The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-15

smelled Of the pieces. smiled. repeated
eoffly. "peach kernels." put htg tonguI
70 The moist surface OF one bit Of giasl
a1d said with satisfaction. "bttter q.
Bonds"
Then squar.ng his broad shoulders. h
slfpped the box into his pocket, took q
deep breath. and walked briskly to the
Riggs house
There he was admitted by Miss Rigs
herself. who raised her eyebrows crit
icaily and asked why be had returned.
TO make sure that the woman who
murdered Boudinot does not escape" he
said In q direct tone.
Miss Riggs went white and stepped
back. Mrs. Groves running down the hall
to support her.
She recovered instantly. standing
straight and stiff before the banker.
What do you meant" she demanded
through thin. trembiy lips. You have
learned something?"
Everything"
But I did not do II. You're madr' she
cried, turning on Mrs. Groves and point
ing an accusing Anger. you mean she
did itr'
Try to calm yourself. III explain"
Poe turned quickly to Mrs Groves and
asked. "Is there any ongoline In the
house7'
"No. There isn't" cried Miss Riggs,
her muscles taut. ''Explainl What do
va mean by accusing meT
Mrs Groves had slipped away silently
with a significant signal TO Poe. She
returned momentarily with plain bot
tie In her hand, while Miss Riggs was
Historically demanding an explanation.
Poe took the bottle from Mrs Groves
fingers, uncorked. and smelled IT.
A. he was about to speak the phone
rang and the little second maid. who
always shined Boudinots shoes, came
forward to announce softly that Mr..
Poe was wanted on the wire.
The banker answered his call, recog-
mixing the voice Of DR.. Robinson at the
other end.
$50 you found the same acid on the
orange wood sticks" he remarked"
Yes, pure prussic acid on one of
them" Continued the doctor.
Good. I'll dine with you" Poe
paused to look at his watch. in half an
hour; about six-thirty."
He hung up the receiver and returned
to the room. where the two women
awaited him, watching each other mar
rowly.
Mrs. Groves" said Poe turning to
the nurse and holding up the bottle she
had brought him. "Why is there no
label on this bottle? thought ongoline
always came in a container with an en-
bossed label something like this?" He
took from his pocket the bottle he had
purchased at Misc Moquin's'
Mrs. Groves gasped for a reply, gagged
and giared at him with half open mouth.
unable to answer.
Miss Riggs rose from her chair and
stepped to Poe's side.
"She was the poisonerr' she cried.
ievel,ing a long, trembling. red-tipped
finger at the old attendant. whose eyes
grew suddenly small and sharp. like q
rats
YES" answered Poe. IT suspected II
from the moment I saw the hang-nail on
Boudinot's finger. You are a clever poi
soner, Mrs. Groves. and ! can't blame
you for figuring that Miss Riggs might
have had your legacy of half a million
reduced to a Thousand, after her success
In making Boudinot change his bequest
to Miss Moquin. Your only mistake was
in keeping this ongoline when you emp
tied the original bottle to I'LL It with
pruss:c acid"
What do you mean cried Miss Riggs
Mrs. Groves, a hunted. insane CLEAN
in her eyes. crouched down and searched
in her skirt pocket as though for a hand
-~f.-o -. 49, -
Poe.
As the banker turned to answer Miss
Riggs, quick as flash the old attendant
brought out her hand and flung the con-
tents of a phial straight at Poe's head;
he ducked just in time and the sulphuric
acid struck and began eating its way
INTO cnoice Japanese tapestry "nien
aeor heo the wall oen'nu.
one snos out OF .ne room ana sour
rico UP Ine stairs IKE cat,
MISS hsss ussneo 70 the door,
screaming Ior whnam' the outier.
Come! Wnefe Is ner room! cried roe
ieaping up the STAIRS. smell 90 her-
sell Damage he turned the angie At
the top IN ume 10 near a crash behind
door al tne ielL Iryins tne KNOB ne
iound II locked, ana oraeing MS should
er against IL Hdhaseo 10 force II m
put much 100 late TO save the wom-
an ss NE
sne Jay across foot-stooi' Jagged
wound IN ner neck where sne had
openeo q 'ususr VEN Win an insane
thrust OF ner sharp-pointed sewi ng
shears
Poe shuddered and turned away. He
shppeo Out throogn the bedroom door
rs MISS RIGGS was entering
Soihs quetiS oo"nstairs ne entered
me teiepnone caoinet ana got Doctor
Robinson on the wire.
Doctor, ne said slowly can't
,ome 70 oinner- iou pest come over
% RIGGS ana make out second death
'efuncate- Mrs. Groves mas committed
IN irenay al neing FOUND out
round out! what 10 you mean!
was sne VINO oougnt tne prussic
icio you round IN bouoinots blood and
N the up OF one OF the orange wood
ticks 1 sent you.