The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-09-02

REMAINDER u Lu0 6SutSuCC Al LIS CoAs
yes! / seen her do it. | thought
there was somethin' funny" The boy
looked up suspiciously, and edged
away, asking, How'd you know about
it?"
Never mind now said Poe. Get
boy to watch your stand for the rest
of the afternoon and I'll give you two
dollars"
"All right" said the youngster
promptly.
Poe scrubbed on the back of an en-
velope:
"Robinson-Test these sticks for me.
Call me up at Riggs as soon as fin
ished. Keep the boy p"
Writing Doctor Robinson's address
on fold of the note. he wrapped Miss
Moquin's orange wood sticks In clean
handkerchief, and gave them to the
boy with directions.
Then he hurried back to the Riggs
house by the most direct route, look
ing in the gutter as he went Having
almost reached the house and having
found nothing, he crossed the street
and walked back slowly on the other
side.
Suddenly he stopped, and, glancing
about to see that he was unobserved,
scooped up in an empty cigarette box
scattering OF glass fragments. He
smelled of the pieces, smiled, repeat
ed softly, Peach Kernels" put his
tongue to the moist surface of one bit
of glass and said with satisfaction,
Bitter almonds"
Then, squaring his broad shoulders,
he slipped the box into his pocket, took
a deep breath, and walked briskly to
the Riggs house.
There he was admitted by Miss
Riggs herself, who raised her eyebrows
critically, and asked why he had re-
turned
ITO make sure that the woman who
murdered Boudinot does not escape"
he said in direct tone.
Miss Riggs went white and stepped
back, Mrs. Groves running down the
hall to support her. She recovered
instantly, standing straight and stiff
before the banker.
what do you mean?" she demand
ed through thin, trembly lips. you
have learned something's"
Everything"
But I did not do it. You're mad!"
she cried, turning on Mrs. Groves and
pointing an accusing finger. you
mean she did it,"
4'Try to calm yourself; I'll explain"
Poe turned quickly to Mrs. Groves, and
asked: rs there any ongoline in the
house?"
mo. There isnt!" cried Miss Riggs,
her muscles taut. Explain! What do
you mean by accusing me?"
Mrs. Groves had slipped away silent
~ at a significant signal from Poe. She
returned with plain bottle in her
hand, while Miss Riggs was hysteri-
cally demanding an explanation.
Poe took the bottle from Mrs.
Groves fingers, uncorked and smelled
it.
AS he was about to speak, the phone
rang and the little second maid who
always shined Boudinot's shoes came
forward to announce softly that Mr..
Poe was wanted on the wire. The
banker answered his call, recognizing
the voice of Doctor Robinson at the
other end
so you found the same acid on the
orange wood sticks?" he remarked.
"Yes, pure prussic acid on one of
them" continued the doctor.
Good. I'll dine with you" Poe
paused to look at his watch, in half
an hour; about six-thirty."
He hung up the receiver, and re-
turned to the room where the two
women awaited him, watching each
other narrowly.
Mrs. Groves" said Poe, turning to
the nurse. and holding up the bottle
she had brought him. Why is there
no label on this bottle? I thought on
golnie always came in a container with
an embossed label something like
this?" He took from his pocket the
bottle he had purchased at Miss Mo-
gums.
Mrs. Groves gasped for a reply,
gagged, and glared at him with half
open mouth, unable to answer Miss
Riggs rose from her chair, and stepped
to Poe's side.
"She was the poisoner!" she cried,
leveling long. trembling, red-tipped
finger at the old attendant, whose eyes
grew suddenly small and sharp, like a
rats
YES" answered Poe. II suspected
it from the moment I saw the hang
nail on Boudinot's finger. You are
clever poisoner, Mrs Groves, and /
can't blame you for figuring that Miss
Riggs might have had your legacy Of
half a million reduced to thousand,
after her success in making Boudinot
change his beQuest to Miss Moquin.
Your only mistake was in keeping this
ongoline when you emptied the orr
ginal bottle to fill it with prussic