The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-06-01
CHAPTER X.

CI1Af L EN- a.
Now" he began, "iust you let
me say right here that Quintus
Cakes did an elegant piece of work
the very first time he went over
the ground of the murder"
What did he do?" asked the
judge anticipatingly.
well. he came to me the other
morning early and said to me in his
quiet, dignified style: Come, Hal
len, let's look over the place where
the murder occurred. The heart was
full of blood and stopped in disas-
tole.'
ut was. was it?' l said" contin-
ued Hallen in narration, but what
the deuce has that got to do with
the place of the murder. Mr. Cakes p
Then Mr.. Cakes looked surprised
and blushed like a schoolgirl. 4
was just thinking out loudf Hallen.
that was ALL said he, and then
Cakes, or Paul Parker, I should say,
picked up his reporters not book
and led the way to the offices of
Theodore Stone. and he walked so
fast in his anxiety to get there he
had me blown in three minutes min
utes trying to keep up with that
hurry stride Of his
We'll, as soon as we got near to
the back entrance Cakes saw the
janitor. and. speaking a few words
to him, the man led us in. Cakes
began to keep his eyes on the floor.
but he looked keenly at the walls
once in while; afterwards he look
ed at the floor and where the small
bloodstains had been, and studied
around Il while, saying nothing. but
noticing everything Suddenly he
looked at me and said:
Hallen, if you step on it, I'll
never forgive YOU
Step on what? said l.
"Oakes looked 81 "su with dis
eo,,ras,ad ...e-..,ssfon and said in a
whisper, On the poison. you ape; on
the poison
'''f fail to understand, Mr.. Cakes
r said. There have been several
dozen people here. If this is a poison
case the poison must have been
found locg ago, if left around
"Oakes looked witheringly at me,
saying in his sharp. curt manner,
with the tone he assumes when posi-
tive, 'Hallen, this is a poison case,
ana there should be some around
here somewhcre-droppod about. As
the man was poisoned by force it
must have been poured down his
throat
Cakes. what the devil I cried
Put Just then he seized me by
the shoulder. and pulling me toward
him, whispered a long Latin name
at me 'Hallen, that's the poison
uSed-I know it. 1t is unique in it's
action, and the state is at sea; they
have not recognized it-they don't
know it,
Neither do I; that long rigma-
len l cried.
"rhen Cakes whispered another
word; That's the ordiary name,
said he. And, gentlemen" continued
Hallen. as he looked at Martin, the
judge and Troop, when I heard the
name I knew it to be an awful drug
1 presume you all know what it was
by this time? Mr.. Cakes has told
you, has he not?'
The others nodded in acquiescence
and Hallen continued:
''As soon as ! understood I began
to hunt too, the janitor watching
us all the time, and Mr.. Cakes ex-
planned to me that the poison is usu-
ally held in alcoholic solution, but
that when it is spilled the alcohol
evaporates and leaves the poison be-
hind.
'Mr. Cakes explained how it looked
like water, pure and clear, just as
the alcohol that holds it; but wher
the alcohol evaporates, the residue Is
rather filmy, white or yellow, and
somewhat tenacious. And then he
said that It might resemble the drop
pings from Il wax candle, or under
other circumstances, the strain OF
acid-sort of yellowish. depending or
the action of the light.
well. gentlemen, 1 was indeed
excited. and while Mr.. Cakes wal
In the front Office l was looking ovsl
the floor of the back Office. We wen