The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-02-01
s-13.' '-E- Unseen Hands
4 BeWiIdering DetectiUe Story
 By Robert Orr Chipperfield

worked, if you are still harp1ng on
 my mothers case.''
 T don't mean anything of that sort,' OdelI explained "I have in mind some poison which would work gradually and be virtually tasteless; iifhe' victims food, perhaps, and pro- dtTce sym pton1s which might easily be mistaken for those resulting from some trivial indisp Rannie's eyes widened and their
 morose stare gave place to one of grudging admiration.
 i "So you're on that tack, are you?" he asked. ''I was only waiting till I was sure before spr:nging it on you myself. This is an old house, you know; there are plenty Of mice and | rats in the walls, and there is cer- | tain white powder which extermi- | mates them quicker than anything l else, and which would be sold with
 out question for that purpose in any
 drug store if ones appearance and l manner didn't arouse suspicion. It is
 funny, but I was reading up about 1t l when you came in.
 l He reached under the cushions and | drew forth the book. which he open
 ed at a certain page and handed with | out further remark to the detective. : "Arsenic!" Odell read. 'Trioxide. eh :? The crude oxide yields a White, i crystalline powder, odorless, but with a faint metallic, swedish taste. Small i uuanties produce poisoning.' l Humphi I wonder how small
 quantity would produce a noticeable i effect in say, a few days, and what | that effect would be"
 i Rannie reached out his hand for i the book, closed it and placed it once ] more. beneath the cushions.
 " '"Three-quarters of a grain-a mere pinch on the end of knife-if given | do. I ciCred effect in less than a week. he l said slowly. "I told you once that 1 i would not take the trouble to put
 any of my precious family out of the
 way; but I didn't mean that l
 wouldn't life a finger to stop some i one else from killing even the most | q disagreeable of them. The symptoms,
 sergeant, are, flushing. puffed eyelids. pain and nausea"
 Oden started from his chair.
 'How long have you known this?''
 he demanded.
 ''I suspected yesterday; I had only 4convinced myself when you came"
 And the antidote? QuickA Tell
 me the antidote!" /
 "An emetic, anything that will re-
 move it from the system. However, i that won't prevent the next dose | from being administered" Rannie I had dragged himself to his feet.
 Firing Cissie in here if you like. I'll See that no, one gets to her, and 1 I guess dad and I are off your list of sE:suspects this time; we haven't either T. of it's left our rooms since Saturday. Tt rather looks as though our family I tnarnesis were worlliaS overtime, I doesn't it t?''
 I Don't mention this to any one .I I.else,,,,,. Ode ell, cautioned as he started d hastily for the door,. 'tIt may be the
 very means of trapping the person We are after"
 He. passed out into the hall, but thought If Cissie was indeed being | slowly poisoned and the would-be
 murderer suspected that his secret was known, he would instantly cease l his efforts. and the opportunity of | proving his guilt would be irretrieva- | bly, lost Yet the girl must be pro- tected and antidote given to re- lieve her suffering. It might even be that one more dose would prove fatali Dare he attempt dissimula-
 ton when her very life was perhaps
 in danger?
 | He advanced slowly to her closed
 door, and even as he paused before it, his hand uplifted to knock, he heard |, her faint groans and Miss Meade's
 soothing voice in response. Another |, sound reached his ears also, the soft pat of feet up the back stairs; and he
 turned to find Peters coming toward
 him with a try upon which a cup ot ; broth steamed inNitingly. t With instant decision the detective advanced and held out his hand. That's for. Miss Chalmers, isn't it 5 Peters?" he asked carelessly s'Pn just going to ask Miss Meade if she
 can spare a minute, and I'll hand i in to her myself
 , He watched the butler narrowly : but PeteRs relinquished the tray with out a moments hesitation, and turn. ing went downstairs again. at his usual dignified gait.
 Ode1l waited until he heard hin p descend the second flight to the I Kitchen, then put the tray dowr q hastily on a chair near Rannie's door 2 and raised the cup to his lips. It con . tained beef tea undoubtedly, but bee: tea with a. swedish. metallic taste and the detective replaced the cuI
 and softly opened Rannie's door. g ''Have you a bottle or some> snal ] receptacle that is perfectly clean ant V sterilized?" he demanded ill hushet
 tones Several in the medicine chest. = 3 Here, wait a, minute.'' Rannie made his way slowly and painfully to tht Il bathroom, and returned with a tin. 3 vial in, his hand. What is it? YoI | haven't got hold of some of the stuff l already, have you?'
 ,r without waiting to reply -Odel ' dashed back, and filling the vial witt the beef tea, he deliberately overturn ed the cup. Then he dashed dow1
 the front stairsE and out the entranc' , door, beckoning to the ubiquitou: t Blake, who was still upon his post a ' the corner.
 V '"Take this as quickly as you can III > to Villard's laboratory; tell him t a put aside everything else and ana1yz' t it at once. Say that I suggested tn u surest test he knows of for arseni I and wait for his report
 Y As the operative pocketed the via
 and started down the steps he aIrn os q collided with pr. Adams, who greeted '. Odeu with a eerterain decorou $ triumph in his tones.
 'T have just come from the autops. d on the body of Mrs. Lorne,'' he an e noUnced. 'It revealed nothing bu = what we anticipated, pyenic foci i, l. the kidneys and liver. You see, m, It dear Sergeant Ode1l, it was a clea Il case of septiceTnia, after al1.''