The Tupelo journal., 1907-02-15
quite true, the doctor has already

Quite true, the doctor mas already
done SO. / admit 1t is all your hand.
writing. But l also know" and here
Col. Cheney arose, pointed his finger
lsat DIR. Furniss and In voice tense
with indignation continued: Il know
when you gave the butler the prescrip.
tion it read: 'Tincture Of opii.' The
word 'Comphorated' was not there"
Furniss turned as pale as ghost,
but gazed at Cheney unflinchingly.
The latter continued:
when the child died your profes.
sional instinct and knowledge told
| you 1t was drug, not disease, that
killed her. You began to wonder
what was in the compound Haviland
though torn with grief, had sense
enough to take the bottle for
examination. You couldn't destroy
that evidence, If evidence there was.
At ten. the next morning you went
| into Rhodus' drug store, doubtless
purposely going in at time when
you knew Simpson was alone. You
saw the prescription; 'Tincture OF
opii' stood out in glaring letters, ac-
| cusing you of criminal carelessness.
But you have a fertile mind, DR.. Fur
| Miss; you realized your mistake, and
told the young man you wanted NOR
phine tablets for your hypod ermic
case He went to small room where
poisons are kept. and while he was
gone you quickly wrote 'C-A-M-P-H'
after 'Opii.' Clever, my dear doctor,
damned clever, but you overstepped
once The doctor started to inter
rupt, but Cheney continued: wait,
I'm not through yet. The afternoon
you were called to Havilands' you
were attending a reception at the
Orrins'. 1t was pretty gay reception,
because in two hours you drank sew
eral high balls, besides numerous po-
tions of punch. Your condition was
decidedly uncertain, though you had
good control of your physical actions.
Now, doctor, what about it?"
Layton and DR.. Stuyvesant looked
on with wondering eyes. Furniss had
paled, but later regained his equilib-
rum. After Cheney was through he
said:
"Well, what about it? You have
concocted clever story, but it's all
a series of damned bes-whut can you
.-ove? Nothing Your trap is wei.
laid, but / don't walk into it," Hef :
the doctor got very sarcastic and
continued: "Of what avail will your
improbable story be against my word?
BAH"
The doctor was fine, but Cheney
wasn't through yet. Damn you," he
said, moving towards the doctor, Il
expected that. You would fortify
yourself with the high standing of
your family and the exalted position
you hold among the profession; you
would sacrifice young Simpson, kill
his poor mother with grief; you would
do all this to save your own worthless
self from the punishment you richly
deserve, and which you are going to
get. Listen a minute while / play
the trump card. The evening you
wrote the prescription at Haviland's s
house you used plain black pencil.
The next day in the drug store you
got hold of the wrong pencil, and
used one with indelible lead to write
'Camph,' though the same color as
the other one. There are two in your
pocket now," pointing at the doctors
upper waistcoat pocket. Look at
this" and Col. Cheney moistened the
end of his finger and touched the
word "Opii." and then 'camph." On
the first word no impression was
made, but the word "Camph" became
a dark purplish blue. Now, DIR. Fur
Mss, do yol deny my story?"
Layton murmured Good God!" un
der his breath. Stuyvesant stood per-
fectly still watching the drama unfold.
Furniss' eyes almost seemed to jump
from his head. He looked at Che
ney's telltale work fascinated, like a
rabbit does into the eyes of cobra.
"Well," he stammered, what are
you going to do about it?'
DO? From here we three gentle
men are going to the prosecuting at
torney's office and have the charge
against Simpson dismissed. To. do
this we shall tell the story. What
the prosecutor will do / don't know,
but he's pretty keen after crooks. 7"
Furness WINGED as Cheney pro-
nounced the word. Then we're going
to have that young man reinstated in
his position, and Mr.. Haviland put in
possession of the truth. That's all.
DR.. Furniss"
Cant this be fixed up?" said Fur
Miss, with sickly smile. He was one
of those persons who supposed that
every man had his price. Just how
he got out of that Office, he never
could distinctly remember, but he had
recollection of strong physical as
sistance from behind.
An officer was sent by the prosecu-
tor to arrest him that evening after
Cheney had told his story. But the
bird had flown, and money perhaps
saved him from being apprehended.
Mrs. Simpson was a happy little
woman that night when her boy was
brought to her free from all suspi-
cion. Rhodus was glad to get him
back
"Col. Cheney" said Mrs. Simpson,
while tears of joy ran down her
cheek, how can ever repay you for
what you have done for us? How
How"
"You have already repaid me. Mrs
t., F,,11 hn
colonel, with bright smile.