dis : ' 'gusted'.'at.first;?th.e' l .he';hads,been'.envi-' ous. 'These people, at least, had-found• a:, .land (bf-sleepiVof freedom' from(pain -and-''sorrow;';.'-:Thero -.'was.';a..,.woman.;, there, ~a beautiful "woman, .who had'-been : : a;dancor( in; a, .troupe /.'of •■ travelling: conjurers '.and' ;magicianß, but.she.had not^''left the Boom(of.the Black Smoke for .years™ .SKb would :in( all'"'probabilityvdie'.itherpi.?'She.had 'dreams, 'beautiful dreams,>he'told him of, 'thein, and. in; search"' he too had ila&'-'do.'ifhYlifcito^ his Poppyliiid;!;■*'•;'S. '■:,:-'''■■"( ;.;':''' '.: Looking -.back; ..he(found, it ..hard ,tb,.say, just(whenVhe-,'had' (ceased.".ro.'fchave .thepsrfect.icontoliofehisvthonghtsl'^lt'was. 'not:longV of; that ! he(waa.sur&";.Hisfeel-, lugs', had (.been ; blun ted vfor; ;sbme; time,' (but.not' his ". intelligence..'.:Tiere.:was( the ':time,.'"for hadvbeard. -of :hiß ; father's and mother's,deaths.-' He' "had; been 'left', alone;;in(the':(world; : but; it (had (not. seemed 1 : .to. (matter,. 'the world., : they, belonged -to lbbg'(oeased' to bear' any. relation :to'-the' preseht.'.John Jack r (son;'' There :had;"bn'cp:-been(;ji;. John .Jack-., (son;,as'(-;6iily '-;soh;'/tt.'.'.wlramV(his( : father.. and .'mbther-'-had 'stood for" much,-.but( thatV'JbKnVJacksbnvhad,'faded'(6nt;;of; ibein'g I 'ior';:qui'tb.. a'; long.'timo.";;'.-TheVpr.e-: | I'.sent.'Jbh'h'Ja'cksdnHvas.a mah'..who" cared. :for, 'nothing' so ■>.^^much' ; or '..the :,pride .hei'felt..in.the 1 clever-wayj.'.he regulated; (hisVlife, and-was; 1 business Vmanv to' tho' ;(wprH outside 'and; dreamer only when tho . '.■'■!'..■■■ ;("I. must:give-it '■np.'-'.he thbughttb, him:'se^f,, ■ ruefnlly, :, ,'.''l;(haye' no (intention of : ;i^ttihg' ? it';sppil;:my(l'ife.::;;':i,. can ..give, .it |U'b,".;: witiv, a Bonpwful' of -. his v;:Bxrrr(.;far. ha ~was tte,:; Dream elaye'he.had'not.fully realised. He was ridiig jwitii.' : - girl, iand;.talking .th'ei.usual*;friv6lous .talk,'.when''suddenly' ; he' , v looking.; at-him-;. strangely. His (Dream -Lady- was .with; him;. and... the(pbppy ;fieki: lay .before ,'hislonging; oyea. 'He-.-.reeled:■ in,- his .saddle,.(and.-.;.his . eyes' ; , -":"..yi'-i--i"-; y'.''Are..youl('ill^'. : ' voice camo (toihini • as ~if (from, a great distance,while..in his 1 ear,was that lbw:humming song.-of- his'.dreams.; With' Vgreat'- effort • ■:ho 'recovered;himself.;','..'.:(:: ..-. .-("How Bmeli!" he .muttißred'.confusedly. l !,;',' V.'v'.'".'.;;._.;•, V(,;:..-,-/ ;('There .are' no'' poppieß— -" ( again: he met thai; strange,;, doubtful look,.and"T !think';.we had: bst^ri-,turn'ihoine,'' 1 . ;she said. ,:.Yes;'people wbre' beginning :pect.',:':,:; '■(>.;■;. -;',S.';."-,■ ■ ,■.';-•'. ■;' >(Then'at:theV6ffiee- ; -:'::''x'; 1 -;-'(.'-. : ';'■■'. Mi'.

/•WTiat'-'hay* you written hefeVthere is ;.somo. ; mi3take.'':..;His/chief's;.eyes looked atjhim; with'.doubt;.'• too. /A -fear/-6hot across.himi' What had he-written? Again, it_;was,/some : allusion-/to! .that .thought 'pbasessiiisvhim::'.-i.'v.'.;v.i , .';;'':-Y.\v', - v:::.' ■-,■■■;.:.■'■•'.

')'■■■ 'Tm'afraid.-ybu/want a rest, Jacksoni :You : ';have .'been/working ''-.too hard./ Get. away,: for: a: ■time'.-' : >, Did .'his chief; know ?-, he had -got : farther, into' the meshes' than ho suspected. ' He' would take. leave,; and go' to i the : hills.; .'He'.wpuld:. get /some: big'-gani«..6hootiiigi :and;.;iii',tb,e ,open-air: life v foirget,'about .SL 'Übsessibii ■/:.!-'': .'< ; / his /office: full of; •his Xnevi', resblutibni '■ and!'.'there : J|found; > a■letter O*hic£:;-put:-:all'.''thoughts' of/big igame shooting./"out'/pf. : ' :h his<:hea4V;';'>A' "a^tint, l ,relativo^.- , -f ■a; big; But "aipieasant. 'sufficiepcyi , 'surplus!on top of;that:/-'Ho.wouldine-vor -need^tb//work/'again;; -Likejalli-moiL.Khe! (had; once'/ dreamed -:. happily; of 'the idays' '-wheh'The:should,:retire, /.and// go/'back'to: :En'glahd,;>but;.'those'-,' dreams/-,had- -been •'somo^Mt.^bluw6d , '.of.''-la^ ; .!rNoW' ! th'ey!''ri i fr; -vivod,',stirred/into ;fre'sli!' activity;!by .^^this' ploasurabla! news. ';';,He-' had, : a'taste : /for! . country-j life'.' i: He '/-would'. go .homo, -and 'settle- downs'/He was young.'yet,'■ thei'old almost, healed./ -There .was ,m'uch"'he could: stiU';getVout, of life.:/-And :then,-:in.,the!.'middle of ,;!his t v;plans ; : and !schemes,!a !lbnging:came upon him'.:, He'. : must. see. her,; once/' again, // his'.-..Dream. ■Lady; he must .bid;-, farewell,-and -\ritli'" her. theianciful.'unrealities'of:that;second, life of -/bis^'-!; One !more .:lapse-Vintor-; the wbrid'.bf ,'obliyion, and ; then,-..h0y.!/for. the world of and j the,' commori■pheelfi] ;:;:■!'• /.-,A!;' l /':!'!'■:>-':/:!;,!;://:/' : ,' | ::; Ayesha, -'-the '•Vdancor, ;'.', who. /had:! "ibeen boaniiful,'whon''ha 'first.wenfttb' the'Eoom| of the: Black/Smoke,' uriied his ipipe for -him.':. A,wcird.friendship/;had:.sprung:up botweeu/'.the \ two;;/.They'/r' shared;., their dreams ..with each '"■ other. /.He .told '.her' of theNchange'/^hati'had./'come.!to .;him, and: ,tha't?~he Vwas '.gbingl'"away l .,over ;.the sea'■:to: his ; ,own "land.' !'.'(:;'/ v ; '- ./."I shall' smell'.-the crushed, poppies no'' : m'o're, -Ayesha; nor' hear imy'lady croon-ing-strange", : • melodies,":,. -,Tbe ■ 'woman: 1 ileaned/forward' as/she""'handed "him -'the -pipo,, a,strange far-off -.look.,was in'.the :oycs;'the;drug .had rendered/dazed..■ She was/dying./ She knew.it,/and John Jackson;'knew;: it /t00,'.: but., Death'' had . ,no teTrors;.;for; her, -and.- in ,her» faded eyes ;was'. the: touch'; of : prescience;; ; J :' : ' i- ;'-'••.- '•■ •;, ! '■•■ "You. :will'isee:;her''again' ; rypn;. well .see the: great, poppy-petals : rise- ' and wave above .you—you will: hear, the fcroori of her! song: again—arid allthesp things'will come to you in;the strange land to which,you i

go.-•■ln the hour you see,.and,heir- them, rise'and'_fly—for,the- pbppiesLHvill/be'the Poppies of, Death. / Behold if you' sleep iri'tliat jhouT-^-you'.; will,, never.,'wake. agiln —b,nd;|life'': is., not' burnt you—as :fbr,;me-t-tke;:Black Smoke.has been niy lifb^-it*shalL;\be my death":;,. ,;--'.,,. : The;;messa!!e. was. heard, but',scarcely heeded, 'the .nine;/was /bo.tweeri .'his;, lips,' and Jolm/.Tacksori, was 'passing, into' tho land of/visions.; / ■//'.lt'.'seotoedlike-a' bad ;dream;: arid John Jaclcson's'/face, burnedV^;beri':-he,'thought ,'of:;,it.';;;;Two,,inonths.','of 'jiburn'eying,* -.and i!business::aad: picking ; up,'.of;'.old threads had!'made,"'him';his, owh'-'self!,!attain,'and tho/John Jackson ..of; the 'Room' .of-: the ,-Black-"Smoke!-!.was-la'th'iiie''of., the:'past. l '.lt';haK'-r,Suiredi"a;' , -TOftter i .effprt'.tnan:'.ho' I 'had" anticipated ~that.- dark', corner of .'{His life/' into".' the /limbo',/ of- •-forgotten things;-' butvhe- hoped', it'was, ,dbno and 'done thoroughly. i'Th'b ;mshi' of:; new .'interests - had helped; ;him, /and;;';ono ■' stormy March; iiight,.he-fbiiiid himself .alone in |.L6niloii,/his.head',teemin'! .withtplans'for! ends I of .which: he'; had '-been/djligdriHy!.,seeking, but.'fo'f rth'b mbment'a'-solitary man.' ':lte I had. found out where the. ,old'. friends

he most wished to see wero to bo discovered.' Ho had started negotiations for a small property in a pretty country, and with a busr dav before him on the morrpw ho 'propared to soend- an idle ovomuc.

It: was blowing hard, and cold rain was falling in gusty drifts and the streets were., so unpleasant that;' he began, to' cast about for somo place.of amusement. Not' a theatre nor: a music-hail, he felt idisinclined for- both.: Outside a big hall a notice of a bjlHard.mntph in progress between two world-fambus players met his bye. It was the: very thing 1 He: was fond of the. game,: and it was ages' since' ho : had..seon .a' ; matbh;' hia. interest in ■ as.in:most 'amusenjents,: had: faded when .ho an opium-eater.' .'. It- ; was ..good, to, fosl,his .old: keen zest of. en3oyment was back .with him. Tho match-was,'esciting, and.the few onlookers . wore evidently men who apprem™ a good. game.' ..With' -one. of them, a toil, soldierly man,, befell into conversation,;, and found.-him a ; charminc companion; So fmndly did they ibecome: ttat_wb.cn•' Jackson..- moved .to - the door the_.other man went with' him, ' and; smfling,'.genially' offered' his' card. ■:■'!■ ; „■ .Tiajor. l ,Arthur ' Brown," Jackson read' -on. the pasteboard, with : an address in a quiet street .behind the Abbey, . and a qmet ; clubs; underneath. He liked bis companion well, enough to reciprocate , the' introduction. ■•.-:■ /Jacteon?: ,' Any : relation/: to 'the.'lucky man who has come in for: old Brandreth's money?" the.; Major asked. ■■': ■■-...,• '■. : "I'm- the man'.'himeelf;".- answered Jackson, . smiling. ■■' ~,.,,;.:;..,; ; -'"1.-'suppose I'may.'add my congratalations. to those you ,;have no doubt been overwhelmed ■ withf" ..'.' :'■ v':Jackson .explained', that as :yet he had 'pot;come into- touch with'any of his old fnends— :;-■-'.-'- ; ■■,-". .ii '.-•'" :':-.-.;'--.:•■'•'■' -

.; In fact, not a soul knows! am in town yet. .'l',start'pioking'*up "old.links to-morrow—to-night .I' confess to being solitary." : ' ';...'". .;;■■■■:-.'- : "Then cbme.rnome and .spend, an.hour wzth : me:..: We-can smoke, >-and- have : n gamo'of cards,'.if.you like.; My place is only a top: floor in an : bld house in Westminster—l have no, wealthy surprises—but ifs a.cosy; little:place;' and',Tm a first hand at minng drinks! Will you'come?" ■"-, ; Jackson ;'hesitated:a'mo'menti''theii, 'no excuse';prcsentihg itself', to his mind, he accepted.' As they (crossed. Dean's Yard together/.for. thev'nist,'thne for.:weeks, the sudden' whiff of brushed, poppies camo to him.andhe half-turned back; ': '.

:.;"Wliat;is, the,matter?", 1 ; •.,\ ; W'\'V : - .."Nothing—l—^l,.almost 'fanoied.lob'tild smell poppies."- .■'■'.•>■■ *':V •.:■

.-'3n' .Dean's Yard?.. My .dear :6ir,.'yoi most be' dreaniing!" the Majoranswofred with his jolly laugh...•■•/; ; ,' : I. ; : . '' : What' made him think" of ;■ A'yesha, Jot Jackson .iwondered, .as; he i:followed, "'. thi Major; up .the] steep; panelled -.stair of -1 tall, old house": and into: a" room on the top .floor? He had .'not,belied his sanc-tum'.';.-It'wa's a cosy den, full of!'cbriifort iind warm colour, and a. pleasant • contrast ;to the dark,■windy-.streets without. There wasAttdthing; Eastern about : the room,' it was typically t English,', yet; the impression of .the/East grew <bn John' Jackson,as he seated himself : ; in V 'deep . chair at his host's' request.. It" faded, again :when. the Major,> proving himself,'an .excellent host,, supplied.-his : waiits,''and.'with; 1 the ejd of' a most immaculate '~ mari-serrant i ministered>.to his ; comlort';v; '.' -; :!.v "•:.'"

; 'He .was:so 'well.'amused: fiat twelve striking from; the 1 Abbey: clock drew from him. a; startled i oiclamation..:The Major, busy- flTef.a spirit lamp^preparing one- of lbbkea'up.'. .>-..* : ■."Go? ."■.. Nonsense! 'Not. till .'. you : have had: -this," "holding out-a quaint -little china goblet : in which >'a;'.deep-coloured liquid .'.steamed..... '/v.. jc.fi ■•'■-' ■.■;■,. .■• ■'.-' :

.'."Xou'must.toss it.off .at'Oncftr-if is not too; "■hot-^r.;, you ' t : won't' - >: got.''.'the : full fliTour^'aid";!' think' ybu':\will like it." . :V There was an: odd.'look, in, the Major's eyes.asvhe;spoko;,and;an;6dd tbne.ih his. yoicoas he'.'cohtinuMl— • <■■.'':"'■•■'. '"..'■*

.;' "It,ls:- the. .after-flavour, .'which -is so •delicious:" 'V: : ' ; .: .:" ' : :ri''■'■'■?'; ■':> i-'V ■-'■'•■

. Jackson' tossed: off -the 'contents of-the. "cupj and' found the.concoction delicious— for:.a then the after-flavour of. which .the Major' spoke broko:;upott' him— ..he !knew'..it—disguised-rbut to an opiumeater ~- 'unmistakable—the-':■ • drink ■■ -sus :drngged.' ; In'an:instant ;the:truth flashed 'upon. him.:: Hehad been 'decoyed by'; this specious :;stranger ; in'-wjiom 'he:ha'd", so' rashly ookfidedi Nay,.the m<"i mightovon, •have beei.shadowing'him' ; from his hotel, :and'knew, fail'bis 1 -"own':unwise admissions., that\ the "money with' which .he intended-^to:'-complete ' has..: land puribhase._oor?n r? the: mburbw' was then";-in his possession;. knew 'also: that -no one I :was aware o£!;his presence in. London, nor would be : likely-tb:miss him,,for. several days. ' I'orce; was :no no/idea how,, :many. ..of: : them were.. in.: the' plot "His* wit.must'save him. "His host, was witching 'him, 1 , with curious,. eyes, ; ;' evidently waiting for .the drug ' to' take' .speedy. 'effect.-."'.-..••.':,'.';:.'■'■■>=-. ■■■•..,.;::• \ : -.': ■■■'-.

"Did you like it?" he inquired m faint snrpnso: " \ "Delightful—Fd take another taste— what is the flavour?"

~ 'Ah! ..That is.my. pHed, langhing.":''You shaU/haveanother glass,, but don't -blame me: if Tit makes you ;feol'queer—it is: very 'Strong," and he : :turned' back to..his stove.

/Jackson .sank' back in his chair; and closed', his eyes'as !ho racked, his brain for; 'a ■chance, of ■escape.','.-'Ha was about to open' themVKwhen a step '.outside, 'aiid' the sound of: the door opening,' deterred him;,' :/•■ ■/' i " /'- : /'/ ; : ';.;/■','/■/ ■ . ,"- ■-'- '■:' ■■

"He's off all right, isn't be?" To his amazement the voice was a woman's. In his surprise ho moved a little. "Hush-h i" hissed the man's voice, "I dont think ho is." Jackson felt thej were • looking.'at him,' and -moved 'again drowsily. . : .,-://-:-..- ..'.^'-!■.•■■..:-.■.-,_.-■.-.■■ i'.'lt did not-take (Sect .half as quickly :as usuDfcths...;fool,i asked '.for.-: a'-, eecbnd ■ c^W" th *"' '''issmg;' ; Trltispcr."',TOht' bn. - . (.•.'..."Whereiiis-' /Bates ft" ; ;- Bates'-,iraa' 'the jimmaculate! man-servant"'vv---:- '•v'i'*- ;,; :-;wom'an's; voice-' '-aoswerei: ■ $ s s'fi Ea P v ■ nß '; - nw^ ' i .waits -:'£o'r-; the "'end «- taese r ;a £fai rs; VVffe': is ' if after -■'.all ;tnis >itime"- r Jaeks6n v moved don't .'believe fhe- isV.off;--* I'll •.80-tiQ ybumake^.sure!"^^^'The ;faint-rustle :Ot-; skirts .parsed- away, ■ and : iinsj'.'.censed.,-. John /.Jackson . opened- his ■eyes ..with,, an 'admirable pretence :'of,-etu-..pidily. • ; f, :;:.; ; ;,■-'.'-' ',y'::-.■':•:: ■ 1..;.''1s ,;that.' other'.drink .ready r r 'ho!asked ; with;a sleepy'ilaughyf.';:;;; ;);: .y.- .. r/fYes,,- here it', the .Major \ anEwered, .coming, to :him ■with" a'secbn'd-cupi' : y His Jurchedvup ; to'.'.the'-table ,'bn'v'whioh- the '6pint''stbve,stood;/.'y^v.';;' , ;-c-.. v ■'.•;■■■• '•':) ■: ~ see:y<)u/mix:;.'it"v: h eV'; thickly.-: ' : "And I.,sian't,'drink»,'if'you don't;drink.Avith',me.''': ':•'' '}>:!':'.', J .'.

,The-Ma]or,.:protested,,'bnt .Jackson obstinatei' and"; invthe';end' he -' carefully rrnsed/out the'^^first cup from which Jackson had drunk, and. 'filled. rt from r< the ; httle :sracepan.,.-That a action'told the dupo all he. wanted .to 1 kr«nr. f The' opiumhad.been dropped-in the cup-first, and the ;s(jongly .spiced drink', poured.:on to it Tho Major camo to his-side and.filled his. goblet, then taking Jackson'by. the 'arm he; pushed -him.:..towards:-the■■ chair by which the other .cup stood,'. with an- affectation of good nature. V :;:•;.,.',:-'.- ,'fSit;down'.for. a' few :miiutes,'' -ha -said,. but; the. other: man-swaying/against'Mm unsteadily he set'.',the cup .he was carrying down:,:besido,: the- other/'-while'--he guided him.'.into .the chair."- - For. a moment .the/two.drinks stood.side by : side as Jackson fell'inertly.-:in,to,:liis seat.-'■■,-■• , • "Look! Look! thehvbman-in.tha'doorl" cried-the apparently haif-stnpified- man, and the Major/ wheeled: round .with a muttered .curse.: There wasno: one there, and 'he/turned /back- sharply.'His victim :was leaning foiirard in his seat with dull eyes fixed on the door,'to all appearances ■everythin'g'jwas.the same, .but.in that,one moment' -the,cups had been -changed. '■-•. "There Js.'.no,, woman- there.'';,"Yea 'there ; is. ■. ■ No-4-rI: must be) seeing .double, old',fellow.;. I.could have'/sworn l-saw a. .woman. .Tour drink'is too strong. .Perhaps Td• betfer ,nbt"drink the wholo lot," picking, up ; the '/undoctorcd cup.'"'•'•,'lt smeUsvdevilish' good,;.thbugh." '/"Yes! Yes! ;.v, >.wiU. : 'urihk togethor— to bur./better.; acquaintance." '.'" ' ■■'. | | ' Juckson rosp'oDaed-slccpily. t to:'the,toast, and both their-;drink simultaneously'..-:,There/must; havo,;been 'an extra dose in, that, second :cup," for the •effect'on tho.lfajor was almost infitantanc- ; ou's. '■■ He /realised ..what, had '. happened, .'but the (potent'drink'was ' tob;/much for 'Mmi'i/ahd>•' Jackabn, ialort and awake, '.on,-.-!.tho: './inetant,-/ /stood ~_.over.v him iwith .'-his hand .hoJd.'-.to'-'his lips ;to,-, cries, for ...help. ,"- Ho idid not .'desire any trouble /with the 'woman, and he thought; he could slip ,out. unheard,' once, the,, main before him was nsleepl:, yory' soon the head/he was ; liolding ;, drooped : ; .heavily 'fprwardi' and ! when; he .-.released; his /hold,/'fell'on the 'tabic..-He,. crept, cautiously tb| tho. door -arid-opened ,it.', ''All'',.wasr.still:'as. death; 'and .as'dark'..asXpitch.'' Quickly ho re-Hiirned;',and'-.takihg':up, : :the oil/ lamp on "thb; table,; crept 'out/againV'." Nothing

starred. Evidently the woman did not mean'to come till she was: summoned, lie. crept down tho stairs stealthily, till ho reachod, as he thought, the front door, , It was heavily barred, and painted green. Hb shot back the bolts, and took a step forward, but as ho went he stumbled over something and fell • forward, dropping, tho lamp., with a crash. 'Quickly ho staggered to his feot, . and looked down, . frozen with horror.

The thing he had stumbled over 1 was the dead, body of a.man lying oh a pilo of straw, and the.place was a cellar. A cry from above reached him faintly. Tho woman had discovered 1 her mato. Wildly he stumbled back in the black darkness, and, over the torror which possessed him,. ho felt a stupor ■ creeping. The dose ho had taken was. mdro • deadly than ho know.

,In his ears-the old poppy song began -to .hum; in his nostrils was the old acrid, scent..,, Before his : eyes a', wavering figure iled, and ; almost unconsciously ho followed ft'up the ' stairs, through the passage, till it. opened the locked door for him, and,thrust him- forth into.the night air. '(•,-

'.'■' He. staggered.along till'.he reached the Embankment, and sank into a bench, Ayesha's vojco murmuring, "You ~ will see. her again—in-the. strange, land—— t " till he became -nnbanseious.

' sir, .'ere! : Ifs time yon woke up an moved on —"The hand.-of a friendly policeman was on his arm, shaking him gently.. .'■ .; :,'lt'B time'yon wait''oma,. or ybuftl be gettin'into:trouble;"'..-'.

. "How long have I been hare?" John Jackson ; asked, confusedly looking round at the; wet (Embankment, lighted by a .watery';, moon 'struggling '•' through • the drifting -clouds. -...::.;. -'■-• ■•' -.;' "Long-enough to -.'got.' yer death of cold," ivas the answer, with a grin. "Shall I cair.youacab?" ' : ''-'.•'

"No no ," his bram was clearing now. 'Tm all right. The walk will do me good. Many thanks, constable," and half a sovereign changed hands "Tnank you, sir," the constable touched his helmet, and; stood looking'at the gentleman as ho walked.i slowly : away, shivering; "Get rheumatic fever, I shouldn't wonder. Silly asses somo of them fellows are! If I'd money, I wouldn't do that

■ of: thing!:',' Nor. this 'neilhar,". muttered' Robert, as he shook -himself; further into .'■ his, greatcoat and waited off; on i hia ..beat'-..- , : 1 .- : .r■■:.::■- '■■::* ..':>-/ a<;- ( :, : Meahwhilb'Jackson,- feeling' less, and less confneedi' : walkedV'throngh ;inio Pall Mail,;thinking ovcrJhis -escape;- As; ho reached the.- broad •; thoroughfare, a wild rush and a shout; of; many voices .'roused" him"still-"more; A fire engine, .bell clanging wildly,-, flow past hdm,. then another, and following : -' them the'" clatter of. frunning.feet.- A glare : in,the. sky, - growing every- moment inoro vivid;,drew his oyes' to-it with a kind of. fascination.,. ,f Where .is it?" ho asked,;, catching one :of ■ the passing crowd,' which seemed .to';. spring iron?.; nowhere, 'by, the. arm. ;; ' :' : •-•).. ■ "Ono of the old houses behind; the Ah-; bey. ;•, Ally wood nearly. It'll' burn ..like ;tinder," and the man. was gone.■'•...; ■ Then, ho: knew—knew-as certainly.-as ho did a ; few,.minntes,later,-when,he stood"in front,of (the* house. he; had; just, left,'and ■'saTtv.a' fiery furnace..' "V ■ :-.-.!%■■'''.. '.' Ayesha- was rights .He.eaw: them; once more jintho.strange Jond—the great flaming,eoarlet.petalsj he '.heard tno'low:'humming, which others took-for the roar of, thejflo^es,, grow into;the crooning-melody he.had- loved so'-much,; and iir'the"heart of the.great flame, poppy.,he6aw_. a. face— r his 1 Dream face! "■ V --''-' ? ; .."Save her! 'Save:her!'\he.cried, wildly as'ho sprang forward...:; -:: ■-. - : :'..','lt. -was,-too -;late,; sir," :said a - civil -vbke'beside him.,''. .',,;.,'._,'.',

\'■ 'The : firo' : must..have'■ started;;in „ the. •cellar.V.but the -whole house .was, well alight .before. they' knew anyone, was.inr.it;. The.man and the woman were only at, the .window- for ■ a'second, then the.rfloor ■fell :in.'■>:-. :.' 'S :~'-, :;' ■:':.:. /-; '.-"'-.

-~,'. Started in tho , cellar. ? ', A memory of 'the fallen lamp,arid t!ie,.,dead\mari:.besi<le~ it ;oh< ; the ! -pile'i ;of; straw' 1 ■ came ;back';to' John Jacksbn.-Nemesis had been sure and swjft; .the drugged victim had" beeii the only. one who : could' have helped the man and woman in ."their dire need, and; he was, byV their Vowti'aot,- heavily on a seat on. the Embankment yards ' away; ';;;■-,;/• '. V -'■■ ■'..'■'.•■• ';;'■;•>' .- John Jackson said no more.: He: stood ;with the rest; and'watched till thereat flam© poppies' died and drooped, and the .face of''a' helmeted fireman ; appeared' at .the window where he had seen that brief vision '"■ of ■ his 'Dream Lady.. 'Then he walked -: back to \ his hotels;, heavy-footed and heavy-hearted.; He knew he had;seeri her'"for the last, time-arid with-her passing had' parsed for;him'for, ever -the Poppies of. Death; . :; '. '.-.:-.;.