The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-10-27

all, aud outside the window, fat against
the wall. creeping along inch by inch. was
Lawrence Hapgood. He came close to the
window where the boy sat, and I saw him
slyly stretch out his hand. 1t might have
been a mere joke, such as people often play
on children, but l saw the expression on
The mans face, and it Mortified me. clear
ed the fence at one jump and flew up the
path. Lawrence was gone, but little James
sat looking at his finger.
Something bit me- he said, in his
plaintive voice. I" shall die like mamma
apd brothers,
But picked him up in my arms and ran
with him to my shop, which, as you see, is
near by.
There was wound almost on the nail OF
.he little finger of the littlc hand, and
red line was travelling down the finger.
| consulted with nosone. l put the child
under the influence of chlorofonn, and my
assistant and amputatcd the tiny finger.
The child was faint aud ill, but 1 had
stopped the spread of the poison; and /
put him TO bed in my own room, and left
him, two hours after, quite safe to get over
it. Then I took my big revolver, and walk
ed over to Hapgood House.
Lawrence wns at the door, with his hypo.
critical smile.
" I'm looking for poor little James, Mr..
Jahr,n he said. Pm anxious about him.
Such fatality attends my poor step-moth-
er's family. Their blood is bad, doubtless
wish could find the child
~ left him reading at the window said
he housekeeper from the stairs behind
And it's odd for him to go out late al
night.n
He's in bed at my house," said. "rm
sorry to say he's been bitten by something"
The housekeeper shrieked.
Lawrence Hapgood called on the name of
the Lord. took my revolver out of my
bosom.
"Take of that ringin l said, covering
him.
I-I--don't know what you mean,a he
said
"You do,n / answered. Take of that
ring, and throw IL on the road.
well,n he sold, struggling his shout
ders, If one has to deal with maniac
one must submit to absurdities."
He drew off the ring, tossed it MS far as
he could, and /, still with my revolver
pointed toward him, picked II up with my
handkerchief.
took care not to touch It, and had 1t in
my shop before many minutes. II was the
sort of ring that, in the sixteenth century,
was called death ring A horrible
poison is hidden in those claws. When
persons at the court of Italy grew trouble.
some, those who wore the ring shook hands
with them and pressed the ring into their
palm. The poison entered their veins. BE.
fore dawn they were dead.
Lawrence Hapgood had brought the ring
from Italy in order TO rid himself Of
his step-mother and brothers. but I had
saved the life of little James. He is muster
Of the estate yonder to-day.
"And TINT fiondish creature Lawrence2' ~
asked.
Mr.. Jahr shrugged his shoulders and
1nKau NO answer: t1eft nls si1vp, ssla did
horror Later, met the celebrated physi
clan Of whom the druggist had spoken, and
alluded to the story had heard.
Nothing in it. That's a crank of Jahr's,
said he. g He sticks to it, and has driver
an excellent man out of the country with ii
The ring probably had poison In 1t in thu
sixteenth century, but is harmless now.
The prick of pin would kill the present
proprietor of Hapgood; the others died
from simple blood poisoning, caused by the
bites Of insects, or some tiny wound. They
died in twenty-four hours.n
Later on spoke to an old inhabitant Of
the subject.
ooh, that's o crank OF Jahr's," he said.
"The ring may have had poison in II in the
sixteenth century. It's quite harmless now.
don't think he quite believes the story
himself, but II startles strangers, aud hs
likes to tell IT,"