The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-05-24
The Mystery
Carney-Croft
BY
JOSEPH BROWN COOKE
UopyriRht, 1907. by story. Press Corporation)'

Single detail OF what 1 ndu oDSeINeu
In my interview with either Carney or
Pobbs. When l had finished he re-
marked, with equal brevity:
We'll, what of it?"
That's the way with MacArdel!
He can be, and usually is, the most
exasperating fellow that ever lived.
What of it," / exclaimed. There's
a deuced lot of it, l tell you! I want to
find out what this fellow is doing and
lget him to leave it alone. If you had
ever seen his sister and could under
stand, as do, the desolateness of her
position, you'd be as anxious as / am
to reform him.
Woman in the case, of course"
murmured MacArdel softly, taking a
deep puff of smoke which he held in
his mouth for moment and then
blew out slowly in a long thin cloud.
This is one of the most insulting
things that man can do, and MacAr-
del knows it perfectly well. / was in
clined to knock him down, but l think
too much of him for that, so ] merely
said:
mo, Mac, don't be fool but try
TO listen to reason, if you CAM"
impossible when you're talking"
he observed softly.
ignored this and continued: My
only interest in Miss Carney is that of
lawyer to client and I'm not in love
with her or thinking of marrying her.
In the first place, I've only seen her
once or twice in my life, and in the
next, the difference in our financial po-
sitions, to speak of nothing else, is
quite enough to put out of the ques-
ton any such idea on my part
"Cat-look-king,' said MacArdel, be-
tween puffs.
Il suppose you mean by that TO in
fer that dog may look at a queen"
II replied testify, but | tell you, man,
it's all nonsense-utter nonsense"
Looks bad, thought" said MacAr-
del, specially when fellow com
ipares himself to a dog, and the lady
to queen" and he touched the bell
ON the little table between us"
What's that for?" l asked I've
got plenty of cigars here in my
pocket"
yellow chatreuse,' he replied. Il
think you need it.
Now. seriously, Mac!" I resumed,
what do you think of this man Car
ney's virtual denial of any eXcesses?'
Lie said MacArdel.
Well | went on, what do you
think of the servants behavior in
practically admitting the whole bust
ness and then turning about as he did
at the last moment?'
Mother lie," he replied
Then you think they are pair of
prescious seoundrels?" | asked.
NO; damned scoundrels," he saiG
slowly Il think they are unless the
matter can be explained in another
way. But I'm not at all sure of it.
That's merely the way things look
COW"
Mac" | said, you don't know as
much as do
THAT" he replied, lis the most I'M
kind thing you ever said to me. |
know things, my boy, that your philos-
ophy never dreamed of. | have been
trying to think, while you have been
talking, and, in spite of you, l have
thought TO some purpose.
In the first place, as said q min
ute ago, ! think the man is an ordi-
nary drunkard and that this servant
of his is in league with him to keep
the facts from you and his family.
Now, | only think this because it is
the most plausible explanation that Of
fers; / am not sure of it by any
means and want that distinctly I'M
derstood.
In the second place, you don't know
anything about it at all, and yet, in
your monumental assurance, you have
settled the whole thing with the ex-
ception of one detail, and you nave
come to me, as a physician, to supply
you with that necessary link in your
chain of evidence. You think he is
the victim of some drug habit and you
want me to tell you, from his symp-
toms, what drug he is using. Isn't
that so?" and he blew out another of
those insulting streamers of smoke.
was forced to admit sheepishly that
be was right, and my good opinion of
myself faded away like the smoke of
our cigars.
Well" he continued, "the symp-
toms he presents could not be caused
by opium, nor by cocaine. nor by hash
eesh. Whisky is the mostly likely
thing of all, and you have nothing but
couple of vague expressions OF aston
ishment from him and his servant to
make you search for any other solu-
ton OF the problem.
There is. however, one otheg thing
that might be at the bottom of 1t all.
but he could not get it here, and it
would be pretty hard for him TO get it
anywhere. Moreover, am not at all
sure myself about it. and would have
20 look It up before / would ven
iDSe 10 say anything definite on the
subject"