The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1914-05-22

nan WINE you were tneFeg
M sir"
"Did anybody come ip?"
"Oh. no. sir. the front door has a
snap lock II can't he opened from the
outside without a key"
$50 you are perfectly SIRE that no
one either entered or left the house
by the front door while You aud Rog
rrs were sitting tleref
''Nor by the back door either. sir: TO
get out the back way. you have to pass
tbrou%h the room where we were
Where We're the other servants?"
The cook was in the Kitchen sir
This is the housemalds afternoon ont ="
The coroner paused Godfrey and
Simmonds had both listened to this in.
terrogation
What is the room yonder used for:"
asked Godfrey, pointing to the connect
ing door.
ITS sort OF storeroom just now.
sir said Parks "AIr Vantine is just
back from Europe. and we've been I'M
packing in there some of the things
he bought while abroad"
"Send in NJ. Vantine, please" said
Goldbasger.
Parks went out, and Vantine came In
n moment later He corroborated ex-
actIy the story told by Parks and my
self, but he added one detail.
Here is the mans card" he said.
and held out square of pasteboard
1t contained single engraved line;
IN. Theophile D'AureIle."
He's French, as Parks suggested"
said Godfrey. That's evident, too.
from the cut of his clothes"
Eyes. and from the cut of his hair"
added Goldberger. You say you didn't
know him. Mr.. Vantine?"
~ never before saw him. TO my
knowledge" answered Vantine. 1.-The
name is wholly unknown to me-"
Well" said Goldberger. taking pos
session of the card and slipping it into
his pocket. suppose we lift him on to
that couch by the window and take
look through his clothes"
The man was slightly built, SO that
Slmmonds and Goldberger raised the
body between them without difficulty
and placed 1t on the couch. saw God
frey's eyes searching the carpet.
What | should like to know" he
said after moment. 'is this: If this
fellow took poison what did he take It
out OF? Where's the paper or bottle
or whatever 1t wasp
Maybe It's in his hand" suggested
Simmonds. and lifted the right hand,
which hung trailing over the side of
the couch.
Then as he raised it into the light a
sharp cry burst from him.
Look here" he said. and held the
hand so that we all could see.
CHAPTER II.
The Wounded Hand.
T was swollen and darkly discoI-
ored.
See there!" said Simmonds.
Something bit him." And he
pointed to two deep inclsions on the
back of the hand just above the
knuckles, from which few drops of
blood had oozed aud dried.
With little exclamation of surprise
and excitement Godfrey bent for an
instant above the injured hand. Then
he turned and looked at us.
This man didn't take poison" he
said In low voice. HE was killedr'
At the words we drew together
little. with SILVER of repulsion.
taking deep breath.
voiced the thought which had sprung
into my own brain.
why, it looks like snake bitter he
said, his voice sharp with astonish-
ment.
The quick glance which all of us cast
about the room was. of course, as In.
voluntary as the chill which ran MP
our spines
mo; ! don't think it was snake"
said Godfrey and again bent close
above the hand Smell it, Mr. Gold
berger" he added
The coroner put his nose close to the
hand and shifted
Bitter almonds" he said
Which means prussic acid" said
Godfrey, "and not snake poison" He
fell silent moment. his eyes on the
swollen hand. 1T might. of course.
have been self inflicted" he added.
cutie to himself
"A man doesn't USUALLY commit sui |