Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-05-27
Browning had been smoking IN II

lence for q few moments. "Inspec
tor" he said suddenly, will you meet
me at Lord Quinton's house at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning. and we'll
90 through the case together? III be
Lord Quinton, and act as | think he
acted on the morning he was mur.
dered. 1t nay give us a hint that
will put US on the right tract
went round next morning to Cado.
gan place with Browning, and there
punctuall y at 10 o'clock we were
joined by Inspector Trumbull.
For a few minutes the two detec-
tives discussed the case together. In
spector Turnbull was absolutely stOlid
at times.
Il cannot for the life Of me see
what good 1t can do US to go through
that play-acting," he said. when
Browning suggested we should com
mence.
My friend smiled. Then you must
watch it just to humor me-" A seri-
BUSINESS came into his voice. 1T may
ali lead to nothing. but it may give
us the very clew for which we are
looking"
"Exnctly,' said the representative
Of Scotland Yard.
Browning walked to the door, and
then returned. leisurely. In the mid
die Of the room he stopped for a mo
ment and lighted a cigarette. e have
no cigars. | never smoke theln.' he
said. Then he continued to Lord
Q%uinton's desk, sat down, INC com
menced reading some letters.
Browning rose impatiently to his
feet. II have omitted to do some
thing Lord Quinton did that morn
ing" he said, and fell to pacing the
room.
He flung the end Of his cigarette
into the fireplace and sat down in an
easy chair.
you'll come round to my view, l
think. in time" said Inspector Turn
bull.
Browning leaped to his feet. For a
moment he stood staring at me. Then.
with a laugh. he crossed to the fire.
place and hicked off the ash.
''Inspector," he said a second later,
I'm afraid I've wasted a lot Of you
time; I've beer a COMPOUNDED fool"
He crossed the room to where, at
he inspectors side, stood a small
ebony table. on which rested. among
other things, the ash tray, with It's In
dian idol.
STOPPING down, he slowly and very
carefully passed his hand along the
rim of the tray.
Suddenly, from the mouth CT the
god there sprang a long, pointed
needle. For q second we saw it. and
her it disappeared again.
You see now how Lord Quinton
was poisoned" said Browning. He
pressed the rim Of the tray again, and
when the needle appeared. held 1t be-
tween a pair of tweezers.
The needle was nearly three inches
long. and not more than one-eighth
broad at its widest part. 1t was fiat
and hollow, giving an easy means Of
access for the poison.
What a lendish ideal" said this H.
spector.
The body was lying in a spare bed
room, and we Immediately went up
stairs to inspect it. There. or the
right hand. just above the wrist, was
Il ollldl puuClulS, lISu III u L
was so small as to be hardly notice
able, and had we not known where to
look for it, we should never nave dis
covered it.
The same afternoon the news of
Lord Qu1nton's death was made pub
lie. Newsboys were passing beneath
our window, shouting out the intelli-
gence when Browning entered.
I'VE have found where and when
Lord Quinton bought that ash tray"
he said. Three weeks ago he re-
ceived q letter addressed from a raad
in Shepherds Bush, saying the wrtler
pleased to call and show 1t to hina If
he would care to see it with a view
to purchasing it."
Have you seen the letter. I asked.
No. Lord Quintcn destroyed it,
but Lady Quinton told me about it.
Two days later the nan called"
YES" I said eagerly.
Il got his description from one OF
the servants: it exactly comedies with
that Of Kruegel, the great secret serv-
Ice agent. Lord Quinton paid him
$50 for the curio. Herr Kruegel has
a subtle sense Of humor."
And Lady Quinton Is willing to let
her husbands death go unavenged; to
let the murderer escape scot free"
Browning smiled. There are other
ways Of killing a man besides hang
ing him." he said; "and there are
other secret service agents in the
world besides Herr Kruegel. England
possesses a few. you know."-Cassell's