The Southern herald., 1915-09-24

pulled the boy aside. whispering, the
remainder Of the sentence In his ear.
"Yesl 1 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
a boy to watch your stand for the rest
of the afternoon and I'll give you two
dollars"
"Ar right" said the yOunsster
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. Keen 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
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 a 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?"
Everything"
But l did not do 1t. You're mad!"
she cried, turning on Mrs. Groves and
pointing an accusing finger. "You
mean she did it,"
TRY to calm yourself; I'll explain u
Poe turned quickly to Mrs. Groves, and
asked: rs there any ongoline In the
house?"
mo. There isn't!" cried Miss Riggs
her muscles taut. Explain! What dc
you mean by accusing me?"
Mrs. Groves had slipped away silent
ly at 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 oi
them" continued the doctor.
Good. I'll dine with you" Poe
paused to look at his watch, "in hall
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 tt
the nurse, and holding up the bottle
she had brought him. Why is there
no label on this bottle? l thought on
golnie always came in container will
an embossed label something like
this?" He took from his pocket thu
bottle he had purchased at Miss Mo
quin's.
Mrs. Groves gasped for a reply
gagged, and glared at him with half
open mouth, unable to- answer. Mis-
Riggs rose from her chair; and stepped
to Poe's side.
She was the poisoner!" she cried
leVeling long, trembling, red:tppeC
finger at the old attendant, whose eyei
grew suddenly small and sharp like
rats.
YES" answered. Poe II suspecte,
1t from the moment l saw the hang
nail on Boudinot's finger. You are ,
clever poisoner, Mrs Groves, and
can't blame you for figuring that Mis-
Riggs might have had your legacy o
half million reduced to thousand
after her success in making Boudino
change his hequest to Miss Mouuin
Your only mistake was in keeping thi
ongoline when you emptied the orr
sinal bottle to fill 1t with prussi,
acid"
What do you meanr' cried Mis-
Riggs.
| Mrs. Groves, a hunted. insane CLEAN
In her eyes, crouched down, an,
searched in her skirt pocket as thougl
for handkerchief. keeping her eye
| gimletad nm poa