The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-07-13
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e e THE WINGED DEATH. g g
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room. his behavior underwent 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 I 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 strange delight in teasing to
a 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 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 tho 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 q fit Of some sort. And,
oh, DR.. Meldrum, 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 bedclothes, 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 took
at my little patient told me that it
was no trivial child's ailment that l
had TO treat; the muscles of his face
were drawn aud set, and his limbs
were stretched out straight and rigid.
l had hardlySfme 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 60 to your supper, Jane,"
said the lady. CDR. Meldrum aud I
will stay with Master Roland" i.
"Now," said 1, when the nurse haU
gone, chow many of these attacks
has he had?"
"Three, to-day. The first came on
about II o'clock, just after he had had
his lunch"
"What did he have?"
"Some strawberries, which thought
for him myself"
''No one could have tampered with
them, 1 suppose?"
"Quite impossible, said Mrs. VOL
ford, decidedly. 81 brought them
straight up to this room, aud 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 I. "what else has
he hadP"
Nothing that l have not prepared
for him with my own hands," replied
Mrs. Wolford, emphatically; and
then, with little cry, Haven't 1
told you that l, too, suspected poison?
Doctor. what is the poison?"
"Strychnine," 1 answered; cat
least, 1 think so, but the symptoms
are not absolutely characteristic. He
had not had enough, fortunately, to
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 q similar attack,
though q much milder one, the night
before he died."
But" said 1, incredulously, "T
was told that your husband died of
heart disease"
"Yesl he died Of heart disease
the doctors say so; but how am to
be sure that they arAright? He was
found dead in his shady chair. No
one saw him die; and there will be no
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 sort
of defiant rush, gave me three or four
very feminine aud, to my mind, abso-
lutely unconvincing reasons for think
ing as she did. was puzzled by this
peculiar change in her manner. 1
said nothing, however, and a move
ment on the part Of our patient put an
end to what threatened TO become an
awkward silence. The boy was awake
and complaining Of thirst. His moth
er ran to cupboard, and, opening it
with key which she took from her
pocket, brought out plate of calves
foot jelly.
81 made this myself, DOCTOR" she
declared, "and have kept it locked up,
so it will be safe to give him it"
''There's wasp having some Of it,
mummie," said the boy, and 1 was
pleased to notice that the painful
symptoms which had shown them
selves before were now gone. The
muscles of his face we're still slightly
drawn, but that was all. Mrs. VOL
ford took a spoon and knocked the
wasp, together with the part Of the
jelly which it had attacked, into the
fire, and then fed the boy with the re-
mainder. After he had had it he went
10 sleep at once.
Presently Mrs. Wolford went away