Charlevoix county herald., 1918-06-21

bul ooaiCu do Wousu Couiu uhu
none.
turned my attention from the face
and neck, and for the first time 1t
seemed that l noticed his clothing
closely. Besides a Norfolk jacket of
tweeds, he was wearing a sheer silk
shirt beneath it-and the jacket was
open.
drew 1t still further open. bent
down and began to scan the fabric of
the cream-colored silk.
After a bit I paused. 1t seemed to
me that l had found a place where
something might have passed through
it-just spot where the mesh seemed
pushed aside. 1t might be only flaw
still. With an eagerness could not
entirely conceal, unfastened the shirt
and drew 1t open. And there / found
tia tiny discolored puncture over the
left breast, like the prick of needle.
and no more.
"Ah," said Laredo, you have
found it'll" He had approached and
once more stood beside me. Heffy and
Dayton deep in question and answer
had not noticed.
nodded. The door opened and Os-
borne came In quickly. In glance he
noted the open shirt and my finger
pointing Laredo's observation. He
crossed to the table in a stride.
what" he began, and I took the
words out of his mouth.
i've found your pin-prick for
you"
He gave 1t glance. lifted a large
sized magnifying glass and bent over
Wingarde's breast.
Whats that?" said Heffy, overhear-
ing. He sprang up and came over.
II Dayton followed, taking a place at
my side.
Presently Osborne Strengthened,
went over and bent above Ute Char
ley's neck. Once more he scanned the
tiny wound with his glass. Once or
twice he frowned as before, and
shook his head in silent mystification.
In the, end he spoke:
"This Is one of the most peculiar
things have ever come across. There
can be no doubt that these little
wounds are the direct cause of death
In both cases. But for two things
would not hesitate to express a posi-
tive opini"1 that they had been bitten
by some extremely venomous reptile
and died of the result In fact, that
seems the only plausible explanation,
despite the two objections to IT,"
whats them?p inquired Heffy.
"They look to me like rattlesnake
had fanged them" --- 49,"
They look like that to anybody"
said Osborne, "but, see here-if 1t was
rattler he only had one fang. That's
enc ohtnction"
Hefy looked pu.=,ea- I.aredo
smiled. Dayton muttered his cusron.
airy, BY Jove!"
"The other" Osborne continued,
els that they were struck in such odd
places-the throat and breast. Now,
If it had been the hands or feet or
legs, l wouldn't hesitate minute in
my diagnosis"
Couldn't the RATHER hev lost one of
his teeth?" Heffy suggested.
1T is possible, of course" Osborne
admitted. I'm some way one of its
fangs may have been broken and not
yet replaced by new one, so that on.
ly the other one was long enough to
penetrate. They certainly look like
victims of snake-bite."
Pardon" Laredo said softly.
"Senores, have been thinking. II
rightly remember, the guide you call
Bill told Mr.. Heffy that the Indian was
found behind some stones. Now,
have heard Senior Dayton say that this
Indian was one who went into the
mountains with the professor, an that
las night he came an spoke to him
an took him away.
MAY there not have been some
thing which he wished to show the
Senior Wingarde? May it not have
been something among those rocks?
May they not have knelt to examine
1t. and the reptile have struck. leapins
upon them from among the stonesf II
is possible. is it not?"
by Jove!" was Dayton's ejacula-
ton. Heffy nodded his approval.
Osborne frowned as he considered the
suggestion.
AT that rate" he remarked at
length, "your idea would be that the
thing struck either Wingarde or the
Indian, that 1t was torn from its hold,
and In the excitement and darkness
may have been thrown or swung
against the other?"
Laredo nodded.
'Tt is possible. at least" Osborne
went on. "In fact, it's the only way In
which I can see 1t could have happen
ed. They certainly were struck by
something with deadly venom,
which killed quickly and entered
through those little pinholes or pricks.
AS I said, I've never met case like
It,"
(which one Of 'em died first, docT
Heffy inquired on a sudden.
"Wingarde, I think" stated the
physician.
"Then ~ N hit him In the breast