Evening star., 1917-11-04
THE TRUTH DETECTOR.

the recent events themselves which
weighed most in her mind. but. at any
rate. she resumed. somewhat bitterly.
a moment later: "M-1273! NJ Is the
thirteenth letter Of the alphabet. and /.
2, z, 3 add up to thirteen. The first and
last numbers make thirteen and John
Mansfield has thirteen letters in his
name. wish he had never worn the
thing-never bought it."'
Who were In the supper party?" ask
ed Kennedy.
He gave 1t for Madeline Hargrave-
the pretty little actress. you know.
who took New York by storm last sea-
son in The Sport and is booked. next
week. to appear in the new show. The
Astor Cup
Miss Grey said 1t. I thought. with a
sort Of wistful envy. Mansfield's gay
known. Though he was not young, he
was still somewhat of a Lothario.
Who else was there?" asked Ken
nedy.
Then there was Nina Leitch, a menu
Der Of Miss Hargrave's new company" +"
Lewis. the Wall street broker. DR..
Murray and myself completed the
party"
''Dr. Murray is his personal ply
sictan? ventured Craig.
Yes. You know when Mr.. Mansdeld's
stomach went back on him last year 1t
was DR.. Murray who really cured him" "
Might this present trouble be a re-
currence OF the old troubler
She shook her head mo: this is en-
could go with me and see him!" she
pleaded.
II WILL" agreed Kennedy.
A moment later we were speeding in
a taIicab over to the apartment
Really" she remarked. nervously. II
feel lost with Mr.. Mansfield SO Ill. He
has SO many interests downtown that
require constant attention that just the
loss of time means great deal. OF
course. ! understand many of them
but. you know, private secretary can't
conduct a mans business And just
couldn't believe that he was too Ill to
care about things until actually saw
him."
We entered the apartment A mere
Mans1eld's hobby was diamonds. he
was no mean collector of other articles
Of beauty. In the big living room, which
was almost like studio. we met tall.
spare; polished. d.mannered man. whom I
quickly recognized as DR.. Murray.
rs he any better?" blurted out Miss
Grey.
about the same" he answered.
II should like to see him." limited
Kennedy. unless there Is some real
l
NO" replied the doctor. absently: ION
him."
He led the way down the hall, and
Kennedy and I followed, while Miss
Grey attempted to busy herself over
some affairs at a huge mahogany table
in the library Just or the living room.
Mansfield had shown the same love of
luxury and the bizarre even in the fur
nishing OF his bedroom, which was a
black room with urniture
Of Chinese lacquer and teakwood
Kennedy looked at the veteran plung-
er long and thoughtfully as he lay
stretched out. listless. on the hand
ly Indifferent to our presence There
was something uncanny about him. AL
ready his face was shrunken. his skin
dark and his eyes were hollow.
Kennedy. bending over him. and then
rising and avertinR his head SO that
Mansfield could not hear. even IL his
vagrant faculties should be attracted
His pulse Is terribly weak and his
heart scarcely makes sound"
Dr. Murrav's face knit in deep lines
I'm afraid" he said in a low tone,
"that I will have to admit not having
been able to diagnose the trouble. j
was just considering whom I might
call in..'
what have you done?" asked Ken
nedy.
WELL" replied the doctor. slowly,
when his valet called me in, / must
admit that my first Impression was
that had to deal with a case OF diph-
iberia. was SO impressed that 1 even
took blood smear and examined It.
1t showed the presence Of a tox albu-
min But 1t isn't diphtheria. The anti
toxin has had no effect. No: 1t isn't
diphtheria- But the poison is there.
might have thought 1t was cholera, only
that seems 80 impossible hero in New
York" DR.. Murray looked at Kennedy
with no enort to conceal his perplexity
'It seems to me that / have thought
over about everything that 10 possible
Always get back to the fact that there
10 that tox albumin present In some
respects 1t seems like the bite Of a
poisonous animal. There are no marks
Of course. and II seems altogether i'm
possible. yet 1t acts precisely as have
seen snake bites affect people. can
only conclude that there Is some mar
ootic irrttant which especially affects
the lungs and heart"
will you let me have one of the
blood smears?' asked Kennedy.
Certainly" replied the doctor. reach.
ing over and taking a glass slide from
6everal lying on q table.
Seeking to find Miss Grey in the II.