The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-11-16

struck me as sensible woman, and I
had my doubts as to her culpability.
The farmers boots had been thrown
away in the attic, with the rest of his
clothing. l found an opportunity, BY
going to the house when Mrs. Carey
was away, to look ut them. It did
occur to me that there might be some
snake venom in them, but l assured
myself that this was not the case. Be-
sides, as most people know, snake ven
ON acts as IL toxic agent only when in
troduced through an abrasion. Swal-
lowed. it is harmless. And it seemed
improbable i'll the extreme that, even
If there were poison in the boots, there
would have been an abrasion on the
foot Of each of the two men exactly
where the poison would be free to en-
ter. -
And, again, rattlesnakes, for all
their reputation, only inflict MAKE
mum of discomfort, not death. think
the number Of cases of fatal rattle
snake poisoning are less than dozen.
1t would have been impossible for the
men to have died in so short time.
Quite by accident. however, learned
that circus had passed through the
village six months before. Among its
attractions had been Hindu snake
charmer. who had amused and aston
ished the rustics until the circus
passed. to he soon forgotten. learned
that Mrs. Carey had attended the cir
Gus with Leonard, and had been seen
to speak to the man.
This looked bad. After all, if it
was snake poison, Mrs. Carey was the
only person with Il motive to kill. I
Withdrew my favorable opinion.
watched her more narrowly.
l had actually invested 5000 in an OPP
ton on the property. This gave me
plenty of opportunity to visit there.
was ut the farm one afternoon when
Leonard came out of the house; and
l saw the wOman's face blanch.
Leonardo" she gasped. "Your IA
theirs bootsw
looked and saw that the boy was
wearing the identical boots which the
two men had worn before their death.
They were much too large for him, but
they came up toward the knee. and
were very serviceable for harvest
work.
"Why, that's all right, mom," he an
swered. they'll come in handy out in
the field. Why. nom, I've had these
on for nearly two hours. and if there
was poison in them guess I'd have
felt it before now"
'"Take them Off" screamed Mrs.
Carey. And yet, agitated though she
was, there was no sound of guilty
knowledge in her voice, only of fear.
III wish I'd buried the things" she
sobbed wildly. IF it hadn't been for
your father and brother having worn
them. folks wouldn't accuse me of hav.
ing killed them"
Leonard ran to her and put his arms
about her. "Why. nom, folks are liars,
that's all" he said. He clenched his
fists. "Just let me see the man who
says you are lnurderess!" he cried.
"And, mom." he added, I'LL take them
off right away"
He sat down in the sun and pulled
off the boots. Then, carrying them in
his hand. he ran in his stockinged
feet back into the house.
I saw the tension on Mrs. Carey'a
face. Presently Leonard came back,
wearing pair of ordinary boots. He
looked very sober and paler than be-
fore. He came rather unsteadily up to
his mother.
II don't feel well, mom," he gasped,
and fell at her feet. Mrs. Carey
screamed wildly. and carried the boy
into the house and called the doctor.
The doctor arrived in half an hour
and diagnosed the case as hopeless. BY
that time Leonard's legs were swollen
black below the waist. But refused
to accept the verdict.
Mrs. Carey and l worked over him
all that day. 1t was desperate effort
to keep him awake. and we could not
walk him on his swollen feet. But we
punched and struck him, and pulled
up his dropping eyelids. We struck
him and pushed him from side to side.
trundling him about the room. Some
how we managed to prevent the coma
of death from developing that night.
and by morning the boy was better.
The doctor. who called expecting him
to be dead. was amazed.
The next day was critical one, but
by nightfall Leonard was able to go to
Sleep. and by the next morning the
swelling had gone down little and lie
was on the way to recovery. Then,
only, did think of the boots.
The story had spread through the vii
lage. and IL warrant for Mrs. Carey's
arrest had already been issued. 1t was
l who confronted the constable ut the
door with my evidence. For I had
slashed the boots to pieces and discov.
cred the mystery.
In the left boot was nothing. But in
the right boot, set near the ankle, was
tiay snake-fang. with portion OF
the venom sack attached to it. It had
been thrust out with such violence
that it had penetrated the leather and
n