Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-05-14

A
entity lifeless. | vas kneeling by
him on the instant, and another
medical man came hurrying MP in
response to a call for help. The
music stopped, the light chatter
and merry laughter died away, and
people looked on awe-struck while
We made q hasty examination.
CHE was dead. felt sure Of Il
from the moment saw him fall.
and the merest glance ut him show
ed us the worst. And he was mot
only dead, bat cold and rigid. II
seemed as IL light and life had gone
out Of him at one fell stroke.
ssrhsse wss, Of course. an snd 10
all snerry-making for that night,
and presently the house was desert /
cd save by those who remained 10 |
attend to poo. Montero. Two or
three hours later we removed the Z
body to my house, and at midnight
found myself gazing on the cold
face OF my dead partner and won.
dering what had caused his death.
For neither | nor the other medi-
cal man who had seen him die could
accurately say what killed him. Tx
was not heart disease, nor a poplexy
nor . seizure Of the ordinary kind
1t was some mode and form of sud.
den death with which we were ua-
familiar. a
"I went into our work room apC
began to think the matter over
The sight Of Montero's works on
toxicology lying loosely arranged or
his desk suggested thought Of sin.
lister aspect to me. Had he pcis.
oned himself ? | went across che
room and began to turn the books
ever. Some Of them knew, o,h-
ers were quite unfamiliar to ME.
As / handled them, wondering il
il they contained any clue to the
sad fate OF my poor friend, a Sip
OF paper, written all over in faded
ink, fell from one and Huttered to
the floor. | picked it up and read
it. 1t ran as follows: Zone Of 4
the most celebrated poisoners of II.
ally was accustomed to poison his
victims by rubbing their gloves or
gauntlets with preparation which
soaked into the flesh and produced
death within few minutes
81 let the paper fall from ny
hand, overwhelmed by n terri5ls
that Ferdinand had
chosen this ingenious mode of terms
mating his life. hastily left the
work room and returned TO the
chamber where his dead body lay.
lifted his right hand and exam
lned it. 1t was cold and still, and
could ut first see no mark on il.
Presently, however, ] noticed that
there was a slight discoloratiGn
about the palm, and that a faint
'dor OF some drug seemed to lingtr
here. | went back to the work
room, feeling that there was some
mystery. In the corridor l met
'ur housekeeper, who evidently
wished TO speak to me.
What shall do with Doctor
Montero's clothes, sir p she inquir-
ID. Shall l put them away, or
will they be wanted at the inquest?'
"'Oh, put them away said /,
But stay, did you see Doctor Mon
'ero's gloves ? Did they come
ncme!'
Il am not sure, SIR she an
'wered. But I'll look and see.'
'Do, please-end bring them
% me If you find them.'
''I went into the work room. In
few moments the housekeeper en-
cred, bearing a dress coat, on the
olded top Of which lay q pair Of
vhite kid gloves.
"1 you please, sir said she Il
hink either you or poor Doctor
dontero made a mistake in iress-
ng tonight
Indeed, how 80 p
" Because, sir, he was wearing
'our dress coat; and, IL I am not
mistaken. you are wearing his
al started up and almost tore the
pat from my shoulders. had had
10 time to change it since coming
iome. The woman was right
here had been q mistake. was
vearing Montero's coat, and the
me they had taken from him was
nine.
81 brushed your coats this even
ne. sir said the housekeeper, 'and
aid fhavn ont 80 4Ln nl~~~.s~