Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-19


graph from his breast pocket and
threw it on the rustic table before us.
"That is why have done it," said
he.
It showed the bust and face OF
very beautiful woman. Holmes stopped
over it.
Brenda Tregennis," said he.
Yes, Brenda Tregennis," repeated
our visitor For years l have loved
her. For years she has loved me.
That Is the secret Of that Cornish Sc
clusion which people have maryeled
al. It has brought me close to the
one thing on earth that was dear 10
me. could not marry her, for have
a wife who has left me for years, and
vet whom, by the deplorable laws OF
England, | could not divorce. For
wears | waited And this is what we
nave 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 telegraphed to me and |
returned. What was my baggage or
Africa 10 me when learned that such
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 dlaboli," with red poi,
son label beneath it. He pushed 1t
towards me. 81 understand that you
are a doctor, sir. Have you ever
heard of this preparation?"
"Devils-foot root! No, have never
heard of it."
1T is no reflection upon your pro
fessional knowledge" said he, 'for l
believe that, save for one sample in
a laboratory at Buda, there is no
other specimen in Europe. 1t has
not vet found it's 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
botanical missionary. II is used as
an ordeal poison by the medicinemen
in certain districts Of West Africa,
and is kept secret among them
This particular specimen obtained
under very extraordinary ctrcum-
stances in the Ubanghi country" He
opened the paper as he spoke, and
disclosed heap Of reddisli.brown,
snuff-like powder.
We'll. sir?" said Holmes. sternly.
az am about TO tell you. Mr.. Holmes,
MI that actually occurred. for YOU al
ready know 50 much that it is clearly
10 my interest that YOU should know
all. l have already explained the re-
lationship In which I stood to the Tire
gennis family. For the sake Of the
sister ! was friendly with the broth
ers. There was family quarrel
about money which estranged this
man Mortimer, but it was supposed TO
be made up, and l afterwards met him
as ! did the others. He was u sly,
subtle, scheming man, and several
things arose which gave me a suspi-
cion Of him, but I had no cause for
any, positive quarrel.
Gone day, only couple Of weeks
ago, he came down TO my cottage and
I showed him some Of my African Gu
riosities. Among other things. ex-
hibited this powder. and | told him
of its strange properties, how it slim
ulates those brain centers which con-
troll the emotion Of fear, and how
either madness or death is the fate Of
he unhappy native who is subjected
- he ordeal by the priest OF his
tribe. 7 told him also how powerless
European science would be to detect
t How he took IT | cannot say, for
: Lever left the room, but there is
no doubt that it was then. while
was opening cabinets and STOPPING TO
boxes, that he managed to abstract
SOHlS OI Tie OeNll S-IOOl IOUl. "Sil
remember how he piled me with ques-
tons as to the amount and the time
that Vas needed for its effect. but |
little dreamed that he could have
personal reason for asking.
II thought no more of the matter
until the Wears telegram reached me
at Plymouth. This villain had thought
that ! would be al sea before the news
could reach me, and that should be
lost for years in Africa. But | re-
turned at once. Of course, ] could
not listen to the details without feel
ing assured that my poison had been
used. l came round to see you on the
chance that some other explanation
had suggested itself 10 you. But
thare could be none. l was convinced
that Mortimer Tregennis was the muir
derer: that for the sake Of money,
and with the idea, perhaps. that if The
other members OF his family We're al
insane he would be the sole guardian
1,.;,- r. u -