The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-05-23
-StronSe Experience IN tie Life
Of q Doctor.
Copyright. by ". q. Chapman.3
By A. T. MEAD

y. u.
LET me introduce you to my friend,
Laurence Carroll" she said. "Mr. Car
roll-Captain Mainwaring."
The captain bowed and favored Car
roll with a brief glance; the nervous
ness left CAROLS eyes and they grew
bright and steady. He began to talk
eagerly to Pamela, the captain having
again turned to the lady with whom
he had been conversing. Soon after
ward I took my leave, returned home,
n went straight to my laboratory. I
was engaged in several experiments
of an interesting nature, and in par
ticular was anxiously developing some
photographs which l had recently
taken by means of the Roentgen rays
had just retired into my dark room
when l heard a ring at the hall door.
My servant then raped and informed
me that Mr.. Carroll had called, and
was waiting in my laboratory.
On entering the apartment in ques-
ton I found Carroll standing where
the full rays Of the electric light fell
on his face. He looked cadaverous,
his cheeks were hollow, his eyes had
a disturbed and CLASSY expression. I
noticed that he had taken up some
proofs of mine which lay on the table.
They had been sent to me for correc-
ton from the medical paper for which
l constantly write. When he heard my
step he threw down the sheets and
came forward to meet me.
THAT is an interesting article, Hall
fax" he said. cit appears to relate to
a strange poison"
1T does," I returned; zone of the
most dangerous poisons known. AS
you have read some of it, I will tell
You how I came to write the paper. I
am much interested just now in the
Roentgen rays, and make many expert
ments with the new light. A few days
ago., while experimenting with ferro-
cyanide of potassium, I accidentally
found that l had evolved as a by-prod-
uct that most dangerous drug, anhy-
drous h%ydrocyanic acid, The article
Is written with a view to show the
danger which anyone unconscious of
this fact might unknowingly run. The
poison causes instant death by inhala.
ton, and the process of making, with
out certain precautions. is fatal"
1T is an interesting study" OBJ
served Carroll, as he sank into a chair.
"And now. doctor, I have taken advan-
tage of our old friendship to pay you
a rather late visit, which the impor.
lance Of my business must excuse
You know all about Pamela and my.
self. Well, I have determined that she
shall not marry Captain Mainwaring.
I gave her a letter tonight which will
make her think deeply. She loves me,
Halifax; she does not love Mainwar.
ing!"
"You are not acting in a manly
way" I said, severely. Il know that
Pamela was at one time attached to
you, but"
"My mind is made up" interrupted
Carroll. Either the marriage will be
prevented, or shall commit suicide"
"You profess to love the GIRL" I
said, sternly, "and yet you would cast
such a terrible shadow over her life?"
mo, I would draw the line at that -
he answered. eff she marries Main
waring she need never know of my
fate. I have given her people to un.
derstand that I am going abroad. If
I cannot effect the object for which I
visited you tonight I will allow her to
!! continue in that belief. I want you to
do me a favor. You are an old and in
innate friend of the family. Will you
go to Mr.. Crossthwaite tomorrow
morning and make a final plea for
me?"
Impossible" I returned. ut would
be useless. anyway. If you meant to
interfere, why did you wait until the
eleventh hour?"
Because I have been out of Ameri.
ca. The news of the engagement
reached me in Africa three weeks ago,
1 took the first boat I could get, and
reached New York this afternoon. AS
you will not interfere, l must go to
see Mainwaring. 1 told Pamela in the
letter I gave her tonight of my inten.
ton. Mainwaring shall not marry her
without first hearing the whole story.
If in the face of that he persists In
holding to his engagement 1 shall not
live to hear the wedding bells ring.
And nov I will bid you adieu, for the
present"
He shook hands with me and left
the house. He had been gone but
a few minutes when, approaching the
table where the proofs of my article
lay. I perceived that page 8 was miss.
ing. On this page a careful descrip.
ton of the use to which the deadly
acid could be put was given. A cry
of alarm escaped me as I saw that a
small bottle of the drug itself which
had been standing near the manu-
script was also missing. I knew what
occurred. Carroll had seen the word
poison" in large letters on the label
of the bottle, and had evidently
slipped it into his pocket before I en-.
tered the laboratory.
I put on my hat and rushed out, but
had not gone many steps before I re-
membered that I did not know Car.
rolls address. He had spoken, how.
ever, Of visiting Captain Mainwaring