The Irish standard., 1915-10-02
he sald in a direct tone.

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 stir
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,"
TRY to calm yourself; Ill explain"
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 do
you mean by accusing me?"
Mrs. Groves had slipped away silent.
ly at significant signal from Poe. She
returned with a plain bottle in her
hand, while Miss Riggs was hysteri.
S~AsJ NSAoAOAA6 al GA pldudIlV0,
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.
$50 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.
golnfe always came in a container with
an embossed label something like
this?" He took from his pocket tho
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. Misa
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 q
rats.
Yes" answered Poe. II suspected
1t from the moment 1 saw the hang.
nail on Boudinots finger. You are a
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 a 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
acid"
what do you mean?" cried Miss
Riggs.
Mrs. Groves, hunted. insane CLEAN
In her eyes, crouched down, and
searched in her skirt pocket as though
for handkerchief, keeping her eyes
gimleted on Poe.
AS the banker turned to answer
Miss Riggs, quick al flash the old at.
tendant brought out her hand, and
flung the contents CT phial straight
at Poe's head; he ducked just in time;
the sulphuric acid struck and began
eating its way into choice Japanese
tapestry which adorned the wall be-
hind.
She shot out of the room and sour.
ried up the stairs like a cat. Miss
Riggs dashed to the door, screaming
for William, the butler.
| Come! Where is her rOom?" cried
Poe, leaping up the stairs. She'll do
herself damage" He turned the angle
at the top in time to hear crash be-
hind door at the left. Trying the
knob. he found it locked. and bracing
his shoulder against 1t. managed to
force it in, but too late to save tho
woman's life.
| She lay across footstool, a Jagged
wound in her neck where she had
opened jugular vein with an insane
thrust Of her sharp-pointed sewing
shears.
| Poe shuddered and turned away. He
slipped out through the bedroom door
as Miss Riggs was entering. Going
quietly downstairs he entered the tele.
phone cabinet, ana got Doctor Robin,
son on the wire.
Doctor he said slowly. II can't
come to dinner. You'd best come over
to Riggs and make out second death
certificate. Mrs. Groves has commit,
ted suicide in frenzy at being found
out"
Found out! What do you mean?"
1T was she who bought the prussia
acid you found in Boudinot's blood and
on the tip of one of the orange wood
sticks sent you"
. "But explain, what was the motive?"
Sufficient" said Poe. Last night
Miss Riggs worked on Boudinot with
stories about Miss Moquin, doubtless
true, from my own observation. He
made new will. changing his sister
to position Of chief legatee. Mrs.
Groves trembled for her half-million.
knowing that Miss Riggs hated her,