He raised up the almost lifeless girl, and forced open her lips. Then he took the glass, and poured half the contents down her throat. She spluttered, but swallowed, and he let her form drop back on the bed. He was in a cold perspiration now, and in sudden fear, he fairly rushed out of the cottage and down the hillside in the direction of his home.
CHAPTER XXX
RAISING THE CURTAIN
As soon as his interview with Tom Ostrello was at an end, Adam Adams asked the young man to leave him.
"I am going to follow up this clew," he said. "And the quicker the better."
He looked over a valise he carried and selected a number of things he
wanted. Midnight found him at the depot, boarding a train for
Fairfield. At the latter place he changed and took another train for
Bryport. Arriving at that city, he located at a hotel, and went to bed.
He was up at sunrise and procured an early breakfast. Then he returned to his room and spent a full hour in donning another outfit and in powdering his face, and adjusting a wig and a reddish moustache.
The same car that had taken him to the vicinity of John Watkins' residence before, took him there again. As he approached the house he saw the secret service man coming forth.
"Excuse me, Mr. Watkins, but I must see you," said he, in a low and suggestive tone.
"To see me?" questioned the man. "What about?"