Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-04-18

W IuS uedu man III lne Cnd1T, drawing
up seat for himself directly facing.
Separating the Indians lips he insert
ed the blades of the little instrument
between the strong teeth and forced
them apart with little clicking OF the
rachet-catch. The Indians mouth
gaped open and exposed the tongue
blush in color and swollen, like that
Of a parrot.
Osborne. watching him, lifted the re-
flector and extended it toward him.
Semi took 1t, manipulated its strap,
adjusting 1t to his head, and slipped it
into position so that its reflecting sur
face stood like Cyclopean eye above
his own; reached up and drew 1t about
on its ball-joint, until its central hole
exactly covered his right eye, and
hitched his chair closer still to the
body in the chair.
Sunlight was coming through the
window. Dual caught a ray on the
reflector and threw it back into the
mouth, held wide by the gag. 1t
swaged and fliekered, searching out
the reddish blue cavity, steadied and
played on the back Of the throat in
tiny circle which brought out the swol-
len veins under the membranes.
Dual put out hand backward to-
ward the physician.
Like trained surgical assistant, Os-
borne was ready, and handed him the
tiny throat mirror on its long, slended
handle. Semi took it, and the tongue
depressor which he had laid on his lap
at first.
Slipping the latter over the tongue
he forced 1t down, thrust the tiny glass
into the mouth and back into the ray
Of the mirror on his forehead, turning
and twisting it this way and that, to
at last hold it steady and peer intentfy
at the diminutive reversed picture 1t
revealed.
For a long minute he continued to
gaze into the lifeless cavity of the
throat; then without words beckoned
Osborne to him. The physician came,
bent and peered along the luminous
ray to the surface of the mirror. It
seemed to me that he started slightly.
His face swung from what he had
seen and he looked squarely at Dual.
His eyes had come open, his lips were
Slightly parted. His entire expression
was that Of one deeply affected by
some totally unexpected sight or oc-
currence. AS their eyes met, Semi
Dual shook his head shortly.
Osbornes eyes narrowed again and
he turned them back into the Indians
throat without word. / could see
Heffy and Laredo watching the two
closely, and myself l wondered what
in all reason they could have lighted
upon to excite their evident interest.
However, Semi Dual offered no ex-
PLANTATION.
He drew out the mirrow, removed
the tongue depressor, rose and took
the gag from between the jaws. which
he pressed back into place. Followed
by Osborne, he went back to the table
and laid the instruments down, picked
up the slender probe which lay there,
and then went over to Wingarde's
remains.
He bent down and seemed to be
seeking to insert the tip of the probe
into the tiny wound in the old archie
ologist's breast.
Whether by purpose or otherwise,
both Osborne and he stood so that
their actions were completely screen
ed by their bodies. 1t was Osborne
who spoke abruptly in voice of ex-
clamation: Good God!"
nno1 or ioh kool, o.l
gathered up all the shining articles of
craft, and passed them back to their
owner. Osborne's intelligent face was
paler than its wont, and l could see
that he labored under an lily controll-
ed excitement as he took them and
thrust them into a pocket of his coat.
Abruptly Semi turned and, picking
the body of the Indian out of the chair,
lifted it up and swung it back on the
table, where he released it and
Strengthened it out.
Heffy broke the silence which
seemed to have clogged our tongues
during that wordless period of action.
well, wha'd'ye find?" he interro-
gated. whats struck you two, any
way, q ilhe 10 KNOW! A Ieller q
think there was something mighty
mysterious about all this from the
way you're actin. Why don't we get
after that green stone? We've taken
time enough on couple Of snake
bites, 1t seems to me-"
Dual swung on him.
Things are not always what they
seem, Mr.. Heffy," he said.
Meaning what?" the hotel official
demanded.
Meaning that while DR.. Osborne is
perfectly right in his diagnosis, he has
been essentially wrong in his deduc-
tions tberefrom," said Dual.
Il don't get you. Put 1t to me
straight" Heffy insisted.
Briefly, then," said Semi, "Profes-
sor Wingarde and the Indian were
murdered"
Heffy's jaw dropped. His eyes
popped.
ITO be Continued.)