The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-01
"DeviPs-foot root! No. / have never

''Devirs-foot root! No. have neve.
heard Of It." &
ut is no reflection upon your pro.
sfessional knowledge" said he. "for
believe that, save for one sample in
laboratory at Buda, there Is no
other specimen in Europe. It has
not yet found its way either into the
pharmacopeia or into the literature
Of toxicology. The root is shaped like
foot, half human, half goatlike: :
hence the fanciful name given by q
botanical missionary. 1t is used an
an ordeal poison by the medicine.men
In certain districts Of West Africa.
and is kept a secret among them
This particular specimen 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-iike powder.
We'll, sir?" said Holmes, sternly.
II am about to tell you, Mr.. Holmes.
all that actually occurred, for you al
ready know SO much that it is clearly
to my interest that you should know
ell. I have already explained the 70.
lationship in which I stood to the Ire
gennis family. For the sake of TIL
sister was friendly with the broth
ers. There was a family quarre
about money which estranged thi,
man Mortimer, but it was supposed t.
be made up, and I afterwards met him
as I did the others. He Was q sly
subtle. scheming man, and several
things arose which gave me a suspi
cion of him, but I had no cause fol
any positive quarrel. -
Zone day, only couple Of week.
ago, he came down to my cottage and
l showed him some of my African Gu
riosities. Among other things, I ex
hibited this powder, and 1 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
the unhappy native who is subjected
to the ordeal by the priest of hia
tribe. I told him also how powerlesa
European science would be to detect
it. How he took it I cannot say, fol-
l never left the room, but there ID
no doubt that it. was then, while ]
was opening cabinets and STOPPING to
boxes, that he managed to abstract
some Of the devil's.foot root. I well
remember how he piled me with ques.
tons as to the amount and the time
that was needed for it's effect, but !
little dreamed that he could have a
personal reason for asking
II thought nc more of the matter
until the wears telegram reached me
at Plymouth. This villain had thought
that I would be at sea before the news
could reach me, and that I should be
lost for years lin Africa. But re-
turned at once. OF course, I could
not listen to the details without feel
Ing assured that my poison had been
used. came round to see you on the
chance that. some other explanation
mad suggested itself to you. But
there could be none. I 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 were all
insane he would be the sole guardian
OF their joint property, he had used
the devil's-foot powder upon them
driven two Of them out of their senses
and killed his sister Brenda, the one
human being whom I have ever loved
or who has ever loved me. There was
his crime; what was to be his punish
ment? - E...-'.
Should appeal to the law? Where
were my proofs? l knew that the
facts were true, but could I help tc
make a jury of countrymen believe
so fantastic story? I might or
might not. But could not afford tt
fail. My soul cried out for revenge
l have said to you once before, Mr.