The Breckenridge news., 1915-05-05


THAT in all probability they are poi
soned. But there's no need trying to
prove my theory right or wrong. Ask
Jones. He'll tell you to throw them
away"
"Horrible!" Florence shuddered.
But they do not want to poison me.
I'm too valuable. They want me
alive"
who can say?" returned Jim
gloomily. They may have learned
that they cannot beat us, no matter
what card they turn up. | may be
wrong, but take my advice and throw
them away. Good Lord, what s
that?" startled.
Some one cried!"
20, Miss Florence!" exclaimed the
maid, terror stricken as she recalled
Susans act. Miss Susan took a
peach from the basket and was eating
it on the way to her room!"
Good heavens!" gasped Jim. 81
was right. The fruit was poisoned"
Jim had head enough to send for a
specialist he knew. The specialist ar
rived about twenty minutes after Sus-
ans first cry. To his keen eye it
looked like certain poison which had
for its basis the venom of the cobra.
viii she live?"
20, yes. But she'll be a wreck for
some months. Send her to the hos
pital where can visit her frequently
And I'll take that peach along for
analysis. No police AFFAIR.""
mo. We dare not call them in"
said jim.
That's your affair. I'll send down
the ambulance. Keep her quiet. She'll
have a species of paralysis; but that'll
work off under the treatment. A
strange business"
so it is" agreed Jim grimly.
Florence knelt beside her friends
bed and cried softly.
you called me Just in time. An
hour later, nothing would have saved
her. She would have been paralyzed
for life"
Jim accompanied the doctor to the
door and went in search of Jones. He
found the taciturn butler eying the
fruit basket. his face gray and drawn.
though his eyes blazed with fury.
"Poison!"
"a pretty bad poison. too," said Jim.
I'VE can't do anything. We've just
got to sit still. But in the end we'll
chA
mo, my friend; that he devil. The
woman is mad over him and would
commit any crime at his bidding. But
this is his work. We want him. He
wasn't without courage to send this
fruit, knowing that | would instantly
suspect the sender. Yet, | have no
definite proof. | could not hold him
in court in law. He will have bought
the fruit piece by piece, the basket in
basket shop. He will have injected
the poison himself when alone. Poor
Susan! That messenger was without
doubt some one over whom he holds
the threat of the death chair. That's
the way he works"
Jim tramped the room while Jones
carried the fruit to the kitchen. The
butler returned after a while.
What about that blank sheet of pa
PERI"
1T has to be dipped into a solution;
after that you can read it by heating.
| have already dipped it into the solu-
tion. The moment the heat leaves the
sheet the writing disappears again.
The ink is waterproof. I'll show you"
Jones got a candle from the mantle,
lit it, and held the sheet Of paper very
close to the flame. Gradually, almost
imperceptibly, letters began to form on
the blank sheet At length the mes
sage was complete.
Dear Hargreave-The Russian min
lister of police is at the Blank hotel
under the name Of Henri Servan. He
is investigating the work of the Black
Hundred in this country and can free
you from their vengeance If you sup
ply the evidence needed"
Now. what evidence can he want?"
asked Jim.
such as will prove Braine an unde-
sirable citizen"
And then"
Quietly pack him off to Russia,
where he is badly wanted"
"Who sent this message?"
zone of our mysterious friends. We
have a few. as you already know. But
I'll go and make this man Servan a
visit. have seen the real minister,
and II this man is the same one. some
thing of importance may turn up. !
shall want you somewhere about.
Here. III let you have this letter Re-
member, heat brings 1t out and cold