outhed,
stoppered bottle, caught it up, examined the label, and held it at arm's
length.

"The cyanide!" he cried excitedly. "Mal! Stratton, old chap! Good
God! You surely--no, it is impossible. Speak to me, old man! Tell me,
or I shall go mad! Did Edie refuse you?"

Stratton's hands dropped from his face as he rose in his seat, staring
wildly at his friend.

"Edie!" he said wonderingly.

"Yes, Edie!" cried Guest excitedly as he bent down toward his friend.
"Here, stop a minute; what shall I do with this cursed stuff?"

Striding to the window, he threw it open, leaned out, and dashed the
bottle down upon the pavement, shivering it and its contents to
fragments.

"Now speak," he cried as soon as he had returned. "No fooling, man;
speak the truth."

"Edie?" said Stratton again as he sat there trembling as if smitten by
some dire disease.

"Yes. You told me you were going to tell her of your success--to ask
the admiral to give you leave to speak to her."

"No, no," said Stratton slowly.

"Are you mad, or have you been drinking?" cried Guest angrily, and he
caught his friend by the shoulders.

"Don't--don't, Percy," said Stratton feebly. "I'm not myself to-night.
I--I--Why did you come?" he asked vacantly.

"Because it was life or death to me," cried Guest. "I couldn't say a
word to you then, but I've loved little Edie ever since we first met.
You were my friend, Mal, and I couldn't say anything when I saw you two
so thick together. She seemed to prefer your society to mine, and she
had a right to choose. I've been half-mad to-day since you told me you
cared for her, but I couldn't sleep till I knew all the worst."

"I told you I loved Edith Perrin?"

"Yes! Are you so stupefied by what you have taken that you don't know
what you are saying?"

"I know what I am saying," said Stratton, almost in a whisper. "I never
told you that."

"I swear you did, man. You don't know what you say."

"I told you I was going to see the admiral. All a mistake--your's--
mine," he gasped feebly.

"What do you mean?" cried Guest, shaking him.

"I always liked little Edie, but it was Myra I loved."

"What?" cried Guest wildly.

"I spoke to her father to-day, plainly, as--as--an honest man. Too
late, old fellow; too late."

"Too late?"

"She is engaged--to be married--to the admiral's friend."

"Barron?"

"Yes."

"I thought as much. Then it was all a mistake about Edie!" cried Guest
wildly.