National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07
CmARLEY,s cAsI,.
[Chlcngo Naval

town, but-and mentioned the fact, not
from any feeling of vanity, but because It
is necessary to the unfolding of my story
had acquired some repute for discerning
the occult causes Of maladics, the first step
TO whose remedy, in all cases, is to discover
their root, the next to strike at It..
One afternoon strange lady came to my
Office, bearing in her arms wan, sicNly-
looking child. Though accompanied by a
servant, she seemed 10th TO trust the little
sufferer to any but her own motherly care.
~ have come, doctor,n she said, ''to con-
suit you about my little boy. For some
months he has been declining gradually,
and
The quiyering lip and choked utterance
evinced the depth of the solicitude with
which my decision was awaited.
took the little invalid by the hand. lie
shrank back at first, but, after n little coax
ing, suffered me to take him on my knee,
and soon we. were prattling together, the
best of friends.
While asking him his name, which he said
was "Tarley," aud his age, which he told
me was "frce years." / felt the little fcl-
lows pulse and made such other observa-
tions as a proper understanding. of the case
required"
Looking up, found the mothers gaze
1Neu anNlOuSly on my lace.
"What do you think, doctorYn she in
quired tremulously; ''can you give me any
hope?"
III detect no symptoms Of organic dis
casc,n replied; "nothng but a general
feebleness of the system, which, l trust, will
yield readily to careful nursing and simple
tonics.n
"Then you think my child may be savedr'
she cried, eagerly.
az bnya onrt oi,Iy oyory bona madam, ~
"Bless you, doctor ~ she exclaimed, the
tears wolling up beyond control. "You
see, Charley's uncle, the brother of my poor
husband, who died six months ago, opposed
my coming here We had already tried the
first physicians Of the city, and thought 1t
useless TO go elsewhere. I'm glad | took
advantage OF his absence and came Of my
own accord. l left word for him to join us
here on his return, and I'm sure when he
finds Charley better he will approve my
course. lie takes great interest In Charley.n
prepared vial Of medicine, which |
gave to Charley's mother, who departed
with n much more cheerful look than that
with which she had entered.
My expectations were not deceived In
few days little Charley was so much
stronger that began to think him out of
danger, and his mothers face looked so
happy that / should scarcely have recog-
nized IL as the same that had greeted me at
our first meeting.
At the end of week was waited on by
II stranger, who introduced himself as Mr..
Lander, little Chnrlcy's uncle. His manner
and speech were those OF a gentleman, but
there was something sinister in HIS express
sion not calculated to win at first sight.
~ am glad to find my nephew's health so
much improved" he said, "and beg you to
accep: my thanks. trust the change may
be permanent
III feel every assurance It will be-" l an
swered.
"My great fear is that the disease is
hereditary" replied Mr.. Lander, lugubri
ously. "The symptoms attending my poor
brothers last illness were precisely the
same"
set Mr.. Lander down for O croakcr, and,
filing up the vial of medicine for which he
had come, got rid of my doleful visitor as
speedily as possible.
Next morning received a message that
little Charley was worse, and request
from his mother to call without delay.
went at once to the hotel at which the
lady was stopping, and, to my surprise,
found the child in Il state of even greater
prostration than that IN which had first
seen him.
"When did this change begingn / asked
''Soon after he began taking the last
incidence said Charley's mother.
"Your child inherits handsome fortune,
/ believer
The lady looked surprised, as though
wondering what that had to do with the
question In hand.
MAY ] ask to whom 1t would go In the
event Of his death?n continued.
"To his uncle, Mr.. Lander" was the
reply. ,o,,,,., ,,o ,u,,, ,,,. ,,,,,o,, ,,,o
| property came to my husband, that in case
he died childless, or none of his children
lived to come Of age, the estate should go to
his brother"
"Pardon my curiosity, madam / said,
"but every doctor is bit of a gossip, you
know.n
"By tile way,m / added, carelessly. sis
there any Of that last vial Of medicine left?''
The vial was placed In my hand. About
third Of the contents remained.
81 will leave this in its place." l said,
handing Charley's mother another and put
ting the first in my pocket; and, with few
words Of encouragement, took my leave,
~ met Mr.. Lander at the door Of my
office, and asked him in. Inviting him Ia
be seated, and excusing myself for q mo.
ment, passed into rear room, which
used as a short of laboratory"
"How did you leave little Charley, doc
tori" inquired Mr.. Lander on my reap
peHrance.
| 'hb Well Hb COulu eNUcCJ 10 uuu Out
who had been taking poison r' answered
"Poison ln he gasped, deathly pallol
overspreading his face.
'IIere is the residue Of the physic which
sent by you yesterday" continued, pro
ducing the vial. 81 have subjected II to
chemical test, and find In it a strong tine
ture of a certain vegetable poison which, Il
administered In small but repeated doses
will, In time, produce death and leave NJ
trace of the means employed"
"What do you meanP' cried Lander
springing to his feet and quaking with terror
II mean,n said ], "that when / gave yor
this vial Yesterday there was no poison IL
ii. There is now, and you are the only
one whom the child's death would benefit
am convinced of your guilt Of attempted
murder! Whether you have not committed
actual murder, also, leave to your OWL
conscience; for, by your own statement
your brother died In q manner indicating
the use Of the same foul. means, and ther
was the same motive for employing them.
"Do you intend to denounce me to TIN
law ~ he asked.
"such / deem to be my duty" an
swered.
''Some poisons are slow and some ar
quick ~ he exclaimed, and, hastily takin;
from his vest pocket vial OF prussic acid
he put 1t to his lips and drained the con
tents, falling dead almost instantly.
My little patient, II is needless to say
suffered no more relapses.
|
Mr.. Atkins Found the boomers.