The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-08-14


at all moved by my cries. The more sem
sible thing to do would be to feel all about
the apartment, and see If no hope of es-
cape would present itself. Hardly had l
commenced to act upon this thought when
! heard the rafting of key in a part of
the room opposite to that where had en-
tered A door was suddenly thrown open,
and man came in, with a lighted lamp in
his hand, which he placed on stand. He
closed the door, but did not relock it. and
then coolly drew chair to the side of the
stand and sat down. 1t was DR.. Beau
mont, cool, placid, almost smiling. He
bent his eyes steadily upon me. but said
not word; he seemed inclined to let me
speak first.
He did not have long to wait My COM
posure returned at once when l saw him be-
fore me, and with it came the determine
ton to make short work of regaining my
liberty. Deliberately l drew the revolver
from my breast and rested the barrel upon
my left arm.
Sir" | said, Il shall leave this room
Immediately, by the door at which you
have just entered. / shall leave the house
as well. What | have seen here, and what
has just happened to me, warn me that
am in a den of desperadoes. You will I'M
derstand that the man who stands in my
way dies like dog"
He must have seen that l meant every
word of it, and fancied that he started at
sight of the pistol. He put up his hand in
deprecating way, and quickly said:
Let us have no weapons here, my good
friend-there viii be no need of that No
body will oppose your leaving this house in
due time; nobody wants
My anger rose to fever-heat as l heard
him, and | interrupted him holly. The
argument that carried in my hand put me
IN no mood 10 temporiZe with him.
Or Beaumont. | have known. you for
some time as a scOUndrel and a hypocrite;
now you come to me with the language of
liar. Get from between me and that door,
or shall walk over YOU to it.
/ meant to sting him, and l succeeded.
His face flushed purple with rage, but he
mastered it by a mighty effort.
One moment sir, he cried. you shall
not drive me into a quarrel; my business
with you is too important for that. | waive
for the present all causes of difference that
You and | have had before this night. /
overlook for the present your hasty in
suits, and l say to you what | was Just
about to say when you Interrupted me
that what small force has been used to de-
tain you here has been only to the end that
has just died-might secure fair under
standing with you. viii you now allow me
ten minutes of your time2"
For what purpose"
THAT l nay talk with you of the scene
you have just witnessed in that chamber;
that l may make you a proposition i'm
mensely to your advantage. You will re-
greet it all your life if you refuse"
l drew out my watch. Ten minutes
give you, and l warn you that at the slight
est appearance of treachery l will send q
bullet into you. Now, speak FAST"
| cooked the revolver, aud held it ready.
Tut, tut! you're too suspicious. This is
purely matter of business. Well, to go
on. You came tonight abruptly into the
house and the chamber of dying man,
without leave or request, and stood by his
bedside till he died. Surely those nearest
him by blood, as well as his physician in
attendance, have a right to some explana-
ton of such an act.
And | decline to explain; at least here,
and to you. At the proper time. and in the
proper place, 1 shall not be slow with my
explanation.
What do you mean?"
DIR. Beaumont, away with all this tri-
fling. You know the cause of Mr.. Whal-
ley's death as we'll as |. Now, since you
provoke me to it, 1 will tell you that 1
made the intrusion of which you complain
to see for myself what was killing him.
Il have attended him for two years, and
/ don't want any more light on that point.
His death was due TO cancer of the stom-
ach, which has within the last month de-
veloped with unusual rapidly"
Sir, you lie! you deliberately, coolly ut
ter the falsehood that you have framed for
this case.
Indeed he sneered. Perhaps, since
you claim to be doctor, you will be kind
enough to tell me the cause of his death.
Eyes, sir, | can and will, though you
know it as well as |. The indications were
so strongly marked that no physician could
possibly mistake them. The violent irrita-
ton of the intestines, the great depression
of the circulation, the intense burning
pains of the stomach, the agonizing thirst,
the utter prostmton of the system-all
these things point to one cause, and one
alone"
paused. and, looking him square in the
eye, added slowly:
The man was killed by arsenic, admin
istered lately, and in considerable quaint
ties"
Even the known, proved murderer, will
quail when boldly accused of his crime;
and this man, though he must have antici-
pated what was about to say, trembled at
my speech.
Do you accuse me-" he began, but
stopped him.
Il am not here to make accusations
came for information. What / may choose
to do after leaving this house you will learn
IN due time. And now, what else? your
time is about up"
You are not absurd enough to suppose
that your opinion will be taken against mine
IN this matter?" he impudently persisted.
"Dr. Beaumont, again l say cease this
foolish trifing Is it necessary for me to
remind physician of your age and expe-
rience that the best witness, the only wit
ness required as to the cause of this death
will be the post-mortem examination of
the body. You know as well as | that the
arsenic in his system can be found three
months hence.
The man had actually been sounding me
as to my professional knowledge of the eff
fects of arsenical poisoning before and
after death. He had gone far enough to
discover that this subject was very familiar
to me, and that | could not be deluded into
any doubts as to the case of Edison Wbal-
ley. DIR. Beaumonts manner suddenly
changed; he raped the stand sharply with
LIS h4hShASo, anu pune Win Lib luluTd1
tone of assurance and audacity.
Well, then, sir, enough of that part of
the business. You think you are right;
think you are MOTT is not the first time
that doctors have disagreed. Assuming
that you are entirely wrong, and that an in
vestlgation would show it, still, such in
vestlgations are unpleasant while they last;
and, if you and l can agree upon terms, we
shall be relieved of such annoying conse-
quences as might follow from your persist
ing In your absurd opinion. What do You
say TO thousand dollars? Just dismiss all
delicacy, and treat this as business mat
ter: know you are poor, and that money
is desirable to YOU
The scoundrel was actually offering me a
brlbe to keep silent and make no accusa-
ton. | looked at him with speechless in
dignation. He misunderstood, or affected
to misunderstood, the cause of my silence.
All, l see perhaps the argument don't
strike high enough. Well, sir, sign with
me certificate that the cause of Edison
Whalleys death was cancer of the stomach.
end five thousand dollars shall be placed
IN your hand tonight, before you leave this
house"