arefully into this affair," continued Miss
Margaret, in that same calm, clear voice, "and I have reason to believe
there is something terribly wrong here. I have often taken the same
drops for sleeplessness that Andrew says has been administered to my
brother, and it never produced that effect upon me, and on several cases
I have taken an overdose."

"I--I--suppose--the--the--drug--acts differently upon different
constitutions," answered young Mrs. Gardiner.

Her eyes seemed fairly glued upon the still, white face lying back on
the not whiter pillow. She could not have removed her gaze if her very
life had been at stake.

"I have a strange theory," continued Miss Margaret, slowly, and in that
terribly calm voice that put Sally's nerves on edge. "A very strange
theory."

Margaret Gardiner saw her sister-in-law start suddenly and gasp for
breath, and her face grew alarmingly white as she answered, hoarsely:

"A theory of--of--how your brother's condition came about!" she
gasped, rather than spoke the words. "Then you--you--do
not--believe--Andrew's--statement?"

"No!" replied Margaret Gardiner, in that same high, clear, solemn voice
that seemed to vibrate through every pore of Sally's body. "I think
Andrew fully believes what he states to be the truth; but he has not
deceived. He has been most cleverly fooled by some one else."

"What--what--makes you--think that?" cried Sally, sharply. "Those are
strong words and a strange accusation to make, Miss Margaret."

"I am quite well aware of that," was the slow reply.

And as Jay's sister uttered the words, Sally could feel the strong gaze
which accompanied them burn like fire to the very depths of her beating
heart.

What did Margaret Gardiner suspect? Surely, she would never think of
suspecting that she--his bride--had any hand in Jay's illness? There
would be no apparent reason.

"Shall I tell you whom I suspect knows more of this than----"

"Doctor Baker, miss," announced one of the servants; and the coming of
the famous old doctor put a stop to all further conversation for the
present, much to Sally's intense relief.

CHAPTER L.

Young Mrs. Gardiner looked fearfully and eagerly into the face of the
stern-countenanced old doctor who had just entered and had stepped up
hurriedly to his patient's bedside.

He had heard from the messenger who had come for him just what had
occurred to Jay Gardiner, and he was greatly puzzled.

"The toothache drops