The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-01-27
IT HE
BRANDON
AFFAIR.


North turned to the pile of letters
which had arrived by the morning post,
and leisurely proceeded to examine
them. AS he came to the last letter in
the pile he exclaimed
This is Vernons handwriting, IN
swear! 1t must be four years since |
heard from him, when he told me he
had just bought practice in Over
town. | see the letter bears the Over
town postmark, so he must still be
there"
Thus communing with himself, the
doctor inserted his ivory paper knife
between the flap of the envelope, and
drew out the Enclosure, which read
as follows:
Dear Horace: Can you come down
at once? l know you have unravelled
one or two intricate criminal cases,
and | have one which will give you a
chance of further distinguishing your
self in that direction. You remember
when we were lads at school you said
that you would be detective when
you became man, but kind Provi-
dence, backed by stern parent, chose
for you another profession. Do come
II you possibly can. Wire me by what
train, and l will arrange to meet you.
Yours in haste,
RICHARD VERNON"
At 10 O'Clock the same night among
the three. or four passengers who
alighted from the last train at Overton
was DR.. North.
He had scarcely got out of the car
riage when stout, middle-aged gentle
man rushed up to him, and, Selling his
hand, shook 1t with great vigor.
Il was on my way to Brandon Tow
ers when l met the messenger with
your telegram, SO | drove straight to
the station here. The dog-cart is out
side, so come along!" he exclaimed.
AS they sped down the lonely coun-
try road, Dr. Vernon turned to MS
friend and said:
81 thought that my bait would fetch
you, North. The patient we are going
to visit is Mr.. Brandon of Brandon
Towers, said to be millionaire two or
three times over. | have been attend
ing him professionally for twelve
months now, and l have come to the
conclusion that he is being slowly but
surely poisoned | confess it has bat
fed me, and sent for you in the hope
that you might drop on some solution.
"Who will benefit by your patients
death?" asked DR.. North.
Il believe his only near relative is
his nephew, Captain Norton, who is re-
ported to be heir to all his uncle's
wealth. He is a captain in the militia,
and resides at the Towers He appears
to be much concerned about his uncle's
illness; but from what have heard re-
Gently l imagine his concern is more
apparent than real"
Then, | take it, you suspect the
nephew of having hand in the al
fair?" said Dr. North.
II do strongly suspect him, but |
have no proofs on which l can base
my suspicious. Since l have had his
food prepared by the nurses it has been
impossible for him to mix any poison
WIFI II, anu do OllS VI lllC hui 10 al
ways present with the patient, how is
it possible for any poison to be ad
ministered to him."
Does your patient smoker"
"Well, he was a great smoker before
his illness, but | ordered him to drop
the habit altogether. However, he
kicked against this, but agreed that he
would not smoke more than one mild
cigar a day."
what kind does he smoker" was
DR.. North's next query. Does he ever
give you one of them?"
mo. he has never been smoking
when have Called but his nephew,
CAPTAIN Norton, invariably asks me in
TO the smoking room to have choice
weed with him, and report on his I'M
cle's condition"
81 strongly suspect your patient is
being done to death by means Of
drugged cigars" said DR.. North. "Rut
I imagine Captain Norton would have
some difficulty in obtaining the chemi-
calls necessary for this purpose"
81 do not think so" replied DR.. Yer
non "You see he dabbles a good deal
IN chemistry, and he has got fac
laboratory fitted up"
"They had now reached the massive
entrance gates to the park, and max
ing their way up the long avenue of
noplars. drove round the end of the
Towers into the stable yard.
Or. Vernon threw the reins to