Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1915-05-14

special testing tubes. III you II allow
me. ia like 20 examine this cup Of
5ouillon. You might come round. too.
X you will"
The captain nodded.
I'D better stay here for a time" be
decided. I'm follow you presently"
The service OF dinner vas resumed.
Laura, however. sent plate after plate
away. The captain watched her snx-
iously.
Il can't help it," she explained. Il
don't know whether you've had any
talk with Mr. Quest, but we've tsen
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.
Thu bouillon was offered first to
Mr. Quest" she murmured.
The captain called his steward.
Where did you get the bouillon
Z from you served-that last cup. espe-
cially?" he asked.
From the pantry Just as usual.
sir" the man answered. 1T was all
served out from the same caldron."
ANY chance OF anyone getting at
itg'
quite impossible, sir"
In Quests stateroom the doctor,
the professor. Quest and Lenora we're
all gathered around two little tubes.
which the criminologist was examin-
Z 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
a soft exclamation.
Watt" he whispered Watt
have an idea"
The doctor was poring over a volume
OF tabulated poisons Quest was still
/ watching his tubes. Lenora sat upon
/ the couch Suddenly the professor
/ reaupeared He was carrying a small
/ notebook in his hand, his manner be.
I tray5d some excitement He closed
/ the door carefully behind him
4 want you all" he begged. ito
/ listen very carefully 10 me. You will
/ discover the application OF what am
going 20 read when I am finished.
Now. If you please"
This. he began. is the diary OF a
tour made by Craig and myself in
northern Egypt some fourteen years
ago. Here is the first entry Of i'm
port:
I MONDAY-Twenty-n miles southeast
% Port said We have stayed for two
days at a ilttle Non-ar village. ] have
today come 10 The definite conclusion that
/ anfhropoid apes We're at one time deni-
zens Of this country.
TUESDAY-Both Craig and have neen
! a little uneasy today These Mongars
into whose encampment we have found
cur way. are one Of the strangest and
hercest Of the nomad tribes. Thy are
descended. without a doubt. from the an-
cient Nongolians. who invaded this coun-
Z try some seven hundred years before
Christ. but have preserved IN marvellous
way their individuality as a race. They
. have the narrow eyes and the thick nose
base of the pure Oriental: also much Of
his cunning one Of their special weak
. nesses seems 20 De the invention OF the
most hid0ars forms OF torture which
they apply remorselessly 10 their enc
mics.
wEDNEsD DAY-This has been Won
derful day for us, chiefly owing 20 what
[ I must place on record - an act Of great
I bravery BY Craig. my servant Early this
mOrning, a man-eating lion found his
way into the encampment. The Mongars
behaved Ike arrant towards. They fed
/ right and left. leaving the chiefs little
Craig. who Is by no means an adept IN
The use o. firearms. chased the animal as
he was making of With the child and,
. more by good luck than anything else
managed TO wound II mortally. lie
I brought the child back 20 the encamp-
ment Just as the chief and the warriors
. Of the tribe returned from a hunting eX-
pedition. Our position here is now abso-
lutely secure. We are treated like gods,
Z and. appreciating my weakness for all
/ matters Of science, the chief has today
I explained 20 me many OF the secret mys-
teries OF the tribe. Amongst other things,
he has shown me a wonderful secret pol
son, known only 20 this tribe, which they
l call Needemzoo. II swings almost instant
death. and is exceedingly dificult 20 trace.
The addition Of sugar causes a curious
condensation and resolves IL almost 20 a
white paste The only antidote is a sub
stance which they use here freely, and
which Is exactly equivalent 20 our cam
phor.
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