The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-02-10

At the Sutherland Detective agency
one morning, when Felix Hazard was
summoned into his chiefs Office. he
was not little startled on perceiv-
Ing that his superior was closeted
with the very man Of whom he had
peen thinking as he walked along the
nall from one room to the other.
1t was not 50 singular that this par
ticular man should have been occupy
Ing his thoughts as that he should
nave been present at the moment.
He was one Of the city's foremost physi-
clans, and had never been in the Suth-
arland Offices before. But at the very
instant that Hazards chief called him
on the office telephone he and his fell
low operative, Miss Helen Bertel, were
discussing a case which affected the
physician, the newspaper accounts of
which presented some uncommon, not
to say sensational, features. 1t was
these uncommon features that had
attracted his and Miss Bertel's profess
slonal interest-as, indeed, a great
many newspaper stories did, so that
they were frequently together in one
or tho others private room.
Hazards surprise, however, was but
n~omentary; he reflected at once that
1t must be this same >ase that had
Drought the well-known physician to
the Sutherlands. Such, as a matter
OF fact, proved to be the case.
doctor Hendrix" said the chief,
''shis is Mr.. Felix Hazard, of whom
!. was speaking; just tell him all the
tacts, then we will decide how best to
act"
Doctor Hendrix, a dignif1ed man.
we'll along in til sixties, wore wor-
rled, harassed look; but the manner
with which he shook hands with Haz-
ard was cordial, and his unmistakable
force of character at once prepos-
:sessed the detective in his favor.
But before the doctor had time to
begin his recital the chief added: "By
the way, we might as we'll have Miss
Bertel in, and let her hear the story,
too; we may need her help"
SO Helen Bertel was sent for, and
Doctor Hendrix addressed Hazard.
Have you read the published &C.
counts of Mrs. Francis Forsythe's
death?" he asked.
The detective nodded, adding: "Just
80 save time and needless repetitions,
I will tell you briefly just how much
Miss Bertel and I know about it. Be-
sides, ] want to check up the allega-
lions the newspapers have made.
ION the morning of May 16 three
days ago-at about $3.50, Captain For
sythe sent an urgent call for you to
come Immediately to his residence in
South Edgelake, declaring that he be-
Meved his wife to be in dying condi-
ton. You were delayed, and it was
nearly eleven before you arrived at
the house, only to learn that Mrs. For
> sythe had been dead two hours. Or,
in other words, she died 80 minutes
after her husband phoned
yesterday it developed that Mrs.
Forsythe's life was heavily insured
that is, for married woman. There
are three policies: One for $500, a
second for 81 100 and third for $751;
900, making total of $17,700. The
first two are payable to her estate;
which, I presume, as there are no
children, means her husband.
"The third, and largest, however, is
In your favor-$16,00O.
"These particulars, believe, cover
everything that has been given to the
public through the columns Of the
press"
When the speaker had finished, Doc
tor Hendrix nodded.
"That about covers the case as the
public knows It," said he, "and the
facts are true as far as they go. You
see, trust, how they reflect not alone
upon my reputation as a physician,
but actually stigmatize me with the
preparation Of a crime. don't know
all the truth myself; that's where
want your help, because believe my
\name can be cleared only by unearth-
ing every detail bearing on the case.
"But do know more than the pub
lie has as yet found out. For exam
pie, the poison that caused her death
was strophanthus."
Hazard s eyes narrowed as he re-
garded the speaker.
"Strophanthus,' he soberly repeat
cd. Nobody but physician would
be likely to have access to drug so
deadly"
"That is true. Besides, it is one un-
familiar to the laity. So dangerous
and uncertain is its action that it can
be prescribed only with the greatest
caution, and when the diagnosis indu-
bitably indicates that it is required.
1t sometimes is used instead Of digital-
is in certain affections Of the heart,
when it would not be safe or advisa-
Bile to prescribe the latter drug. ad-
ministered strophanthus to Mrs. For.
sythe only the night before her
DEATH"
Hazard gave him a queer look.
Administered it, you say" he
caught st the word. "You mean that
y you did not trust to written prescrip-
tiony
Precisely. The dose had to be de-
Gel