Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-10-21
S TIE VENSO N

What sore of instrument made this
wound, would you say. Mr.. Godfrey"
he questioned, at last.
"A sharp instrument. with two
prongs. My theory is that the prongs
are hollow, like a hypodermic needle.
n leave a drop or two of poison at
the bottom of the wound. You seen, a
vein has been cut"
Yes" Hughes assented. ut would
scarcely be possible to pierce the hand
here without striking a vein. One of
the prongs would be sure to do it,"
That's the reason there are w of
them, 1 fancy"
But you are, of course. aware that
no poison exists Which would act so
quickly?" Hughes inquired.
Godfrey looked at him strangely.
you yourself mentioned Florence a
moment ago. he said. You meant, /
suppose. that such a poison did, at one
time, exist there?"
Something Of the sort, perhaps"
agreed Hughes. 1.-THE words were pure
ly instructive, but I suppose some such
thought was running through my
head"
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.
Hughes drew a deep breath of Won
der and horror.
strument is it," he cried, his
nerves giving way for an instant. his
voice mounting shrilly. "Above all,
who Yields it?"
He stared about the room, as
though half expecting to see some
mighty and remorseless arm poised,
ready to strike. Then he shook him
self together.
Il beg pardon" he said, hopping the
sweat from his face; but I'm not used
to this sort of thing; and I'm fright
ened-yes, / really believe I'm fright
ened," and he laughed, a little UNI
steady laugh.
S am l." said Godfrey; 80 is Les
ter; so is everybody. You needn't be
ashamed Of it,"
what frightens me-" went on
Hughes. evidently studying his own
there is something supernatural about
it-something I can't understand. How
does it happen that each of the VIC
Tins is struck on the right hand:
Why not on the left hand? Why the
hand at all?'
shrug.
That is what we've got to find out"
he said.
W. shall have to call in the police"
suggested Hughes. Maybe they can
solve it,"
0Ou1Tey SullleU, q l1IIle SkeptlcGl
smiles, quickly suppressed.
A least, they will have to be given
the chance" he agreed. Shall 1 at
tend to it?"
YES" said Hughes; land you would
better do it right away. The sooner
they get here the better"
very WE'LL" assented Godfrey. and
left he room.
Hughes sat down heavily On the
couch near the window, and mopped
his face again. with s.. shaking hand.
Death he was accustomed to-but
death met decently in bed and result
ing from some understood cause.
Death in this horrible and mysterious
form shook him; he could not under
stand it, and his failure to understand
appalled, him. He was a physician; it
was his business to understand; and
yet here was death in q form as mys-
FERROUS to him as to the veriest layman.
1t compelled him to pause and take
stock OF himself-always a discomfort
ing process to the-b best Of US!
That was q trying half hour. Hughes
a On the couch breathing heavily,
staring at the floor, perhaps passing his
own ignorance in review, perhaps won
prescribing this or that AS for me,
l was thinking OF my dead friend.
remembered Philip Vantine Is I had
always known him kidly, witty,
Christian gentleman. ] could see his
pleasant eyes looking at me in friend
before; I could hear his voice, could
feel the clasp Of his hand. That such
. man should be killed like this. struck
down by a mysterious assassin, armed
with q poisoned weapon :
A woman! Always my mind came
q wOman's weapon. But who was she!
How had h escaped? Where had she
concealed herself? How was h able
to strike so surely? Above all. why
should h have chosen Philip Van.
tine. Of all men. for her vtctim-PhiliY
woman-and then ] paused. For
realized that 1 knew nothing OF Van
tine. except what he had chosen t,
tell me. Parks would know. And thel
! shrank from. the thought Must VI,
) probe that secret? Must we compel
man to betray his master?
oil My lace was burning. No, we cou2i
not do that-that would be abomin
8 able The door opened an.
Godfrey came In. This time, he wa
: not alone. Simmonds and Goldberge
E followed him, and their faces showe
that they were as shaken and non
plussed as I. There was a third ma
d with them whom I did not know: bu
d but I o found put that 1t was Frey
o linghutsen. b coroner's physician. :
9 They all looked at the body, an
Freylinghutsen knelt beside 1t and ex
d amined the injured hand; then he sc
down by DR.. Hughes. and they WEI
soon deep In q low-toned converse
j. ton, whose subject I could guess.
d. could also guess what SimmOnds an
Godfrey were talking about In he TAI
10 ther corner: but I could not guei
j. why Goldberger. instead OF getting
work, should DO walking up and dow
N pulling impatiently ct his moustacl
~ ana glancing at his watch now az
e then. He seemed to be waiting 4