Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-31
BY NAZARIENE DAAN
KANNIBELLE.

boarded with them. Parker was a
man OF good habits and was en-
ployed as a clerk in a bank. He was
treated by the Becks as one of the
members of the family.
why Reggie, what are you go
ing to do with that dog?" Mrs. Beck
asked Parker as she pointed to a
big bulldog which was lying peace
fully on the hearth.
AN acquaintance of mine at Full
ham asked me to get it for him. He
wants dog to keep the burglars
away from his house."
"You certainly got the right dog.
If l were burglar shouldn't like
to meet that dog in the dark" she
observed.
II expect my friend to call for the
dog. His name is Brinkley. Have
you ever met him?" he asked.
mo, / never remember meeting
him?" 'replied Mrs. Beck.
While she was speaking the door
bell rang. Perhaps its your friend"
added Mrs. Beck as she left Parker
to open the door. Il will leave you
two alone"
In another moment heavy-set,
solid-looking man of As or so en-
tered the room and greeted Parker
familiarly.
Il see you got the dog. What's
the priee?" he asked.
II think it is rather a good dog
1t will cost you $25,' answered
Parker as he returned the new
comer's greeting.
Very cheap at that" replied
Brinkley. Then taking bottle of
oatmeal stout out OF his hip pocket
he added: Come lets have a drink
to settle it."
"Why Brinkley, I always thought
you were a total abstainer"
Brinkley smiled. well Reggie"
he said, as he poured little stout
into two glasses on the table, while
settling bargain it won't do any
harm to have little drink"
Parker and Brinkley talked about
the dog for few minutes.
II think you better keep him over
night and bring him over to my
-nlace in the morning." Brinkley sug-
gested.
Parker agreed saying, II think it
would be better for me to bring him
over to you in the morning as the
trains will BE- crowded Saturday
night
Suddenly putting his hand on his
chest Brinkley said, Parker please
get me a glass of water. That glass
of stout made me thirsty. l suppose
/ must admit that / am not reg
ular drinker."
Jumps Out of Seat.
'In minute" said Parker as he
jumped out of his seat and rushed
out of the room and down the stairs
to get his friend a glass of water.
As soon as Parker left the room
Brinkley opened the stout bottle and
poured the contents of small phial,
which he produced from his vest
pocket, into it. There was scant
odor of almond. but by the time
Parker returned with the glass of
water, it had gone.
The two chatted little while
longer, and, as Brinkley started to
go Parker remarked that he was 60
ing to make call on friend. 81
will go out with you. l am going to
see the man | got the dog FROM"
he added.
Just before leaving the house
Parker stepped into the sitting room
and informed Mr.. and Mrs. Beck
that he might spend the night with
a friend and not to expect him that
night. However, l will be home
early in the morning and take the
dog over to Fulham," he said. But
he never took that dog to Fulham.
That night, shortly after midnight,
MIR. and Mrs. Beck were lying un-
conscious on the floor. Their daugh-
ter. Daisy, too, was affected but she
had strength enough to notify DR..
w. Dempster.
Daisy was lying on the sofa in a
state of collapse when the doctor
arrived. With difficulty she told the
story of her parents condition to the
doctor.
"After Parker left the room," she
said. father and mother went to his
room and saw a bottle of stout on
the table. Thinking that it belonged
to Parker they each filled glass
and then father poured out glass
for me. Mother complained that it
was too bitter for her, although IA
ther didn't seem to mind it at all. |
tasted it and found it so bitter that
spat It out before | had hardly
drunk any"
"The stout was mixed with {
strong poison" the physician re
marked. ...
On examining the remaining con
tents of the bottle, Dr. Demepstel
came to the conclusion that th'
stout was mixed with prussic acid
one OF the most deadly poisons il
existence. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Becl
died half an hour latter the doctor
arrival.
"How did the stout happen to b.
on the tablet" asked the Doctor.
II can not tell you,' replied Dais,
Beck. "AIl l know is that it wa!
on Parker's table"
The matter was reported to Scot
land Yard, and Detective inspector
Fowler was assigned on the case
He first interviewed Parker, wht
stated that he bought dog fol
Brinkley who came over to take th'
animal home and that he brough
a bottle of stout with him.
I'VE both drank a little" he tolt
the Scotland Yard man. AT th'
t;ue II anpeared rather strange he