The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-06-06
CHAPTER XVII.

all over Melbourne. The ubiquitous re-
porter, OF course, appeared on the scene,
and the evening papers gave its own YER
bion of the affair, ard a hint at foul play.
There were no grounds for this state
ment, as DIR. Chinston told Kitty and
Madame Midas to say nothing about the
poison, and it was generally understood
that the deceased had died from apoplexy.
"A rumer, however, which originated none
knew how, crcpt about among every one
that poison was the cause Of death, and
This, being added TO by Some and embel-
lishea In all its little details by others,
there was soon complete story made up
about the affair.
The inquest was appointed to take place
next day, and Gallon had been asked by
Madame Midas to be present on her be-
half, Kilsip, detective officer, was also
present, and, curled up like a cat in the
corner, was listening to every word of the
evidence.
The first witness called was Madame
Midas, who deposed that the deceased,
Selma Jane Sprotts, was her servant. She
had gone to beJ In excellent health, and
next morning Bic had found her dead.
AAASby lhch tOiu uCI SlOEy.
The inquest was adjourned till next
day, and there was great excitement over
the affair. II Kitty Marchurst's state
ment was true, the deceased must have
died from the administration of poison !;
but, on the other hand, DIR. Chinston as
serted positively that there was no trace
f poison, and that the deceased had clear
iy died from apoplexy.
Suddenly, however, new interest was
given to the case by the assertion that a
Ballarat doctor, called Gollipeck, who was
noted toxicologist, had come down to
Melbourne to assist at the analysis of the
stomach, and knew something which
would throw light on the mysterious
death.
Vandeloup saw the paragraph which
gave this information, and 1t disturbed
him very much.
THAT book of Prevol's," he said to him
self. as he threw down the paper; 1T will
put them on the right track, and then
WELL" observed NJ. vandeloup, senten.
tiously, "they say danger sharpens a
mans wits; it's lucky for me IL It does"
His rooms In Clarendon street, East
Melbourne, were very luxuriously and ar
tistically furnished in perfect accordance
with the taste Of their owner. NJ. CASTOR
Vandeloup, though not exactly miserable,
was very i'll at ease. The inquest had
been adjourned until the government an
alyst, assisted by DR.. Gollipeck, had ex-
amined the stomach, and according to a
paragraph in the evening paper, some
strange statements, duplicating various
people, would be made next day. 1t was
this that made Vandeloup so uneasy, for
he knew that DIR. Gollipeck would trace
resemblance between the death of Selma
Spretts in Melbourne and Adele Blondet
In Paris, and then the question would
arise how the poison used in the one case
came to be used in the other.
1t was about o'clock at night, and
CASTOR was busy in his rooms packing up
to so away next morning. He had dispos-
ed of his apartments to Bellthorp, az that
young gentleman had lately come In for
some money and was dissatisfied with the
strictly tied up.
yandeloup, seated in his shirt sleeves
In the midst of a chaos Of articles of
clothing, portmanteaux and boxes, was,
with the experience of an accomplished
traveller, rapidly putting these all away
In the most. expeditions and neatest man
ner. While thus engaged there came a
ring at the outer door, and shortly after
ward Gastou's landlady entered his room
with card.
"A gentleman wants to see you, sir,"
she said, holding out the card.
"I'm not at home," replied vaalelsup,
coolly; II can't see any one tonight"
"He says you'd like to see hin, sir"
answered the woman, standing at the
door.
'.The mischief he does," muttered Van
deloup, uneasily; II wonder what this
pertinacious gentleman's name ISL" and he
glanced at the card, whereon was written
"Dr. Gollipeek."
vandeloup felt chill running through
him as he rose to his feet. The battle
was about to begin, and he knew he
would need all his wit mad skill to get
himself out safely. DR.. Gollipeck had
thrown down the gauntlet, and he would
have to pick it up. Well, it was best to
know the worst at once, SO he told the
landlsdy he would see Gellipeck Down
stairs. He did not want hin to come up
there, as he would see oil the evid.nces
of his intention to leave the country.
"I'll see him downstairs" he said,
sharply, to the landlady; task the gentle
man to wait"
The landlady, however, was pushed
roughly to one side, and DR.. Goliipeck,
the room.
mo need, my dear friend" he said in
his grating voice, blinking at the youag
man through his spectacles, 1--WE can talk
here"
vandeloup signed to the landlady to
leave the room, which she did, closing the
door afte2 her, and fhen. pulling himself