Evening star., 1922-05-25

- We" enS Se"o"A W >N~
Cobra 'venom?" repeated the cor
oner. glancing up at a row OF tech
nical works.
yes. No. IFS no use trying to look
1t up. There is no way Of verifying
the symptoms. It Is not like any
other poisoning in the world"
DIR. Leslie and / looked at each
other, aghast at the thought of a
poison so subtle that 1t defied de-
you think he was bitten by a
lous.
"oh. Walter. on Broadway? No.
Of course not. Bat cobra venom has
medical value. 1T Is sent here
in small quantities for various medi-
cal purposes. Then. too: 1T W would I'D
the hand in the passing crowd, a
quick showing of the letter into the
pocket of the victim-and the muir
derer would probably think to go
undetected.'' ...
We stood dismayed atsthe horror
of such a scientific murder and the
meagerness of the materials to work
on In tracing 1t out. -,
That dream was indeed peculiar
ruminated Craig. before we had really
grasped the import of his quick reve-
lation.
You don't mean to say that you
attach any importance to a dream?'
asked hurriedly. trying to follow
him.
Kennedy merely shrugged his
shoulders, but l could see plainly
enough that he did.
You haven't given this letter out
to the press?" he asked.
Not yet" answered DR.. Leslie.
Then don't until l say to do So
I shall need to keep it."
The cab in which we had come to
the hospital was still waiting. we
must see Mrs. Maitland first." said
Kennedy. as we left the nonpiussed
The Maitlands lived. we soon found.
In . large old-fashioned brownstone
house just of 5th avenue.
Kennedy's card with the message
that it was very urgent brought US
as far as the library. where we sat
for a moment looking around at the
quiet refinement of a more than WELL
to-do home.
On a desk at one end OF the long
room was a typewriter. Kennedy
rose, There was not a sound of any
one In either the hallway or the ad-
Joining rooms. A moment later ne
writer in the corner, running off a
series of characters on sheet of
paper. A sound of a closing door up
stairs and he quickly jammed the
paper into his pocket, retraced his
steps and was sitting quietly oppo-
site me again.
Mrs. Maitland was tall. perfectly
formed woman of banning age. but
with the impression of both youth
and maturity which was very fasci-
mating. She was calmer now, ana
although she seemed to be of any
quite evident that her nervousness
was due to much more than the shock
of the recent tragic event, great as
that must have been. 1t may have
been that I recalled the words of the
note, "Dr. Ross has told me the ma
ture of your illness" but l fancied
that she had been suffering from
some nervous trouble.
There is no use prolonging our in
PRODUCTION, Mrs. Maitland" began
Kennedy. I'VE have called because
the authorities are not yet fully con-
vinced that Mr.. Maitland committed
suicide"
1t was evident that she had seen
the note. at least. Not a suicide?'
she repeated. looking from one to the
other Of us. :.
"Mr. Masterson On the wire. ma am"
whispered a maid. DO you wish to
speak to him9 He begged to say that
to uiu n.y. W 70" ~ aattt!
YES, 1 will talk to HMM my
ROOM" she interrupted.
I thought that there was Just a
trace Of we'll concealed confusion as
she excused herself.
his seat Immediately. without a word
or look he completed his work at the
typewriter by abstracting several
blank sheets of paper from his desk.
A few moments later Mrs. Maitland
returned. calmer.
'.In his note" resumed Kennedy. he
spoke Of DR.. Ross and"
"Oh," she cried. cant you see Dr.
Ross about it? Really IL couldn't
in this way-not now.
SO soon after what I've had to go
through"
1t seemed that her nerves were get
ting unstrung again. Kennedy rose
Later, come to see me-" she plead
ed. But now-you must realize-it Is
too much. I cannot talk-I cannot"
"Mr. Maitland had no enemies that
termined to learn something now, At
mo, no. Mono that would-,do that"
"You had had no Quarrel?" he add
"No-ws never auarrelled. Oh. Price
did you. How could .na;,U you! r.r,a.
ly getting the better Of her. Ken
nedy bowed, and we withdrew silent
ly. He had learned one thing. She
believed or wanted others to believe
in the note.
names in the telephone book. Let
me see-heres an Arnold Masterson."
he considered. Then turning the
pages he went on, Now We must ma
this DR.. Ross. There-Dr. Sheldon
that must be the one. He lives only
q few blocks further uptown"
Handsome, we'll built, tall dignified,
in fact, distinguished, DR.. Ross prov
ed to be a man whose very face and
manner were magnetic. as should be
branch Of the profession.
you may have heard, I suppose. Of
the strange death of Price Malt
lands" began Kennedy when we we're
seated in the doctors ONCE.
"Yes, about an hour ago" 1t was
evident that he was studying us.
Mrs. Maitland, I believe. is pa
tient of yours?
"Yes, Mrs. Maitland is one Of my
patients" he admitted interroGative-
iy. Then, az II eonsidertng that Ken.
nedyss manner was not to be mollfhed
by anything eAOrt OF suoW OF coAu"
dence, he added: "She came to me
several montha ago. ! have had her
under treatment FOR nervous trouble
since then. without q marked i'm
provement." ~
..And Mr.. Maitland" asked Kennedy,
was he a patient, ~too?. H.,
"Mr Maitland" admitted the doctor,
with some reticence, had called on
me this morning, but no. he was not
q patient"
"Did you notice anything unusual? -
"He seemed to be much worried"