Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-08-06
A MEDICAL MYSTERY.

l had reached my Office one morning
in November, a year or two ago, when,
to my surprise, l found young fellow
waiting for me outside the door
"Mr. Somers, he began impetuously,
cant you give me your services for
the day ?"
as the matter very pressing" I
replied. Tell me what it is.
MY name is Kincaid," he said
quickly. "You did some family bus
iness for us a few years ago. | want
You to come with me at once. We
can Just catch train from Waterloo
to Basingstoke at go. Itruns down
in an hour. I'll explain it in the train.
Ten guineas for the day and expenses.
Make your own terms if successful.
VIII that do"
very well" | said, go and get a
cab I'll join YOU directly"
unlocked my Office, picked up
portmanteau which keep ready pack
ed for emergencies, scribbled a note
to my clerk, and in less than ten min
utes was by his side in a hanson, on
the way to the station. We secured
a carriage to ourselves, and as soon as
the train had fairly started he unfold
ed his tale
MY uncle, Clavell Kincoid, died
very suddenly last night, under curl
Gus circumstances, and l expect foul
play he begun.
Tell me exactly what happened.
ave had kind of family dinner
party to make a fresh arrangement
about the property in which my uncle
had left life interest" "
Nobody present but relations?"
"No."
what is the property WORTH
about $4,000 or 9l2, 900 year.
"Go on.
"As things stand now, my cousin
Harry takes everything under the en-
tail. The object of the meeting was
to buy out his interest, so that it could
be more evenly divided among the
family. Everybody directly interest
ed was present
You couldn't buy up your cousins
interest without his consent inter-
rupted.
Certainly not, answered the young
fellow. But Harry is the black
sheep. In fact, he's thoroughly bad
lot. He's been knocking about South
America and don't lknow where else
for some years, and his record is about
as black a one as a man can have.
every WELL said. Now tell me
about your uncle's death.
I'VE had finished dinner and sat
chatting and smoking. Uncle ClaveM
was talking to my father; suddenly
he said Dear me, feel so sleepy, l
really think /, then he stopped
suddenly. His head fell forward and
somebody rushed for brandy, thinking
he was i'll. As a matter of fact he was
dead 1t all happened in minute
"And You suspect your cousin of
having killed him ?"
yes"
"On what grounds p
The young fellow looked blank.
81 hardly know he stammered,
Except that Harrys bad enough to
do anything, and my uncle was in
perfectly good health
"Was Clavell Kincaid drinking any
thing at the time?"
"No, he was just smoking a cigar
and chatting.
"Was your cousin near him.
"No, he was talking to him several
yards away
How do you think, then, he killed
your uncle ?"
IL don't know, That's why I've
come for you.
"You must excuse me Mr.. Kincaid,
but I'm afraid this is a wild goose
chase. 1t was your cousins interest
that your uncle should die Your
cousin is an outsider. Your uncle
dies suddenly, and you jump to the
conclusion he has been murdered, but
it doesn't follow by any means.
"Of course not, but | believe he
was, he persisted.
HAS a doctor seen Mr.. Kincaid? ?
What does he say?'
The doctor won say anything def
nitely until he has made an examina-
ton. He thinks it is total paralysis
of the brain, and he can't account for
it in any way"
what kind of man was your IN
Gle 2"
Every healthy and very temperate.
hove paver knoUn him IN eat too