The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-12
THE BUST OF CLYTEE.
A Detectives Story of a Clever
Poisoner and His
Fate.
copu.sn.. 1903. BY F. A. Carpenter.


One August day, about three years ago.
was summoned to Boston by telegram
for consultation in a case that had both
cred the police officials of that city to such
an extent that they were obliged TO call In
outside help Three o'clock in the after
noon found me seated In the smoking COM
partment Of a coach on the flyer.
had lighted a cigar, when the door
opened. and tall, broad-shouldered gen.
tieman entered and sat down opposite to
me. At first 1 felt annoyed, for wished
70 meoitale upon the case to which was
going; but, after another glance at the
newcomer. resigned myself to possible
conversation with him.
Minute after minute passed by and my
companion did not speak. Presently he
started. as II from an unpleasant reverie,
and took from his inner coat pocket hand
aome cigar case with a gold monogram
upon it. Opening it, his eyes dwelt dream
lily upon the photograph OF woman. as
he slowly drew out a perfecto.
When he raised his hand l noticed
peculiar ring on the third finger. 1t was
a snakes head looking out from between
the arms OF a letter AZ" made Of small
diamonds, while the eyes OF the snake
were beautifully clear emeralds.
Then recollected that I had seen q
similar ring at fencing exhibition OF the
Manhattan Club the previous winter. This
man had won a final against Alexander
Van Cruger, a rising young sculptor, and
] remembered the circumstance the more
easily because it had been said there was
All feeling between the men.
Van Cruger had won the band OF so
ciety belle at whose shrine my present COM
panion had worshipped with hopes OF sue
cess. But Van Cruger, young. handsome.
rich, bearing home the laurels OF Euro
pean triumphs, appeared In social circles
and bore off one more OF the worlds prizes'
the love Of Helen Maitland.
The ring had attracted my attention
at the fencing match by its peculiar de-
sign. had some curious jewels myself,
and had read what literature could find
upon the subject.
It seemed to me, as I looked at the ring,
that had read Of such design before
In some historical connection. l longed
TO question Mr.. Hamilton, for such was
the name OF the gentleman who now sat
opposite me.
During a ride of about three hours my
companion did not speak to me. but sat
gazing moodily out OF the window. There
was something about the man that 1 did
not hke--not the signs Of stern resolution
and an indomitable will that his features
bore. but the gleam Of cruelty and treach-
ery that occasionally crept into his eyes.
At the Newport Junction he left the
coach and boarded the waiting Newport
train. / remembered having read in the
fashionable items OF late daily that Miss
Maitland's people were at their Newport
residence and also that Van Cruger had
boon called to Paris by an order from the
French Government. / thought to myself
Now that the field is clear, my friend
will have his innings over again, and 1t
will be well played, if my study of his face
is a correct one"
Time passed and all thought Of my after
moon trip and my silent companion had
long since fled, when one day my chief
sent for me. On the way from my rooms
uptown bought paper and read the
notice Of the death, by heart failure, Of
The young sculptor, Alexander Van Cruger.
He had been found dead upon his studio
floor that morning by the janitor Of the
building where his rooms were.
When entered the Office Of the chief
he asked me IL had heard Of Van Cruger 6
death. Upon my reply that l had just
been reading about it in the papers, he
said:
Carroll, Miss Maitland is almost frantic
with grief, and insists that Van Cruger
was murdered. Now, that is all nonsense
for DR.. Everett says there never was a
palmer case Of apparent heart failure
Still you may as well go up to the studio
and look around. Poor fellowl he had
lust been modelling a beautiful bust OF
Miss Maitland, and was found lying almost
beneath it,"
When reached Van Cruger's rooms
was admitted without difficulty. Upon q
working table stood clay model Of Miss
Maitland as C1ytie, still unfinished anC
uncovered.
Drawing the curtains I turned on the
lights and began my search. Nothing
seemed in disorder except for the usua
lack Of orderly arrangement in the studios
OF artists and sculptors.
The hurried examination of the physician
who had been called disclosed no wounds
a. abrasions. The sculptor had fallen
evidently standing before the bust.
looked at his hands. Upon the very
tips OF the fingers were faint, hardly dis
cernible traces of clay. That drew my
attention to the bust itself.
It bore marks Of fingers and modelling
tools. As looked at it closely, just where
the beautiful curves of the bust emerged
from the flower petals, saw faint CLEAN
of light, and bending over discovered, Il
my surprise. a small diamond lying in thu
clay.
I did not at first remove it, but gazet
earnestly at the surface Of the surround
ing clay. remembered seeing a larg,
reading lens near a portfolio of European
photographs Taking IL up returned Il
the bust.
Az stopped, bending over to study /
with the glass, a pencil that / had hastil.
placed in my outside pocket on stepping
from the car fell Picking it up from
the. edge of the rug I saw, lying close u
the rug, a small quill
II was a camel's-hair brush. l laid |
down and continued my careful scrutiny.
Long and steadily ! looked at the EN-
bedded gem. Suddenly, as l moved IN,
hand, there burst family but wildly upol
my startled consciousness the imprint o
the letter ~" in dots in one arm of whic
the diamond rested
To my establishment, and with diml
defined feeling OF horror, saw snake
head lookinn ont from the AVr Like