Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-02-19
WEIRD MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, M. D.
CHAPTER m.-tContInued.)

poison did not have time to work be
fore the dagger was used; at least, that
poor DR.. Seabury was yet alive when
this cruel thrust was made into his
heart
he nodded his head.
GDOetOr, am glad to see you so posi-
tive 1t has q decided bearing on the
case that has been thrust before u.s."
Il don't understand exactly. What
possible difference can it make to DIR.
Seabury, or any one else, whether that
blade passed into his heart five sec
onds before or after the poison had done
its work? He was a doomed man any
way
doctor, that is where the value OF
your testimony comes in-that is why
warned you TO go slow and sure. If he
was already dead when the blow struck,
It was q case of suicide-We could not
prove that the wOuld-be assassin had
taken that which the old Doctor had not
his life.
AOn the other hand, If you can swear
that the creese was used while DR.. Sea-
bury was yet breathing, and that il
stilled the action of his heart, it is case
OF murderl"
drew a long breath.
~Quite fine point of distinction, sir. q
@And yet some ones life hangs upon it.
II you raise plea in court that the man
you slew in cold blood had hasty con-
sumption, and must die shortly at any
rate, that won't save you. The court
doesn't take into consideration the state
of health of your victim. 1t seeks a
motive and result. That is ALL"
according TO that then, Mr.. Ketch-
am, there has been a crime committed
here"
~Undoubtedy."
aAnd Dr Sea burv was u1urdarad -
@Resting upon your evidence, can
positively swear in the affirmative"
began to feel a second growth Of i'm
pOrtahce. This time, however, did not
initiate myself with pomposity. The
manner in which had been lowered be-
fore was warning to me.
saw that 1 could really be useful TO
the old detective If I went about my
work in a quiet way, and 1 determined
TO do everything in my power to retain
the respect of Mr.. Ketcham-
a still hold TO my conviction, said,
firmly and positively.
"Can you explain to me without the
o. use of any technical language upon what
you base your cOnYict1on?"
HLOOk here minute, sir, and I will
endeavOr to make it clear to you, though
I can hardly hope to put it as strongly
into words as feel it.
"You see the spot of blood upon the
linen? This poison is very peculiar in
its action. This is why / said it would
surprise me TO find the blood gathered at
the heart as you suggested
"Ah, Doctor, that was a mere subter-
fuge to draw your attention to that
quarter"
Il have since suspected it. Now the
deadly qualities Of this drug, found in
the tomb of some old Pharaoh of Egypt,
and Gnanrad a., n harrnaffaa 1lrr LODI
jug, consist in paralyZing the heart and
its tributaries, so that they cease their
action instantly, and the blood cOagu-
lates.
al solemnly believe that, had that dag
ger been thrust into his body after the
virus had gotten in its work, If any
blood had issued at all, which I serious
ly doubt, it would have been as black
as tar instead Of crimson as you see this
stain"
Mr.. Ketcham had stood by my side
while was speaking.
He now took my hand
doctor, you have made it clear to me.
only hope you will let me have an Op-
pOrtunity TO tell the same story to an in
telligent jury"
Meaning, 1 suppose, that you only
hope the murderer viii be caught"
He gave me peculiar look.
4
lin fact, before we left that room.
'Yes, II it is in mortal power, the
hand that sent the Yengeful steel into
the heart OF that venerable man shall
pay the penalty OF murder"
He was deeply in earnest
Doctor Seabury had inspired respect
wherever he was known, and was heart
and soul with the detective in his de-
sire to have justice done
IL - Il. I
quired whether you have any idea as to
the Identity of this lOathsome erlminal?''
doctor, you have done me a good turn
tonight, and one which no other physi-
clan could have brought about Because
of that and the fact of my having taken
fancy to you, shall indulge your curl
osity to a certain exteAt"
THANK you, Mr.. Keteham, bat don't
do it unless you think it polite. 1 know
how to keep a close mouth, and II can
be Of any use to you, command me-"
"A word dropped sometimes gives me
an idea or a clew. 1 generally work on
the principle that a secret is better kept
with one than with two. AT the same
time l have seen occasions where two
heads were better than a single one"
$50 have !, sir.S
aIf You will glance at the face of the
deceased you win see that the eyes are
bulged out, although closed lowered
the lids when first came The jaw is
rigid, showing that he died in an agony,
although the expression of his face now
is rather peaceful
Notice his hands One has q death
grip on the eoverlet yonder. The other
elutched this crystal phial convulsively.
@The staring, sightless eyes were fixed
upon point that would cover me as
stand here now. If my invention were
perfected I would be able to take from
those sightless eyes the photograph OF
the face that bent over Doctor Seabury
in his dying secOnds-the face belonging
to the arm that drove the awful weapon
home. That is q triumph reserved fol
my future. When / perfect it crime
must 60. down before the march OF i'm
prOvement-S
I vas astonished at his words
They gave me subject for further
thought when could ponder upon the
range and possibilities of an invention
such as that he mentioned
@Being without such little detectOr
am obliged to depend upon other source:
for my clews- 1 examined the vines out
sido the window and discovered that IL
places they were torn, showing that som'
one climbed up the trellis.
Il also made up my mind that thi
person was light Of build, much more 81
than either you or !, for those vine
would swing loose under our weight
eHaylng traced my assassin to thu
window look further for evidence.
aOn the sill ] md certain scratches Of
ths paint that seem 70 tell Of z humal
iQoi hsving noFapod across.