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

"Well, its very strange case, l
said, land very sad one But, frank
ly, | believe your uncle died from nat
ural causes. You are prejudiced in
the matter. l am not" ."
We reached Basingstoke at a few
minutes past 10. and then separated.
Young Edward Kincaid was to 60
straight home and explain to his father
what he had done, and get him to help.
When I arrived | was received by
father and son, and taken privately
into the dining-room, where the death
occurred.
you must quite understand, Mr..
Somers," said the older man, that |
am not prepared to indorse my son $
opinion that my brother was murdered
and my nephew, Harry, is, l am sorry
to say, thorough rogue, but l should
be sorry to think he was guilty Of this.
81 can't see any reason to suspect
him of it, ! said dryly.
This is the cigar which he was
smoking" said the young man. Il
took it out of his hand and placed it
on the mantelpiece. Do you think,
he went on quickly, "a man could be
poisoned by a cigar, because, now |
came to think of it, this one came out
of my cousins case"
81 don't think cigar could be made
so as to kill a man on the spot, re-
piled. ut might make him very sick
or send him to sleep, but not kill him. ~
Besides" said Edward Kincaid,
Sr., several of us smoked cigars out
of Harry's case. think you did for
one. You see, he continued, turning
to me, "when we were lighting up,
my brother had cigars handed round
but my nephew produced his own case
and offered it to those present. My
brother was connoisseur of cigars,
and, knowing that Harry always had
something especially good, and wishing
perhaps, to please him, he said, from
the other end of the room, Harry, |
think I'll have one of yours.
Eyes, if you remember said the
young man, Harry walked up to him
and picked a 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 pocket for further examination.
I'm afraid this doesn't prove any
thing" l said. 1T isn't even suspi-
cious. You see, Mr.. Clavell asked
for it. ="
eyes, but perhaps Harry calculated
he would do so, because Uncle Clavell
often said that his cigars were the best
oart of him and he always liked to
smoke them
Gould you manage for me to see
your cousin p / asked
As luck would have it the person
in question sauntered into the room.
He was a wornout dandifed looking
man of about five and thirty, very
sallow and bony, with rather unpleas-
antly easy bearing.
Twas introduced as representing the
solicitors, and we began to discuss the
death. | watched him narrowly. He
talked about it with horrible compos-
ure, and didn't pretend to be sorrow
stricken.
well, l suppose you three are talk
ing business" he said at last lazily, 80
I'll clear out. hate that sort Of thing.
| shall run up to town tomorrow, and
call on your people he added, turn
ing to me. "Good morning"
What do you propose to do, Mr..
Somers? said Edward Kincaid.
"It's impossible to form an opinion
until we have heard a proper medical
report" I replied. when does the
post mortem take place."
"This afternoon.
very we'll can't do any good
here until that is over. I shall go
straight back to town now, and have
this cigar examined by an expert, and
return here tonight, when you can tell
me what the doctor says.
My visit to town was not very sue
cessful. The cigar expert pronounced
the half-smoked specimen, which l
asked him to examine, to be one Of a
very fine brand Of Havanas, and he
mentioned the name, but there's no
need to repeat it now On making a
closer examination, however, he said
he was mistaken. 1t was an imitation,
and he pointed out number of trifing
differences in the rolling and wrapping
which nobody but an expert would OBJ
serve.
You must be able to see, =" he said.
~ is q beautiful cigar. ouite as GOOD