The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-28
"A WEIRD MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, M. D.
CHAPTER Hl.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER m.-(Continuod)
~ am convinced, Mr.. Ketcham, be-
yond all shadow of doubt, that the
poison did not have time to work be-
fore the dagger was used; ut least, that
Door DR.. Seabury was yet alive when
this cruel thrust was made into his
heart
He nodded his head,
doctor, am glad to see you so posi-
tive. 1t has decided bearing on the
case that has been thrust before u.s."
II don't understand exactly. What
possible difference can 1t make to DR.:
Seabury, or any one else, whether that
blade passed into his heart i've SEQ
onds before or after the poison had done
its work? He was q doomed man any
way" .,.. ...
e aDoctor, that is where the value Of
your testimony comes in-that is why !
warned you to 90 slow and sure. If he
was already dead when the blow struck.
It was 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 1t
stilled the action of his heart, 1t is q case
of murder!"
drew long breath.
"Quite fine point Of distinction, sir. !"
GAnd vet 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 8
motive and result. That is ALL"
According to that then, Mr.. Ketch-
am, there has been crime committed
here"
"Undoubtedy."
"And DR.. Seabury was murdered"
"Resting upon your evidence, l can
positively swear in the affirmative"
/ began to feel second growth Of i'm
portance. 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 cid detective II I went about my
work in quiet way, and ! determined
to do everything In my power to retain
the respect Of Mr.. Ketcham.
u still hold to my conviction" said,
firmly and positively.
sCan you explain to me without the
use of any technical language upon what
you base your convictlon?"
sLook here minute, sir, and l will
endeavor to make it clear to you. though
/ can hardly hope to put it as strongly
into words as ! feel it.
avoh oao fha onnf 0f h1onl nnON tina
iinen2 This poison is very peculiar in
its action. This is why said it would
surprise me to find the blood gathered al
the heart al you suggested" 49,.
= SAh, Doctor, that was a mere subter'
fpge to draw your attention to that
~ have since suspected it. Now the
deadly qualities Of this drug, found IN
: the tomb of some old Pharaoh 0r EByr.s
and secured in q hermeticauy SCALED
!. Jug, consist in paralyzing the heart and
its tributaries, so that they cease theil
action instantly, and the blood coagu.
iates.
u 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 l serious
" doubt, it would have been as black
as tar instead of crimson as you see thii
stain"
Mr.. Ketcham had stood by my side
while l 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.
.elligent jury"
Meaning, I suppose, that you only
hope the murderer will be caught
He gave me peculiar look.
had cause to remember it afterwards
in fact, before we left that room.
"Yes, if it is in mortal power, the
hand that sent the vengeful 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.
would it be asking too much II in
uuired whether you have any idea as te
the identity of this loathsome criminal?'
"Doctor, you have done me good turr
tonight, and one which no other physi
clan could have brought about. Because
of that and the fact of my having takeI
a fancy to you, shall indulge your curl
osity to certain extent"
THANK you, Mr.. Ketcham, but dom
do it unless you think it polite. know
how to keep close mouth, and if ! Cal
be of any use to you, command me-"
"a word dropped sometimes gives mt
an idea or clew. l generally work Oh
the principle that secret is better KEEP
with one than with two. At the same
time I have seen occasions where two
heads were better than single one"
$50 have /, sir"
aIf you will glance at the face of the
deceased you will see that the eyes arr
bulged out, although closed. lowered
the lids when I first came. The jaw Il
rigid, showing that he died in an agony
aitnougn the expression OF MS 1ace now
is rather peaceful.
Notice his hands. One has deatt
grip on the coverlet yonder. The Other
clutched this crystal phial convulsively
"The staring, sightless eyes were fxee
upon point that would cover me as
stand here now. II my invention were
perfected I would be able to take from
those aghtless eyes the photograph OF
the face that bent over Doctor Seabur1
In his dying seconds-the face belonging
to the arm that drove the awful weapon
home. That 10 o triumph reserved for
my future. When ! perfect it crime
must 60 down before the march OF i'm
provement."
was astouished at his words.