Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-05
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<< GENTLEMAN you. doctor.
- "A From across the common ciocs sou"0e'
I u the half hour t+or show
"Ten-thrty! I said "A late Vs
him up IL you please" 49,, .n.aa
pushed my writing aside and tilted the amp $3.50
as footsteps sounded on the landing me n~ ;., mi.
/ had jumped my feet for a TALL lean man. w" =.
sonarecIt cleanshaven face baked to the hue OF
coffee entered and extended both hands with cry;
Good old Petrie, Didn't expect me- III swear .
II was Maryland smith, whom had thought to be IN
Burmai =, ..,,. :.
smith / said and gripped his hands hard. this Is
a delightful surprise, Whatever-however-
Excuse me- Petrie.' he broke in Don't PUT II
down to the sum-! And he put out the lamp piunsns
the room into darkness.
was too surprised to speak
mo doubt. you will think me mad. he continued.
dimly could see him at the WINDOW peerns a.
into road but before you are many nours oiuei
YOU will know good reason to be cautious.
All nothing Suspicious! Perhaps am first this ume
stepping back to the writing table. he rehsnteo '
lamp.
mysterious enough you?" ne laughed and glanced
at my unfinished MS. "A story, Ell? From winch
gather that beastly heathy-What Petrle!
WELL put material in your way that II sneer
uncanny mystery a marketable commodity ought 70
you independent of influenza and o-oken legs ana
shattered and all the rest
1 surveyed him doubttuy. but there was nothing IN
appearance justify me in supposng him to suffer
decisions His too bright certainly and
hardness had crept over his race. goe out inc
whisky and siphon, saying:
You have taken your leave early?"
81 not leave" he replied, and slowly filled MS
pipe. Il duty
ION duty.' exclaimed What, you moved to
London, something's
II a rowing commission, Petre, and 1T doesn't
rest with where am today, nor where shall DO to-
morrow
There something ominous in the words. and put
ting my glass. faced round and looked him
squsrely the
'Out with it," L said. What is 1t all about?'
Smith suddenly stood up and stripped of his coat
Rolling left shirt sleeve he revealed wicked
looking in the heshy part of the forearm was
quite healed but curiousy strated for an inch or 20
around
Ever seen like it," he asked.
mot exactly. confessed. 1T appears to have been
deeply cauterized."
fright! Very deeply barb STEPPED in the venom
Of q hamadryad went in there!'
A shudder 1 could repress through at men,
deadly Of all the reptiles Of the east
There's only treatment" he continued. rolling
his sleeve down again. "and that's with sharp knife
a match and broken cartridge. lay back raving
for three days aferward in forest that stank with
malaria, should have been lying there had
hesitated. Here's the point It not accident!'
What do mean?'
IT mean a deliberate attempt my life
upon the tracks Of the who extracted
that venom-patently. drop by drop-from the poison
glands of the snake who prepared arrow. and who
caused it to be shot at me-
What fend is this?
"a hend who. unless calculations fault. 10
weapons of that kind. Petrie. have travelled
in the interests the British government
merely. but in the interests Of the entire white and
/ honestly beleve-thoush pray may be wrong
that its survival depends largely the OF my
mission"
To say that was perplexed conveys no idea OF tho
mental by extraordinary Statements
for into my humdrum suburban life Maryland Smith had
brought fantasy of the widest did not know what
60 THINK what to believe.
'I wasting precious timer he raped decdsvely
and draining his glass; he stood II straight
to you because you are the only man dare to trust
Except the big chief at headQuarers only
person in England. hope. who knows that Maryland
Smith has quilted Burma. 1 must have some one with
Petrie. all the time-its Imperative! Can you put
a to he atrnu husi
ness promise You. that ever was recorded in
nction?"
fessional duties were not onerous
Good mani! he cried wrinsng my hand in his
petuous I'VE start now
What, tonight?"
Tonight! / had thought Of turning in must admit
have not dared to sleep hours except in
fifteen minute stretches But there is one move that
must be made tonight and immediately 1 must warn
Sir Crichton Davey.'
"sr Crschton Davey-of the India"
Petre. he Is doomed Unless he follows my
instructions without question without
heaven nothing can save him! know when the
blow viii fall how It win fall. whence. but
know that my first duty II to him. Lot us walk
down to the corner OF the common get q taxi.
Whats thisf" rnuttered my friend hoarselv
Constables were moving a little crowd of curious
iders who pressed about steps Sir Daveys
house and sought to peer in open door, Wthore
waiting for the cab draw I'D to the curb Navland
Smith reekessy leaDed out and followed closely his
heels.
q constable ~
me latter glanced at him doubtfully. but something
IN nus ms, voice and bearing commanded respect.
oir CI1chton Davey has been killed, SIR
smith urched back as though had received a phys
cai now, and clutched shoulder oonvulsively Be-
were set in = stare = - -
My Godt' he whispered. Just TOO lata,
. with cenched fists he and. pressing through
s sa isssa s}SaS
the household were moving about more or less aim
iessy, and the chilly hand King Fear had touched
one and all. for as they and went they xisnced
ever over their shoulders. IL ked
menace and listened. seemed for some sound vhich
they dreaded to ~ "AA-
smith strobe up to the detective and showed him a
caro- upon glancing at which the Scotland Yard man
said something in low voice. and. noddine touched
his hat TO Smith in a respectful manner
-, few brief questions and answers. and in gloomy
silence followed the detective heavily carpefe
stair along corridor lined with pictures busts and
into large library. in this
and one in whom recognized Chalmers Cleeve Har.
street, bending motionless
upon a couch Another door communicated with mail
study, and through the opening could q man
fours examining the carpet. rtabI sens~
hush the about the physician bizarre f~,re
crawling, beetelke and
hub which all this ominous activity turned rnada
a that etched itself indelbly on my mind
AS entered Doctor Cleeve Strengthened himself
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