Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-03-13

VI me Lduy seemed quite 10 have
thrown on the eccentric moroSeness of
manner which had put down to semi.
. ihtoNlcaton. talked continuously and
Wen. and proved himself an exceeding
ly interesting and well informed com.
panion-so long. that is, as Mrs. VOL
lord remained with us. As soon. how.
over. as she had left the room his he
/ ka'lor underwent a complete change.
e became sullen at once and did not
trouble 10 observe even the ordinary
courtesies of the dinner table for nv
benefit.
ohe incident mention. because of its
bearing on the tragedy which occurred
iater There was big Persian cat i'm
the room, which Sugden seemed TO
uSe a strange delight in teasing TO a
point of fury. Finally. in its strug-
gleS TO get away from his rough han
dllhS. the eat 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 a low,
frightened voice asked me to come at
once and see her son.
Certainly" said 1; but what is the
matter?"
He's in fit of some sort And. oh.
DR.. Meldrum. I'm afraid-horribly
atraid-of that sinister man"
His nurse was standing by the bed.
side as we entered the boys bedroom.
holding his hand and trying TO keep
him covered by the bedclothes, which
III MS conyulsive movements he con-
unually 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 | had 10
treat; the muscles of his face were
drawn and set and his limbs were
stretched out straight and rigid. | had
hardly time TO note these symptoms.
however. before the paroxysm passed,
and the boy lay painting and exhausted,
and almost Immediately dropped into
a sound sleep.
Send that woman away" l whis-
pered to Mrs. Wolford.
You can go TO your supper. Jane"
said the lady, DIR. Meldrum and l will
stay with Master Roland"
Now" said l, when the nurse had
gone. how 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 l bought
for him myself"
NO one could have tampered with
them, l suppose?"
Quite impossible" said Mrs. VOL
ford, decidedly. Il brought them
straight up to this room, and he ate
them about half an hour afterwards.
l 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 l. What else has he
had?"
Nothing that | have not prepared
for him with my own hands" replied
Mrs. Wolford, emphatically; and then.
with a little cry, Haven't l told you
that l too, supected poison? Doctor,
what is the poison?'
"Strychnine, | answered; "at least.
think so, but the symptoms are not alb
sOlutely characteristic. He has not had
enough, fortunately, to be fatal, pro-
vided we can prevent him having any
more. But tell me-what made you
suspect poisonT'
Because" said Mrs. Wolford, his
father had similar attack, though a
much milder one, the night before he
died"
But" said /, incredulously. 81 was
told that your husband died of heart
disease"
Yes, he died of heart disease-the
doctors say so; but how am | to be
sure that they are right? He was
found dead in his study chair. No one
saw him die; and there will be no in
quest"
But about your boy" said 1; why
do you suspect Mr.. Sugden of wishing
him harm?'
At this question Mrs. Wolford.
strangely enough seemed to become
confused. She hesitated. began sen
tences which she did not finish, and
then. in a sort of defiant rush, gave
me three or four very feminine and, to
my mind, absolutely uncOnvincing rea-
sons for thinking as she did. | was
puzzled by this peculiar change in her |
manner said nothing, however, and |
a movement on the part Of our patient |
put an end to what threatened to be- |
come an awkward silence. The boy |
was awake. and complained of thirst. |
His mother ran to cupboard. and, |
opening 1t with key which she took |
from her pocket. brought out plate
of calves'foot jelly.
Il made this myself, doctor" she |
la,-n ft 80.