The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-08-19

u
! der, | will get it tor you"
He left me without waiting for
any reply, and quickly returned
with the rest Of the handkerchief.
He handed it to me and said as he
did so:
81 am at 4 loss to conjecture
who could have torn that hand
kerchief, for I thought it was safe
in my apartment when l went out
early in the evening""
I put the piece he gave me with
the other [ already had, and took
my leave.
Once at home and in the soil
tudc of my chamber, | sat down
at my table and, with my face
buried in both hands, fell to think
ing and reasoning. I thought of
the scene l had just left. and could
not doubt that the verdict of the
coroner's jury would be "death
from causes unknown" thought
Of the son and of his torn handkcr-
chief, and spread out the latter
before me on the table, and fitted
it to the portion I had found wet
! and limp under the bed Of the de-
ceased. Then took the wet piece
in my fingers and felt and looked
at it. 1t did not seem to have
been stepped in water, and to the
touch 1T was just in the slightest
way sticky. I further remarked
that it had very faint white
| tiuge in spots, as if some kind of
foam had recently been upon it.
Just at that instant | caught sight
Of a paragraph in q daily paper
lying in front Of me, and mechani-
cally read it.
The paragraph was as follows:
"a CHASTITY scientific discovery
is reported from Turin, where
Professor Castu:ini, the celebrated
oculist, has found way Of killing
animals by forcing air into their
eyes a few seconds, and aim ost
without causing pain. Expert
mcnts were recently made at the
Royal Veterinary School, and it is
said that they have fully proved
the truth Of the Professors inven.
ton. Within the space Of a few
minutes four rabbits, three dogs
and a goat were killed in this man.
ner. The most remarkable fact is
that the operation leaves absolute
ly no outward trace
l started up instantly after hav,
ing read this, and began rapidly
to walk the room. I was flushed
and agitated. Perhaps l had the
key to the mystery I was search
ing to solve!
"Gracious!'' p I thought, eff this
paragraph be true, might not the
method of destruction be applied
as fatally to man as to the inferior
animals?"
| burriedly returned to the
| house Of death and rang the bell
The son answered the summons
in person.
He looked not a little surprised
at my sudden return.
"What is the matter ?" be de-
manded.
"Nothing," said IL was quite
cool and collected by this time
Il merely wished to make another
examination of the chamber o
the deceased.'
He led me to it at once.
l again scrutinized the body
this time paying more attention
TO the face and head Of the dea>
man.
There was absolutely nothing
to be seen there that I had no
seen before. | then pressed opel
the mouth slightly with my fin
gers, and, as l did SO, felt, o
tanc!ed | felt, the same sligh
sickness | had detected on tn
limp piece OF handkerchief:
looked into the mouth, and nearl,
trcmblcd for joy to see there th
cIcarly-defnod white tinge Q
dried foam!
For u moment | could hardl,
contain myself, and my heart bea
50 loudly that | was almost afrai
my companion wonld hear it an
grow alarmed.
However, l did control mysel
and as soon as | could trust m
voice, said:
"Is there no way by which thi
house might be entered except b
: the first story ?"
"Oh, yes" returned the son, 9
composedly as ever, "there is
} door in my apartment opening o
an old, uuased portico, but thu
has been locked and double bolte
t all winter"
This observation was just VIII:
; I wanted, for it pointed out to n
way to obtain view of th
|. ! p,nD,c nr;uota room on6 that 70