The Huttig news., 1915-07-31

II you VIII.
 The captain nodded
 d better stay here for a time," he decided. I'll follow you presently"
 The service of dinner was resumed Laura, however, sent plate after plate away. The captain watched her anx- iously.
 T can't help it." she explained 'I don't know whether you've had any talk with Mr Quest, but we've been through some queer times lately. guess this death business is getting on my nerves"
 The captain was startled. ] You don't for a moment connect Mrs. Foston Rowe's death with the criminal you are in search of?" he exclaimed
 Laura sat quite still for moment.
 The bouillon was offered first to MT. Quest" she murmured
 The captain called his steward.
 Where did you get the bouillon from you served-that last cup, espe- eially?' he asked.
 From the pantry just as usual sir" the man answered. Tt was ali served out from the same caldron."
 Any chance of anyone getting at it?'
 Quite impossible, sir
 In Quests stateroom the doctor, the professor, Quest and Lenora were all gathered around two little tubes. toh ing with an electric torch.
 No reaction at all," the latter nut tered. This isn't an ordinary poison, anyway"
 The professor, who had been stand ing on one side, suddenly gave vent to soft exclamation.
 "Wait!" he whispered Wait! I have an idea"
 He hurried off to his stateroom The doctor was boring over a volume of tabulated poisons. Quest was still watching his tubes. Lenora sat upon the couch. Suddenly the professor reappeared. He was carrying a small notebook in his hand, his manner be- trayed some excitement. lie closed the door carefully behind him.
 q want you all,' he begged, "to listen very carefully to me. You will discover the application of what I am going to read when I am finished. Now, if you please"
 This he began, "is the diary of tour made by Craig and myself in northern Egypt some fourteen years ago. Here is the first entry of i'm port
 MONDAY-Twenty-n miles southeast of Port Said. We have stayed for two days at little Mongar village. I have today come to the definite conclusion that anthropoid apes were at one time deni- zens of this country. TUESDAY-Both Craig and I have been a little uneasy today. These Mongars into whose encampment we have found our way. are one of the strangest and fercest of the nomad tribes. They are descended without doubt, from the an- cient Mongolians, who invaded this coun- try some seven hundred years before Christ, but have preserved in a marvellous way their individuality as a race. They have the narrow eyes and the thick nose base of the pure Oriental; also much of
  nesses seems to be the invention of the most hdeous forms of torture. which they apply remorselessly to their ene mics.
 wEDNESDAY-This has been a won- derful day for us, chiefly. owing to what I must place on record as an act of great bravery by Craig, my servant. Early this morning. q man-eating lion found his way into the encampment. The Mongars hab nf rigbt and left, leaving the chiefs little daughter. Feerda, at the brute's mercy. Craig, who is by no means an adept in the use of firearms. chased the animal as he was making off with the child. and, more by good luck than anything else, managed to wound it mortally. He brought the child back to the encamp- ment just as the chief and the warriors of the tribe returned from a hunting ex petition. Our position here is now abso- lutely secure We are treated like gods, and, appreciating my weakness for all matters of science. the chief has today explained to me many of the secret mys- teries of the tribe. Amongst other things. he has shown me a wonderful secret poi son, known only to this tribe. which they call Veedemzoo. It brings almost instant death, and is exceedingly difficult to traee The addition of sugar causes a curious condensation and resolves 1t almost to a white paste. The only antidote is a sub stance Which they use here freely, and which is exactly equivalent to our cam lphor.
 The professor closed his book. Quest promptly rang the bell
 Some sugar." he ordered, turning to the steward
 They waited in absolute silence. The suggestion which the professors disclosure had brought to them was stupefying, even Quests fingers, as a moment or two later he. rubbed two knobs of sugar together so that the contents should fall into the tubes of bouillon, shook. The result was magical. The bouillon turned to a strange shade of gray and began slowly to thicken.
 "It is Mongar poison!" the profes- sor cried, with breaking voice.
 They all looked at one another.
 Craig must be here amongst us" Quest muttered.
 And the bouillon," Laura cried clasping Quests arm, "the bouillon was meant for you!"