Evening star., 1917-11-11


stonY Queried.
Mrs. cranston," he replied, as suffer
ing from what the psychanalysts call
psychic trauma-a soul-wound, as 1t were.
1t is the neglect, In this case, OF her nus
band. whom she deeply loves That, IN
itself, is sufficient to explain her expe-
rfence wandering through the country. It
was the region which she associated with
her first love affair, as she told US. me
wave of recollection that swept over her
engulfed her mind. In other words, rea-
son could no longer dominate the crav-
tngs for love SO long suppressed: Inen,
when she saw, or imagined she saw, one
who looked like her lover, the strain was
too great"
It was the middle Of the afternoon
when we reached the laboratory. Kennedy
at once set to work studying the drops OF
tonic which had been absorbed IN the
handkerchief. AS Kennedy worked be.
gan thinking over again of what we nan
seen at the Belleclaire sanatorium- some
mind the recollection of the man roiied
in the blanket and trussed up as helpless
as a mummy. l wondered whether thar
alone was sufficient to account Tor the
quickness with which he had been paci-
fed Then 1 recalled Mrs. Cranston's re-
mark about her mental alertness ana
physical weakness. Had it anything to do
Suppose, while am waiting. finally
suggested to Craig, Il try to find out what
Cranston does with his time since his wife
mas De0n smut OIL from ule NoIlu-
That's very good idea," acauiesced
Kennedy. Don't take too long, however.
for may strike something important mere
any minute"
phone / found that since his wife had
been in Montrose Cranston had closed his
apartment and was living at one Oh MS
clubs. Having two or three friends who
were members, 1 did not heSltace TO crop
around.
Unfortunately, none of my friends hap
pened to be there. and / was forced hnally
to ask for Cranston himself. although all
that really wanted to know was whether
he was there or not. One Of the clerks
told me that he had been in, but had left
in a taxicab only a short time before.
AS there was a cab stand outside the
and perhaps discover the driver who had
had him. The starter knew him, and
when l said it was very important busl-
ness on which wanted to see him he mo-
toned to a. driver who had just pulled up.
A chance for another fare and gener-
Gus tip were all that was necessary to IN
duce him to drive me to the Trocadero, a
fashionable restaurant and cabaret, where
he had taken Cranston a short time be-
fore It was crowded when l entered,
and, avoiding the head waiter, l stood by
the door a few minutes and looked over
the brilliant and gay throng. Finally, l
managed to catch a glimpse of Cranstons
head at a table in far corner. AS
made my way down the line Of tables.
was genuinely amazed to see that, that ne was
She must have come down on the next
train after we did. but, at any rate, 1t
looked as though she had lost no time
in seeking out Cranston after our visit.
I took a seat at a table next them.
They were talking about Kennedy.
and. during lull in the music, over
heard him asking her just what Craig
had done.
"It was certainly very clever in him
t0 MI nd
he did. He told DR.. Burr that you had
sent him, and told you that DR.. Burr
had sent him. BY whom do you sup
pose he really was sent?"
1T must have been, but how she did
it is more than I can imagine"
How is she. anyway" he asked.
Sometimes she seems to be getting
along finely, and then, other days, !
feel quite discouraged about her. Her
case is very obstinate"
Perhaps I had better go and see
Burr" he considered. 1T is early in the
evening. I'll drive you out in my car:
I'll stay at the sanatorium tonight, and
then, perhaps, I'll know a little better
what we can do
1t was his tone rather than his words
which gave me the impression that he
was more interested in being with Miss
Giles than with Mrs. Cranston. I Won
dered whether it was plot of Gran
stons and Miss Giles. Had he been
posing before Kennedy, and were they
really trying to put Mrs. Cranston out
of the way?
AS the music started up again heard
her say: Cant We have just one more
dance?"
A moment later they were lost in the
gay whirl on the dancing floor. They
made a handsome couple, and 1t was
evident that it was not the first time
that they had dined and danced to-
gether- The music ceased. and they re-
turned to their places reluctantly, while
Cranston telephoned for his car to be
brought around to the cabaret
I hastened back to the laboratory to
inform Craig what I had seen. AS !
told my story he looked up at me with
a sudden flash Of comprehension.
Il am glad to know where they will
been giving her acknowledgements
l have just discovered it in the tonic.
Whats henbane?" I asked.
'1t is a drug derived from the hyoscy-
anus plant much like beladonna. though
more distinctly sedative. 1t is hypnotic
used often in mania and mental excite
ment. The feeling which Mrs. Cranston
call the brightness of her eyes? That is
one Of the effects of the mydriatic aka
loids. of which this is one. The ancients
were familiar with several Of its peculiar
properties. as they knew Of the closely
allied hemlock.
MANY OF the text books at the present
time fail to say anything about the re-
of this terrible alkaloid. This effect can
be described technically so as to be in
telligible, but no description can convey.
even approximately, the terrible sensation
produced in many insane patients by
large doses. In general way. it is the