Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-04-13
MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, II. D.
CHAPTER L.

Rat-Tat-Tat.
am doctor, and usually light
.sleeper. but on this night l must have
overdono myself, for, having failed to
arouse me by Jerking the office bell
the PARTY outside had resOrted to this
violent means of pounding upon the
door.
Springng up, and now 1ully awake,
hastily slipped on my clothes.
In the meantime, the party OUTSIDE
had given another series of scientific
rams on theinOffenSive panels of my door.
"Be easy, there; 1 am coming" l
called, tugging at refractory ooot' %
Finally equipped, l struck 1or inc
. door and opened it, having hrst turned
up the fame of the night lamp, Whlch
had been left burning behind screen
A man stood on the steps
He was mufied up from the chill night
air so thathis face was hardly visible
doctor, want you.
| bent forward to gain better view
of his countenance.
"What you, Mr.. Ketcham!"
He nodded his head.
This man, Abner Ketcham, was one OF
4 the shrewdest detectives in the whole
city of New York.
His name was household word.
Under many an alias the detectlVe
had figured in the most important cases
Of the times.
i knew him because we had had some
little business a month before, when
was fresh from my foreign travel and re-
searches into the mysteries of the materla
% medica of the ancient Egyptians.
At that time l had been enabled to &c
Mr.. Ketcham q great favor, and he haC
taken fancy to nc.
Possibly this might account for hl'
calling me up at o'clock in the morning
as l had learned it was
=. .ssNlow me one minute to put on. m.
hat and coat, sir, and l am with YOU.
sS@Rrine YOUR case along, also ever,
known antidote for poison" he said.
/ did as he requested.
We.were soon outside, and for the tirs
time noticed that a carriage stood nea
an with you, Doctor Back again
driver. and don't spare horse flesh.
Il began to be interested.
The words of the detective, togethe
with certain other things that could b
taken into consideration, seemed
foreshadow some event beyond the ord
nary.
We started off at round pace
Though bursting with curiosity, woul
not say a word, knowing Mr.. Ketchal
too well for that.
At last he spoke.
al have a case for you, Doctor, tn;
will try your skill"
"YOu're welcome to IT., sir.
"Have you ever met DIR. Seabury?'
81 have seen him and heard much
him, but have no personal acquan
ance."
He had mentioned the name of phys
clan noted for his knowledge In the III
Of tOxicOlOgy.
There never yet had been any case
the way of poisons, present or ancien
which. submitted to him, could not
readily solved.
Mr.. Ketcham said no more.
was left to take it for granted that
was to be q cO-laborer with the gre
Doctor Seabury upon some intrlca
case.
The thought fattered me.
Though had never had any person
acquaintance with the old gentleman,
was following in his footsteps, hayil
made toxicology or the science OF polso
in their relation to the human oooy 4
life. study.
He must have heard Of me, then, al
needing assistance on some point
which he was not positive. had sent l
me
/ could see Mr. Ketcham's eyes up
my face every little while.
No doubt he wondered why refrain
from asking questions; bat had read Il
man before, and knew that the easie
way to his regard was silence and Sc
possession at all times.
Hence. | determined to be surprised
; nothing, no matter what might happe
The rattle and bang caused by su
rapid progress over the stony streets W
far from being conducive to comic
even if one were inclined to talk.
At length the vehicle drew up close
the curb.
"Hcre we are, Doctor" said the {
: tcctiye, as he opened the door he h
= been neryously lingering, and leap
out.
followed more sedately, as ha(
couple of small cases TO look after.
CHANGING up, discovered that we W.
before a house that was peculiar
only in itself but because its class is
most obsolete in New York, where eve
foot of ground is worth a great deal
money.
The house fronted on the street bu
had side yard, which was, | had
doubt, garden, although a high "
nrnventcd me from making sure OF Il
could just catch glimpse OF sta
in the rear.
) We walked up the steps
- Mr.. Kctcham opened the frOh' do0l