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204 "No, Polly, I haven't an idea," I replied. "But to-night, if you like, I will come over and help you to find your fortune."

"Thank you very much; you are so good to me," she answered, her words punctuated with sobs.

I drove back again after dark, and found Polly restless and agitated; she had not yet found much money.

"I should so much like a cup of coffee, and I expect it would do you good," I suggested to her.

"I will make some at once," the girl replied, and in a few minutes returned with it.

I had some laudanum with me in a small glass phial, and took the opportunity of putting a fair dose into her cup when her back was turned.

I could not remove the gold in safety unless this restless girl was kept quiet.

"I feel very tired, doctor. I think I won't trouble you any more to-night," she said before long, and we went back to the room in which the miser had died, and in a few moments Polly was in a chair—fast asleep.

Now to work again. It had been a long, trying day—even my nervous system was feeling strained, and when the gold was once