The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-07-13

room, his behavior underwent O com
plete change. He became sullen at
once, and did not trouble to observe
even the ordinary courtesies of the
dinner table for my benefit.
One incident mention, because of
its bearing on the tragedy which oc-
Cured later There was big Persian
cat in the room, which Sugden seemed
to take a strange delight in teasing to
point of fury. Finally, in its strug-
giles to get away from his rough hand
ling, the cat scratched his left thumb,
deeply enough to draw good deal Of
blood, and got a savage slap for doing
it, and the dispenser got up and left
me, slamming the door behind him as
he went.
Hardly had he left the room when
Mrs. Wolford returned, and in low,
frightened voice asked me to come at
once and see her son.
Certainly" said 1; "but what is
the matter?"
Hes in o fit of some sort. And,
oh, DR.. Medium, I'm afraid-horri-
bly, afraid-of that sinister mani"
His nurse was standing by tho bed.
side as We entered the boys bedroom,
holding his hand, and trying to keep
him covered by the bciclothes, which
in his convulsive movements he con-
tinually threw off. At our approach
she made way for us and went over to
the fireplace. The first glance 1 took
at my little patient told me that it
was no trivial child's ailment that 1
had TO treat; the muscles of his face
were drawn aud set, and his limbs
were stretched out straight and rigid.
| had hardly time to note these symp-
toms, however, before the paroxsym
passed, and the boy lay painting and
exhausted, and almost Immediately
dropped into sound sleep.
"Send that woman away" whis-
pered to Mrs. Wolford.
"You can go to your supper, Jane, II
said the lady. CDR. Meldrum aud !
will stay with Master Roland"
"Now," said 1, when the nurse had
gone, chow many of these attacks
has he had?"
"Three, to-day. The first came on
about IL o'clock, just after he had had
his lunch"
"What did he have?"
"Some strawberries, which bought
for him myself"
"No one could have tampered with
them, I suppose?"
"Quite impossible, said Mrs. Vol.
ford, decidedly. 'I brought them
straight up to this room, and he ate
them about half au hour afterward. ]
did not have occasion to leave the
room in the interval, so that the fruit
was in my sight the whole time until
he had it."
Strange" said 1. "What else has
he had?"
Nothing that have not prepared
for him with my own hands," replied
Mrs. Wolford, emphatically; and
then, with little cry, Haven't ]
told you that 1, too, suspected poison
Doctor. what is the poison?"
"Strychnine," 1 answered.; "at
least, 1 think so, but the symptoms
are not absolutely characteristic. He
had not had enough, fortunately, tc
be fatal, provided we can prevent him
having any more. But tell me-what
made you suspect poison"
Because" said Mrs. Wolford
"his father had a similar attack,
though much milder one, the night
before he died."
But" said I, incredulously, %
was told that your husband died o.
heart disease.
"Yesl he died Of heart disease
the doctors say so; but how am / t.
be sure that they are right? He wa
found dead in his study chair. NJ
one saw him die; and there will be NJ
inquest"
"But about your boy" said ]; "why
do you suspect Mr.. Sugden of wish
ing him harm?"
At this question Mrs. Wolford
strangely enough, seemed confused
She hesitated, began sentences which
she did not finish, and then, in sor
of defiant rush, gave me three or foul
very feminine aud, to my mind, abso
lutely unconvincing reasons for think
ing as she did. 1 was puzzled by thil
peculiar change in her manner.
said nothing, however, and a move
ment on the part of our patient put al
end to what threatened to become al
awkward silence. The boy was awake
and complaining of thirst. His moth
er ran to cupboard, and, opening i
with key which she took from he
pocket, brought out plate of calves
foot jelly.
81 made this myself, DOCTOR" sh,
declared, "and have kept it locked up
so it will be safe to give him it.
"There's a wasp having some of it
mummie," said the boy, and wa
pleased to notice that the painful
symptoms which had shown them
} selves before were now gone. Th
, muscles of his face were still slight,
drawn, but that was all. Mrs VOL
ford took a spoon and knocked tn
wasp, together with the part of tn
jelly which it had attacked, into tn
fire, and then fed the boy with the re
mainder. After he had had it he wen
to sleep at once.
, Presently Mrs. Wolford went AVA