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

.
CHAPTER 1.
'.Boudinot dead" cried Christopher
Poe. the New York banker. jumping up
to throw a lightaspring coat over thin
Office suit cut Oxford style IT must go
there directly"
Poisoned, too. DIR. Robinson says. Just
met him on the way home to make a
test of Boudinots equity blood" said the
informant, a fellow-banker.
Christopher Poe waited for nothing
else. Old Boudinot Riggs was distant
relation, temperamental dilettante,
sort of a fat grown-up bad boy, who had
inherited fondness for beauty and indo-
lence, together with something between
three and four million beautiful but not
too indulgent dollars which yielded mon
ey interest that Boudinot managed to
keep very active, hemmed in as ne was
by a household OF women, including a
kindly old dependent who nursed him. a
somewhat shrewish sister who despised
him. a young lady secretary who took
the place of a business mans stenog-
rapher, and raft of interested outsid-
ers. poor relations, a lady barber. lady
shirtmaker, a girl who sold him cigar
cites. and a petite French manicure. A
popular description of Boudinot among
the men who knew him was, "A large
body with govt entirely surrounded by
women"
Three of them were most important in
his life: Mrs. Groves, the dependent
nurse, because she motnered him; Miss
Riggs. his sister, because she bothered
him, and Miss Mignon Moquin, because
she manicured the SQUAT pink nails Of
which he was very proud. In considera-
ton of the varying degrees Of his inter-
est in these estimable ladies Boudinot
had made a will. more or less publicly,
in which he left 100000 to Miss Mignon
Moquin, $4,000 to his faithful old nurse,
and 1900 each to his expectant sister,
who had no private fortune: his secre-
tary, his cook and little scullery maid
who polished his boots each night and
left them before his door each morning,
after the English fashion.
1t was this second maid who opened
the door to Christopher Poe that after
noon at Boudinots death. 1t was Mrs.
Groves, the nurse, red-eyed and trem-
bling who pressed Poe's hand with
sincere emotion and led him to Miss
Riggs, who had just been called back
by the news of her brothers death.
from Yonkers, where she had gone on
a visit that morning.
Poe took the cold hand Miss Riggs
thrust out to him mechanically. Isn't
there something can do?' he asked.
No; everything is quite all right"
But being Boudinots friend and
banker, l thought
As for your being his banker" she
said. throwing up her hand abruptly,
Il IL attend to that after this Per-
haps you don't know that Boudinot
came TO his senses last night and
changed my name for Miss Moquins In
that silly will of his?''
Mo- cried Poe in surprise, glanc-
ing at Mrs. Groves, whose eyes were
so big and somber and sad, as though
with a concealed story, that Poe asked
sharply. Did you know of this?'
The nervous, bird-like little woman
looked straight at Miss Riggs and said
in a direct level tone. IF you hadn't
slandered Miss Moquin and-and driv-
en- him to it, he wouldn't have done
il. This morning when you said you
wished he was dead and slammed the
door in his face he asked me to take
him in his wheelchair to Miss Moquin
so he could see IL you told the truth
last night
Miss Riggs drew up her thin, cordy
neck md swallowed hard as Mrs.
Groves paused before continuing in
higher key: "Oh. I'm going to speak
out now. I've kept quiet in this hell
Of a house long enough She trem-
bled with emotion. II was the only
one that ever took care of him; I saw
that his eggs were poached just so; I
nursed him when his foot was so bad
he swore at everybody; Il"
And you're well paid for it, snap
ped Miss Riggs in a voice that sound
ed like a slap in the face. He left
you half a million"
Mrs. Groves face had punched to-
gether in an agonized knot How can
you talk like that, with his lying in
therer' she cried. 1T isn't money I'm |
AF he
wouldn't have left me a cent If he'd
listened to the things you said against |
me- |
You lier' screamed Miss Riggs in |
tremulous rage.
Miss Riggs" put in Poe calmly, touch-l
ing her softly on the shoulder. your |
brother" he indicated the adjoining |
room. This will rest till later when"
''Oh. / don't care about him. What /
did he ever do for me?" she burst out /
violently, an hystericaL dry sob escaping
her.
Try to calm yourself Miss Riggs"
Poe put in softly. adding in a casual tone
Have they found yet what kind of poi
son was usedT'
"Poison"' Miss Riggs jumped to her
feet, drew her arms down taut in an ef-
fort at self-control, her face went dead
white and she glanced quickly from Mrs |
Groves to Poe. both watching her keenly.
we'll WndI KIM OF poison 90 Iney
think IL was and who do you think did
it?' she asked in a dry voice.
''Oh. IL hasn't gone that far" said the
banker in concerned tone. 81 learned
of it from friend and stopped to see
DIR. Robinson before came here. He
was making test Of the blood; said as 4
far as he'd gone all indications pointed to
pTussic acid"
"Prussic acidr' cried Miss Riggs. and
Mrs. Groves hovered closer. looking from
one to the other with awed, hollow eyes.
Yes, three grains of which. less than
a drop. absorbed by the blood will cause
DEATH" said Poe calmly. his eyes on the
carpet, though he saw Miss Riggs glance
furtively at Mrs. Groves and her express
sion grow hard.
Then Miss Moquin disliked being Gu.
OFT of the will?'' she forced laugh.
You mean you think she"
Either Miss Moquin or his nurse" she
pointed an unsteady finger at Mira
Groves
oh. I'm sure you're quite too wrought
up by the announcement 1 made: /
should have been more thoughtful" there ]
was shreweness In his tone.
Mrs. Groves put q timid hand on his !,