Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-06-29

Doctor" he said. Il happen to have
my chemical chest with me, end some
special testing tubes. If you'll allow
me, I'd like to examine this cup of
DouilioP. You might come round, too,
If you will"
The captain nodded.
Ia better stay here for a time" he
decided. 'Ill follow you presently"
The service OF dinner was resumed.
Laura, however. sent plate after plate
away. The captain watched her anx-
iously.
| i can't help 1t" she explained. II
don't know whether you've had any
TAX 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 off," he
exclaimed.
Laura sat quite still for q moment.
l
Mr.. Quest" she murmured.
The captain called his steward.
Where did you get the bouillon
from you served-that last cup. espe-
cially?" he asked.
From the pantry just as usual
sir" the man answered. ct was all
served out from the same caldron."
Amy 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,
which the criminologist was examin-
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.
| "Waiti" he whispered. wait! I
have an idea"
He hurried off to his stateroom.
The doctor was porting 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. He closed
the door carefully behind him.
Il want you ALL" he begged, "to
listen very carefully to me- You will
discover the application of what am
going to read when ! am finished
Now, il 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:
MONDAY-Twenty-n miles southeast
of Port Said. We have stayed for two
| days at little Mongar village. 1 have
today come to the definite conclusion that
| anthropoid apes were at one time deni-
| zens of this country.
TUESDAY-Both Craig and have been
a. little uneasy today. These Mongars
into whose encampment we have found
our way, are one of the strangest and
| fiercest OF the nomad tribes. They are
| descended, without a 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
his cunning. One of their special weak
nesses seems to be the invention of the
| most hideous forms of torture, which
| they apply remorselessly to their enc
mics.
| WEDNESDAY-This has been a won
| derful day for US. chiefly owing to what
1 must place on record as an act of great
| bravery by Craig, my servant. Early this
morning. a man-eating lion found his
| way into the encampment. The Mongars
behaved like arrant towards. They fled
right 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 1t 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, approaching 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 wonderful secret poi
| son. known only to this tribe which they
| call veedemzoo. It brings almost instant
| death, and is exceedingly difficult to trace
The addition of sugar causes a curious
! condensation and resolves 1t almost to a
| white paste The only antidote is sub
| stance which they use here freely, and
| which is exactly equivalent to 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
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.
at is Mongar poison!" the profess
sor cried, with breaking voice.
They all looked at one another.
Craig must be here amongst u.s."
Quest muttered.
"And the bouillon," Laura cried,
clasping Quests arm. "the bouilion
was meant for you!"
There seemed to be, somehow,
among all of them. a curious indis-
position to discuss this matter. Sud
denly Lenora, who was sitting on the
lounge underneath the portfolio, put
out her hand and picked up card
which was lying by his side. She
glanced at it. at first, curiously' Ihen
| she shrieked.