Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-07-01

| Doctor" he said, Il happen to have
| my chemical chest with me, and some
special testing tubes. II you'll allow
me, I'd like to examine this cup oil
bouillon. You might come round, too
X you will"
The captain nodded.
/ "rd better stay here for time he
decided, I'll follow you presently
The service OF dinner was resumed
Laura, however, sent plate after plate
away. The captain watched her anx
iously.
| Il can't help It." she explained. Il
don't know whether you've had any
talk with Mr.. Quest, but we've been
through some queer times lately. /
| guess this death business is getting
on my nerves"
i 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.
The bouillon was offered first to
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. TT was all
served out from the same caldron."
ANY 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.
mo reaction ut 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. Wait! l
have m idea"
He hurried OF 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 small
notebook In his hand, his manner be-
trayed some excitement. He closed
the door carefully behind him.
Il want you all" he begged, ito
listen very carefully to me. You will
discover the application of what am
going to read when I am finished.
Now, II you please"
This" he began. "is the diary of
tour made by Craig and myself In
northern Egypt some fourteen years
ago. Here is the FIRST entry OF Inn
port:
MoNDAY--Twenty-ni miles southeast
OF Port Said. We have stayed for tvo
days at little Mongar village. have
today come to the definite conclusion that
anthropoid apes were ut one time deni-
xens Of this country.
TUESDAY-Both Craig and / have been
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 Mongslians. who invaded this coun-
try some seven hundred years before
Christ. but have preserved In a marvellous
way their individuality as 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 remorseicssly to their enc
mics.
wEDNEsDAY-This has been . won
derfui day for US, chiefly owing to what
! must place on record as an act OF great
bravery by Craig. my servant Early this
morning. q man-eating lion found his
way into the enoampment The Mongars
behaved like arrant towards. They fled
right and left, leaving the CHIEFS little
daughter. Feerda. at the brute's mercy.
Craig. who In by no means an adept In
tho use OF firearms, chased the animal as
he was making on with the child, and.
more by good luck than anything else.
managed TO wound II mortally. He
brought the child back to the encamp-
ment Just an the chief and the warriors
or the tribe returned from a hunting ex-
petition. Our position here In now abso-
luteiy secure. We are treated like gods,
and appreciating my weakness for all
matters of science. the chief has today
/
teries OF the tribe. Amongst other things,
he has shown me a wonderful secret pol
son, known only to this tribe. which they
call veedemxco. 1t brings almost instant
death, and Ii exceedingly diffcult to trace.
The addition OF sugar causes curious
condensation and resolves Il almost to
white paste The only antfdote IL sub
stance which they use here freely, and
which In 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 I'm absolute silence.
The suggestion which the professors
disclosure had brought to them was
Supplying. even Quests fingers, as q
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 .
strange shade OF gray and began
| slowly to thicken.
1T Is Mongar poisons" the profess
4 sor rr1Nd with hreakinx voice.