The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-10

coutu ever De dragged into the Hight.
He was chatty: he showed US his
curios; and amongst them he even dis
played the very weapon with which he
murdered Branderwine
TT was the reed OF a small palm:
that long. straight tube which we call
blow-pipe. From II the savage d.
charges an arrow with poisoned tip.
In his hands it is a most deadly
weapon Edwardes made use Of it. I
have not the least doubt But he dtE
not use an arrow: he chose a much
smaller. yellow-tufted dart. That dar.
1 found. I had it examined by an
analyst in rare poisons. He found a
trace Of a poison which is made by
crushing certain deadly black ants,
formidable production OF tropical
forests.
"Edwardes committed this crime one
night, the very night when Oswald
| Street SO unwisely made his stealthy
visit to the house. Edwardes knew
Branderwine's habits, of course: that
he spent a few hours each evening in
his study. He knew that the inmate
| frequently passed out on the balcony
as he read. Edwardes, in a room in
one of the houses opposite, separated
merely by a narrow strip Of pavement
and the enclosed azalea beds, loaded
I
| came. His first attempt failed. we
found that dart embedded in the paint
ing. 1t must have whistled past the
head Of its intended victim, through
the open window. and lodged where I
| luckily discovered it The second
proved fatal. I am inclined to think
that it struck its victim on the scalp.
INJECTING perhaps a merely slight
scratch which was concealed by his
long white hair.
"Branderwine stepped back into his
study. He knew that his moments
Of remaining lie might be numbered
on the fingers Of his hands. The at
tack, as you will soon see, was not
unsupported by him Already he felt
the soaring agony OF the poison. And
it was at that moment Oswald Street
entered.
What followed must be clear TO
your intelligence. Branderwine was
determined not to endure the unspealx-
able anguish which was beginning to
burn in his veins. He asked his visi-
tor. forcing a calmness worthy OF him,
to hand him a certain phial. He had
no power to say more He drank.
1t was his last act IN life.
And the motive Of this somewhat
uncanny crime? 1t is staring US in
the face 1t was the passion which
. Edwardes had conceived for Margaret
Wildrave. He must have mentioned IL
, to Branderwine. or the latter suspected
it. Now. though the professor was
very proud of his protege he, very
rightly. was sternly inimicai to any
idea Of marrying his niece to him.
There was not much dark blood in the
others veins. but there was some. In
deed. there was enough, as we have
| 70 rfe II,
fusal. and to create the altogether
savagely conceived idea OF putting the
obstacle to his passion entirely out Of
the way.
Yet that was not his first notion.
Recall the sinister figure under the
trees in the park. am convinced
that was Edwardes. whose jealousy
had Informed him Of the trysting-
place where Miss Wildrave used to
meet her lover. God knows what
dreadful intent had occurred to his
ferocity. 1t is evident that he was
inpersonating Street; that he even
went SO far as to conceal his swarthy
features by a facial mask. Such DIS
guises are today works Of srt, com
posed from a photograph Of the
original. His sparkling black eyes,
quick with passion. made the rest seem
rigid hfeless. something sinister. On
the succeeding night he found himself
face to face. not with Miss wildrave
but with Branderwine. There must
have been a struggle. And from that
moment Branderwine felt that his life
would probably be menaced by this
young tiger whom he had brought up.
That is all. my dear Francie.
think the evidence We have will harg
Edwardes and make a happy couple
Of Margaret and Oswald Street To
that evidence is added his attempt to
kill me. That was a bad move. Ifs
should not have followed us from his
house to the restaurant That con-
firrned my suspicious"
But how did You know Of his i'm
pending marriage7" I asked, as Tired
ways paused to light his cigar which
had gone out
THE lady's mysterious conduct By
suggesting marriage to me, sent me to
the Office OF the superintendeut-
registrar. Edwardes had got the license
. all right. That he would use It in
stantly and get out Of the country with
, his wife was sure. That was why I
would not los sight OF him even for
twenty minutes by going myself 20
treet. The situation was too critical
The questions asked street were II
he had met Margaret Wndrave in the
glade Of the park that night: and II
II was he. who had encountered Bran
derwine on the following one and
struck him. You see :. wanted to knoz
for certain before putting my case in
the police hands"
Suddenly I Jumped clean out Of my
chair Good heavens. Tredwaysg
You are wrong after AM" exclaimed
Calm yourself. ,Francie. Wen. What
now7"
You have forgotten the scrawIed
last words by Professor Branderw1ns
He sad that Street had murdered
hims"
Pardon. he did not He started to
J write to him. Knowing he was doomed
he xanted 70 rnaka frierds ri. ha..