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

opinion that my brother was murdered
HIS death wss shockingiy sudden, and
my nephew, Harry. is, am sorry To
say, q thorough rogue; but should be
sorry to think he was guilty OF this
Il can't see any reason to suspect
him OF It," said drily.
Then they explained TO me exactly
where everybody was standing when
the death took place. and | asked n
good many questions, as to what the
dinner consisted OF, but nothing trans-
PRED which threw any light on the
inntter.
This Is the cigar which he was smok-
Ing said the young fellow suddenly.
Il took IL out or his hand. and placed
IL on the mantelplece. DO you think. -
he went on quickly. n man could be
poisoned by cigar. because. now
come to think of IL. this one came out
OF my cousins case"
u don't think cignr could be made
so as to Kill man on the spot" I re-
piled. ut might make him very sick.
or send him TO sleep. but not kill him.
Besides" said Edward Kincald.
senior. several OF us smoked cigars
out OF Harry's case. I think you did
for one. You see," he continued. turn
ing TO me, when we were lighting up,
my brother had cigars handed round,
but my nephew produced his own case
and offered 1t to those nearest. My
brother was a connoisseur of cigars
and knowing that Harry always had
something especially good, and wish
Ing, perhaps. to please him. he said,
from the other end OF the room. 'Har-
ry. think I'll have one OF yours"
Yes. IL you remember" said the
young man. Harry walked up to him
and picked n cigar out of his case, and
said, TRY this one. uncle"
felt rather perplexed, but TO be on
the safe side. put the half-smoked cigar
in my PICKET for further examination.
Gould You manage for me to see
your cousinT' i asked.
AS luck would have IL, the person in
question sauDtered into the room. He
was WORKOUT. notwithstanding man
OF about tive-and-thirty, very sallow
and bony, with rather unpleasantly
easy bearing.
l was introduced as representing the
solicitors. aud we began to discuss the
death. 1 watched him narrowly. He
sure, and didn't pretend to be sorrow
stricken.
well, 1 suppose you three are talk
ing business" he said at last, lazily,
so III clear out. | hate that sort of
thing. / shall run mp to town to-mor-
row, and call on your people" he add
ed, turning to me, Good morning"
What do you propose to do, Mr..
SomersT said Edward Kincald.
ITS impossible to form an opinion
until we have heard proper medical
report" l replied. when does the
post mortem take place."
This afternoon
VERY we'll | can't do any good here
until that is over. l shall so straight
back TO town now, and have this cigar
examined by an expert, ana return here
tonight, when you can tell me what
the doctor says"
My visit to town was not very sue
cessful.
called on certain celebrated special
isl TO get lis opinion. On hearing an
outline Of the case he became most in
terested
II don't believe it's possible" he said.
'for a cigar to be so manipulated that
person smoking 1t would drop dead.
But We'll make a careful examination
and see what we can find"
Then we cut II open, and every bit or
ii was put under strong glass. But
after parts OF it had been submitted to
various tests no race Of poisonus ma
ter could be discovered.
] returned to Basingstoke at about
fsssfn
ncr. The feeling in my mind was that,
though there was some reason. perhaps,
TO suspect Harry Kincald OF the crime,
there was not a particle OF evidence in
the true sense of the word.
told Edward KiBcald and his father
the result OF my journey, and then had
a consultation with the doctor. who had
been asked to remain for dinner. His
decision was that Mr. Clavcll had died
from complete stoppage OF the brain.
but there was literally nothing to- show
what caused It, and there had been
nothing in Mr.. Clavclrs habits and
mode Of life at all likely TO produce
mental paralysis
Further conversation was prevented
by the necessity OF dressing for dinner.
As we went through the hall we met
Mr.. Harry.
Harry, I'm taking charge Of the
doctor Would you mind Mr.. Somers
washing his hands in your room z" said
Edward.
"Not az all" drnwled his cousin.
II hope you won't mind" said Ed
ward to me- Everything Is. Of
course. i'm beastly muddlc. and" he
added when we were alone you will
have n chance Of looking round"
This was exactly what I wanted. I
went hastily round the room, but found
90 my disappointment that everything
vas carefully locked. Suddenly my eye
caught sight T his diner jacket. which
was hanging up behind The door re-
memhcrcd being told that our friend
from South America only smoked
cigars after he diucd while iu England.
aud 30 struck me be might have left
his case in his pocket.
a search in the pocket proved I was
right. and the next moment ! had in
my hand an elegant little silver case
containing seven cigars. tumbled
them ont on The toilet ana examined
them. As Ear as ! could make out.
they were exactly ike the ono J had
taken mn To- town Suddenly "a hand