The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-05-16

down. He dressed hurriedly and de-
scended to his sitting-room. You en-
tered by the window. There was an
Interviews short one-during which
you walked up and down the room.
Then you passed out and closed the
window, standing IN the lawn out
side smoking a cigar and watching
what occurred. Finally, after the
death of Tregennis. you withdrew as
you had come. Now, DR.. ~Sterndale,
how do you justify such conduct, and
what were the motives Of your &C.
tons? If you prevaricate or trife
with me, / give you my assurance that
the matter will pass out Of my hands
forever"
Our visitors face had turned ashen
gray as he listened to the words OF
his Now he sat for some
time in thought with his face sunk in
his hands. Then, with a sudden i'm
pulsive gesture, he plucked a photo
graph from his breast pocket and
threw it on the rustic table before US.
THAT Is why | have done it," said
he.
1t showed the bust and face Of a
very beautiful woman Holmes stopped
over 1t.
Brenda Tregennis," said he.
Eyes, Brenda Tregennis," repeated
our visitor. For years | have loved
her. For years she has loved me,
THAT a.. {h4 a1nrof ~ +hot Corpfoh en-
clusion which people have marveled
at. 1t has brought me close to the
one thing on earth that was dear to
me. l could not marry her, for l have
a wife who has left me for years, and
yet whom, by the d%eplorable laws OF
England, l could not divorce. For
years l waited. And this Is what we
have waited for" A terrible sob
shook his great frame, and he clutched
his throat under his brindle beard.
Then with an effort he mastered him.
self and spoke on.
"The vicar knew. He was in our
confidence. He would tell you that
she was an angel upon earth. That
was why he t~elegraphed to me and I
returned. What was my baggage or
Africa to me when l learned that such
a fate had come upon my darling?
There you have the missing clew to
my action, Mr.. Holmes"
Proceed" said my friend.
DR.. Sterndale drew from his pocket
a paper packet and laid it upon the
table. On the outside was written,
"Radix pedis diaboli," with a red poi.
son label beneath It. He pushed II
towards me. 9" understand that you
are a doctor, sir. Have you v g
heard Of this PREPARATION"
heard Of it."
ut ia no reflection upon your pro-
fessional knowledge" said he. "for I
believe that, save for one sample in
a laboratory at Buda, there is no
other specimen in Europe. 1t has
not yet found Its way either into the
pharmacopeia or into the literature
Of ~toxicology. The root is shaped like
a foot, half human, half goatlike;
hence the fanciful name given by a
botanical missionary. 1t is used al
an ordeal poison by the medicine-men
In certain districts Of West Africa.
and is kept a secret among them
This particular specimen l obtained
under very extraordinary circum-
stances in the Ubanghi country" He
opened the paper as he spoke, and
disclosed a heap Of reddish-brown.
snuff-like powder.
We'll, sir!" said Holmes. stsrnly.
81 am about to tell you. Mr.. Holmes,
all that actually occurred. for you al.
ready know 30 much that 1t is clearly
to my interest that you should know
all. have already explained the re-