South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1896-07-30

'You are not going to dress. arr
your 1 said.
"oll, no; but hate these frock coats
"A dinner jacket Is much more COM
fortable.-
l was washing my hands. and I stood
| In front OF the mirror so that L could
watch him. l noticed that rs soon rs
he had changed his coat me opened his
cigar case aud. as well ms could Judge
from the expression on his face, ecnnt-
ed them.
began TO feel profoundly interested,
and determined TO watch Mr.. Harry
and his cigars closely. Dinner was
rather duh affair. There were no
ladies' present. and everybody was nat.
urally depressed by the awful occur.
renee OF the previous night AS soon
as the dessert was put on. we began TO
| smoke, and | was on the lookout for
the appearance OF the silver case.
II was soon produced. and offered to
his right-hand neighbor, who. however.
declined it. preferring to smoke n ciga-
rette. little satirlcal smile fiickered
across Harry Kincald's face. He Sc
lected one for himself and lighted il.
The conversation became general, and
little brighter.
Suddenly Harry Kincald gave a loud
groan aud staggered to his feet
Good heavcnsl - Help Brandy?'
Before any one could move, he
snatched his cigar case out of his
pocket and hurled 1t across the room
toward the fire. 1t struck glass
apergne in the centre of the table and
broke 1t. Then h. fell to the ground
struggling madly. with the most horri-
bic expression of fear and malice on his
face | ever saw. In his fail he seized
the table cloth ard dragged nearly
everything OF the table. We all sprang
to our feet. and the doctor rushed TO his
side. But il was too late. He WAS
dead.
| cannot describe the horror OF the
scene. 1t didn't last moro than a min.
ute, and we stared at one another
aghast. The same thought was in
every ones mind. He haG died Just
the same way that MIR. Clave,l had dicd
the night before. only. that being
younger man, the struggle had been
more intense.
at once picked up the cigar case
which was lying on the hearthrug, and
in the presence OF every one turned out
the contents. / noticed thnt one OF the
six cigars was about an eighth OF inch
shorter than the rest l cat II open
down the center. In the middle s,Iere
was lille blue substance, about the
size of a pea. Then we opened the
other five. They were ordinary cigars
1t was easy to see what had hap.
pened In putting the cigars back into
his case l must have rcarranged them,
and the villain had incautiously
smoked one which he had prepare foi
some one else. took the lump of blue
poison to the specialist whom | had
consulted in the morning.
After some weeks | had this letter
from him.
My Dear Mr.. Somers--I have care
fully examined the blue substance
which you submitted to me some time
ago, and have also shown IL TO the
most eminent chemists of my acquain.
lance. We are bound TO confess we
can tell you nothing about IT, Ii con.
tains drugs which are quite unknown
to modern science. and can only think
that Harry Kincald had picked I'D
some fiendish skill from the South
Americans which is very happily quite
| unknown IN Europe. 1t is a most Cor.
tunate thing that he fell into his own
trap, as feel quite sure that otherwise
it would have been impossible 10 bring
him 10 justice.
Believe me 10 be, yours faithfully,
GIBBS DALTON"
re t,t.a