Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-16

osatory door opened. interrupting him.
Hello. Kennedy crested DR.. Les
Who had been recently appointed health
oommissionsr Of the city.
Il was the first time We had seen him
since the appointment and We FASTENED
70 congratulate him. He thanked US alb
usntly, and 1t was evident that there was
something on his mind.
do you know. Kennedy" he said at
length, turning in his chair and facing
strsngest eases in the history Of the de-
partment."
The commissioner paused. then went on
quickly. 1T looks as II II were nothing
lsss than an epidemic of beriberi. In the
family Of a DR.. Wardlaw. uptown here,
In the Forum
Kennedy had already showed over the
letter he had Just received. Leslie aid mot
amusement.
what are the symptoms7" inquired
Craig What makes you think 1t is beri-
bari, Of all things?"
Because they show symptoms of beri-
beri." persisted Leslie, doggediy. You
know what they are like. II you care to
Hst into tho matter 1 think 1 can con-
'Hov did you frst hear Of it," prompt
81 Kennedy.
Leslie answered frankly. TT came to
the attention of the department as the
result of \ reform have inaugurated.
~ h0h i N0ht IN ONCE ICunQ thAl
many Of the death Certificates were
faulty. ana in the course of our inves-
legations We ran across one that seem
81 to be most vaguely worded. 1t
started m inquiry. can't say that I
ann ID. With the
Who attended Mrs. Marbary. the
mother of DR.. Wardlaw's wife. who
died about . week ago-Dr. Aitken.''
Then Wardiaw didn't attend her
himself" asked Kennedy.
'Oh. no. He couldn't under the cir
ly. aside from the medical ethics of the
case. Aitken was the family ply
sieian OF the Marburys. Wardlaw
himself has the marks of a nervous
ahection so plainly the eye can see it.
You know what 1t 10 in this disease, as
though the nerves were wasting away.
But he doesn't seem half as badly az
feeted ~ his wife. They tell me Maude
Marbufy was quite beauty once, and
photographs I have seen prove it.
She's q wreck now"
who else IL there in the household
inquired Kennedy.
we'll" answered Leslie. slowly,
they've had q nurse for some time
Natalie Langdale. Apparently she has
escaped
Amy ssrvants~'
Some by the day: only one regular
1y-a Japansse-Kato. He goes home
Mt night, too. There's no evidence of
the disease having affected him.
caught Lsslie's eye as he gave the
last Information.
Though did not know much about
beribsFf. I had read OF it. and knew
that 1t was especially prevalent in the
orient. did not know what impor-
lance to attach to Kato and his going
home at night.
Have you done any investigating
yourself! asked Kennedy.
Leslie hesitated = moment. A.
though dsprecating his own efforts in
that line. though whom he spoke I
eept that Il had so often happened that
Kennedy had seen the obvious which
vas hidden from most of those who
consulted him
"Yas." he replied, II thought perhaps
there might be some motive back of it
all which might discover. Possibly 1t
was old Mrs. Marbury's fortune-not
large one, but substantial So it oc-
CURED to me that the will might show
It. have been to the surrogate"
"Andr" prompted Kennedy. approx
.1irs. Marbury's will has already been
offered for probate. 1t directs. among
other things. that $4,000 be given by
her daughter. to whom she leaves the
had Sssn Mr.. MsrSury's physician and
Leslie looked at us significantly. but
Kennedy made no comment.
- ,Ss you mill nke ITO 70 60 up there and
Il certainly Should" returned Ken
needy. heartily. folding up the letter
which had first attracted his interest.
Tt looks as II there were more to this
thing than q mere disease, however
unusual"
DR.. Leslie could not conceal HIS salts
faction. and without a moment more
than vas necessary hurried us out into
enc Of the department cars. which he
had left waiting outside. and directed
the driver TO take US to the Forum
apartments. one Of the newest and
most fa.hionable on Riverside drive.
Miss LAngdaie met US at the door
ana admitted US into the apartment
She was a striking type Of trained
nurse, one of those who seem bub-
bling over with health and vivacity
and reluctant TO have them disturbed.
yet apparently not daring to refuse to
admit DR.. Leslie
Miss Langdaie conducted us softly
Of the apartment. and ! noted quickly
how II was laid out. On one side we
passed q handsomely furnished parlor
and dining room. opposite which were
farther along. bedroom and bath. On
down the hall. on the right. was DIR.
Wardlaws study. or rather den. for 1t
was more Of a library than an ONCE.
The nurse led the way. and we en-
tered. Through the windows one
caught q beautiful vista of the drive,
the river and the Jersey shore. Around
the room there were bookcases and
cabinets. desk. some easy-chairs. and
In the corner table on which were
Gome OF Wardlaws paraphernalia, for.
although he was not a practicing ply
stefan. he still specialized In his IA
vorite branches Of eye and ear sur
gerry.
Miss Langdaie left us a moment,
with hasty excuse that she must pre-
pare Mrs. Wardlaw for the unexpected
visit. The preparation. however. did
not take long. for q moment later
Aauds Wardlaw entered. supported by
her nurse.
Her lips moved mechanically as she
saw US. but We could not hear what
that she had peculiar gait. as though
she were always lifting her feet over
small obstacles Her eyes. too. as she
locked 1t u. had = strange squirt. and
new ana then the muscles Of her face
twitchAd. She glanced from Leslie to
Kennedy inQuiringiy. as Leslie intro
ducad US. implying that we were from
his oface, then dropped into the easy
chair. Her breathing seemed to be
labored and her heart action feeble
AZ Mrs. Wardlaw's hand rested on
the arm Of the chair saw that there
was q peculiar hsxion Of her wrist.
-'Wrist-drop" Of which I had heard. It
was almost as II the muscles of her
hands and arms. fest and legs. were
Hnnk and waatfnR CncA aha had hAen