Evening star., 1922-07-06

the lower hall handed q card to
Craig. with an apology about the
house telephone switchboard being
out of order.>
AS Kennedy laid the card on the
table before US, with a curt SHOW
look ed at it in blank amusement.
It read. "Judson Seabury."
Before I could utter word OF
comment on the strange coincidence
the husband was sitting In the same
chair In which his wife had sat less
than half an hour before.
Judson Seabury was a rather dis
Notwithstanding man of the solid.
business type. Merely to meet his
steel gray eye was enough to tell
one that this man would brook no
rivalry In anything he undertook.
foresaw trouble. even though could
not define Its nature.
Craig twirled the card in his
fingers. as II to refresh his mind on
a name otherwise unfamiliar. ! was
wondering whether Seabury might
not have trailed his wife to our office
and have come to demand an ex-
PLANTATION. 1t was with some relief
that I found he had not.
Prof. Kennedy" he began. nerv-
ously. hitching his chair closer. with
out further Introduction. in the ma
ture Of q man who was accustomed
to having his own way in any matter
he undertook, II am in a most Pc
culiar situation"
Seabury paused a moment. Ken
nedy nodded acquiescence and the
man suddenly blurted out. Il don't
know whether I'm being slowly
poisoned or mott"
The revelation was startling enough
In itself. but doubly so after the
interview that had just preceded.
] covered my own surprise by
quick glance at Craig. His face
was impassive as he nerrowly
searched Seabury's face. l knew:
though. that back of his assumed
thinking about the ethics of listen
ing to both parties in the case. How
ever. he said nothing. Indeed. Sea-
bury. once started. hurried on.
scarcely giving him a chance to in
terrupt.
ceeded. with the air Of man who
for the first time is relieving his
Weighing heavily on him. that for
some time l have not been exactly
er-easy in my mind about the ac-
tions of my wife"
Evidently he had arrived at the
conclusion to tell what worried him.
| and must say it. for he continued i'm
mediately: ITS not that l actually
know anything about any indiscre-
tions on Agatha's part. but-well.
there have been little things--hints
that she was going frequently to
these dansants. and that sort of
thing. you know. Lately. too, l have
seen a change In her manner toward
me, I fancy. Sometimes ! think she
! seems to avoid me. especially during
the last few days. Then, again. as
this morning. she seems to be e-er-
too solicitous."
He passed his hand over his fore
head as II to clear II. For once he
did not seem to be the self-confident
man who had at first entered our
apartment. I noticed that he had
peculiar look. a feeble state of the
body which he was at times at pains
to conceal. a look. which the doctors
call, 1 believe, cachetic.
"I mean." he added hastily. as If it
might as well be said first as last.
that she seems to be much con-
cerned about my health, my food"
Just what is it that you actually
know. not what you fear?" inter
rupted Kennedy. perhaps, a little
brusquely. at last having seen
chance to insert word edgewise into
the flow Of Seabury's troubles, real
or imaginary.
Seabury paused a moment then
resumed with a description of his
health. which. to tell the truth. was
by no means reassuring.
Well" he answered slowly. Il
suffer a good deal from such terrible
dyspepsia. Prof. Kennedy. NY
set-bad health and growing weak
ness - pain. discomfort = vomiting
after meals. even, bleeding. I've
tried all sorts of cures. but still I
can feel that l am still losing health
and strength, and. so far. at least.
70 ha nyre
me much good. have begun to
wonder whether 1t is a case for the
doctors. after all. Why, the whole
thing Is getting on my nerves so
that I'm almost afraid to eat" he
concluded.
You have eaten nothing today,
then. am to understand" asked
Craig, when Seabury had finished
with his minute and puzzling ac-
count of his troubles.
mot even breakfast this morning."
he replied: Mrs. seabury urged me
Good" exclaimed Kennedy. much
to our surprise. That will make it
Just SO much easier to use a test
have in mind to determine whether
there is anything in your suspicious"
He had risen and gone over to a
cabinet.
would you mind barring your arm
a moment?" he asked Seabury.
With a sharp little instrument. care
fully sterilized. Craig pricked vein
in the mans arm. Slowly few drops
of darkened venous blood welled out.
A moment later Kennedy caught them
in a sterile test tube and sealed the
tube.
Before our second visitor could start
again in retailing his suspicious.
which now seemed definitely. in his
own mind at least. directed in some
way against Mrs. Seabury, Kennedy
skillfully closed the interview.
II feel sure that the test I shall
make will tell me positively, soon,
whether your fears are we'll grounded
or not, Mr.. Seabury," he concluded
briefly. as he accompanied the man
out into the hall to shake hands
farewell with him at the elevator
door, I'll let you know as soon as
anything develops. but until We have
something tangible there is no use
wasting our energies"
1 felt. however, that Seabury ac-
cepted this conclusion reluctantly, in
fact, with a sort Of mental reserva-
tion not to cease activity himself.
Continued in tomorrow's Star.)