Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-04-20
A WEIRD MYSTERY
Tracing a Dark Crime.
BY ALEXANDER ROBINSON, NJ. D.
CHAPTER III. .-fContinuedl

CHAPTER Ill. l.-(COntinued)
81 am convinced, Mr.. Ketcham, be-
yond all shadow of doubt, that tho
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.
doctor, | am GLAD to see you so posi-
tive. 1t has a decided bearing on the
case that has been thrust before us.
81 don't understand exactly. What
possible difference can it make to Dr.
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 case of suicide-we could not
prove that the would-be assassin had
taken that which the old Doctor had not
his life.
"On the other hand, if you can swear
that the creese was used while DIR. Sea-
bury was yet breathing, and that it
stilled the action of his heart, it is case
of murder!"
| drew long breath.
"Ouite a fine point Of distinction, sir"
"And vet some ones life hangs upon it.
If you raise a 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
motive and result. That is ALL"
according to that then, Mr.. Ketch-
am, there has been a crime committed
here"
"Undoubtedy.
"And DIR. Seabury was murdered"
"Resting upon your evidence, l can
positively swear in the affirmative"
began to feel a 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 a warning to me.
I saw that | could really be useful to
the cd detective if l went about my
work in quiet way, and l determined
to do everything in my power to retain
the respect of Mr.. KCt ham.
"I stll 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?"
"Look here o minute, sir and will
endeavor to make it clear to you. though
I can hardlyhope't to put it as strongly
into words as Ifeel 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
tho heart as you suggested.
"Ah, Doctor, that was mere subter-
fuge to draw your attention to that
quarter"
81 have since suspected it, Now the
deadly qualities of this drug, found in
the tomb of somesold Pharaoh of Egypt,
and secured in q Theoretically sealed
Jug, consist in paralyzing the heart and
its tributaries, so that they cease their
action instantly and the blood coagu-
ates.
81 solemnly believe that, had that dag
ger been thrust into his body after the
virus had gotten in its work, II any
lloCd lad issued at all, which l serious
lv 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 1t clear to me.
only hope you will let me have an op-
portunity to tell the same story to an in
telligent jury"
Meaning, l 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.
eyes, if it is in mortal power, the
hand that sent the vengcful 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 if in
quired whether you have any idea as to
the identity of this lOathsOme criminalY
"Dcctor, you have done me a good turn
tonight, and one which no other physi-
clan could have brought about. Because
4 that and the fact of my having takel
a fancy to you, / shall indulge your curl
osity to a certain eXtel
"Thank you, Mr.. Ketcham, but don't
do it unless you think it polite. know
how to keep a close mouth, and IL ] can
be of any use to you, command mes"
"A word dropped sometimes gives me
an idea or clew. | generally work on
the principle that secret is better kept
with one than with two. At the Same
time have seen occasions where two
heads were better than single one"
"So have i, sir"
"If you will glance at the face Of the
deceased YOU will see that the eyes are
bulged out, although closed. lowered
the lids when first came The jaw il
rigid, showing that he died in an agony