The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-12-16

was precious. They were far too busy
to devote more than few seconds to
a matter that was trivial II somewhat
peculiar. Tho senator threw envelope
and card on the table. and work was
resumed.
About an hour later the secretary
was dismissed FOR, the evening and Mr.
Johnston locked himself in the room.
with strict injpnctions that he was not
to be disturbed until the time came for
his departure for Washington. The
secretary dined alone. He and the
butler were actually discussing the
appearance of the lady who had
brought that seemingly meaningless
letter when scream of agony came
from the library.
1t was undoubtedly the senator's
voice, and lie must have been In NOR
tal anguish ere that terrible cry was
wrung from his lips, The two men
rushed to the door, but failed to open
II. as the lock was strong one. and
the panels were Of heavy mahogany.
In response to their frcnzied shouts no
answer came from the interior. BY
peering through the keyhole they
could discern the senator lying face
downward on the table. with body
and limbs contorted and in an attitude
that betoEened either insensibillty or
death.
In this crisis both secretary and but
Ter lost their heads. Instead of bat
tering In the door by main force or
breaking open the window and thus
effecting an entrance from without
they tecphoned to police headquarters
Manning and Kemp therefore were
literally the first on the scene when
the police effected an entrance They
were able to verify the secretarys
statement that each window was clos
ed and bolted. while the senator him.
self had locked the door. They were
told. OF course, the story of the scented
note and examined it curiously. Some.
how tho harmless looking envelope
with the blank rectangle of white
cardboard which it contained, seemed
now to be endowed with sinister i'm
port. But they could make absolutely
nothing OF it, nor could doctor dis
cover the cause OF death. There were
none of the symptoms normal to heart
seizure or brain paralysis. The unfor-
tunatc man might have been bereft of
life by an act of God.
The doctor even murmured some
thing OF the sort. whereupon Manning
said savagely:
ut is more like an act Of the devil!
This is the handiwork Of that human
lend Ali Singh"
what Go you mean?" inquired the
surprised mcdico.
Recolectng himself. Manning prom
Used hastily that lie would explain
later.
"Mcanwhile," he said. IL shall be
glad If you will conduct postmortem
and ascertain beyond doubt the imme-
date cause of death If not the actual
agent which brought it about"
The doctor nodded. He understood
that grave national interests were In
all probability bound up with Senator
Johnston's disappearance from the po-
litical arena ut that moment.
81 will do what can" he said, land,
II necessary, will call in the leading
toXicologist in New York.
"You are inclined TO suspect poison.
then?" inquired Manning quickly.
"Well, yes. This Is the work Of some
deadly agency. Look at poor John
ston's face Even now, though relaxed
in death, 1t bears an expression of
agony-and terror"
Manning picked up the scented note
again. This time he smelled 1t more
gingerly.
do yon think there can be any
thing harmful in this perfume?i' he In
quircd. 49,
~ should imagine not" said the doc
tor. you smelled 1t, as well as the
senator" he added. turning to Mr..
Brown.
"Oh. yes: think 1 handled 1t more
than he did" was the answer.
"And you have experienced no Ill
effects?"
Not In the least"
The doctor shook his head. AT
present 1t Is an insoluble mystery"
SO they left 1t ut that. though Man
ming and Kemp. assisted by Bronson
and several experienced detectives,
scrutinized every inch Of the room and
left hardly blade OF grass unturned
on the lawn outside the windows.
There was little result. Apparently
Mt some recent date some one had
climbed or attempted to climb to
sloping roof by a water pipe. Obtain.
ing a ladder, they followed this faint
clew and found a piece Of SCOT soiled
silk thread near the chimney. which
communicated with the library fire.
place. That was all. These things
might have been purely accidental
The thread was light enough In tex
ture TO have been swept on to the roof
by the very gust which disturbed the
senator's papers.
The searchers came away awed. al
most panic stricken by this new in.
stance Of Ali Singh's power. They
were about TO leave the house for the
night when Manning was called to the
telephone. His servant, a man in
whom he reposed great confidence. told
him that cablegram had arrived from