Bisbee daily review., 1914-03-15
Copyright. 1913. by Burton E. Stevenson S%S*<@%.S ~S ~S%%$%*%$*s+%*S$s%$%><

 l knew pr Hughes uf course. re- turued his nod and followed him aud Godfrey Into the anterOom. | heard Godfrey telling him all be knew. while Hughes listened with iucredulous face. But it's absurd. you know" he pro tested. when Godfrey had finished. Things like this don't happen here in New York ln Florence. perhaps. ln the middle ages; but not here in the twentieth centuryT
 q can scarcely believe my own senses" Godfrey agreed But | saw the Frenchman lying here this after noon; and now here's Vantne"
 Hughes turned back to The body again. and looked long and earnestly at the injured hand
 What sort of instrument made this wound. would you say. Mir Godfrey?n he questioned at last
 "A sharp instrument with two prongs My theory Is that the prongs are hol- low, like a hypodermic needle and leave a drop or two Of poison at the bottom of the wound. You see. a vein has been cut"
 Yes" Hughes assented Tt would scarcely be possible to pierce the hand here without striking n vein. One of the prongs would be sure to do it." That's the reason there are two Of them, fancy"
 But you are. Of course. aware that no poison exists which would act so qulcklyy" Hughes inquired
 Godfrey looked at him strangely. 'You yourself mentioned Florence a moment ago." be said. You meant. suppose that such poison did at one time exist thereT'
 Something of the sort, perhaps" agreed Hughes.
 Well. the poison that existed in Florence five centuries ago exists here today There's the proof of it," and Godfrey pointed to the body.
 But what sort of devllsh instru. ment is it?" cried Hughes. his nerves giving way for an instant. his voice mounting shnlly. Above all. who wields itT" Then he shook himself together
 There is something supernatural about it. something can't understand. How does it happen that each of the victims is struck on the right hand? Why not on the left hand? Why the hand at all?'
 Godfrey answered with a despalring shrug
 That is what we've got to find out" he said
 "we shall have to call fin the police" suggested Hughes. Maybe they can solve it-"
 Godfrey smiled. a little skeptical smile. quickly suppressed.
 At least they will have to be given the chance" he agreed. shall I at tend to itT'
 Yes" said Hughes. ''and you would better do it right away. The sooner they get here the better"
 Very we'll" assented Godfrey. and left the room.
 Hughes sat down heavily on the couch near the window and mopped his face again with shaking hand. That was trying half hour. Hughes sat on the couch. breathing heavily, staring Ut the floor. As for me. l was thinking of my dead friend. l remem- bered Philip vantine as 1 had always known him kindly. witty, Christian gentleman. That such a man should he killed Ike this. struck down by Q mysterious assassin, armed with poi soned weapon!
 A woman! But why should she have chosen Philip Vantine of all men for her victim Philip Vantlne. who had never injured any womanl And then 1 paused. for realized that knew nothing of Yantine except what he had chosen to tell me. Parks would know. And then l shrank from the thought. Must we probe that secretI Must we compel a man to betray bis masteri
 The door opened and Godfrey came in. This time he was not alone. Sim monds and Goldberger followed him. and their faces showed that they were as shaken and nonplused as l. There was a third man with them whom did not know. but l soon found out that it was Freylinghuisen. the coro' ners physician.
 Instead of getting to work. Gold berger walked up and down. pulling i'm patiently at his mustache and glancins at his watch now and then. He seem ed to be waiting for some one, but no,