Evening star., 1922-05-21

me its name," I said. 'It is best that
tho public should remain in ignorance of
its name." was his reply
.'Then how could write novel and
introduce such a poison?"
"Of course, you would not do so.
The novel should suggest would de-
scribe the easiest method by which a
doctor could amass great wealth by ad-
ministering bacilli Of deadly diseases in
return for heavy payments"
"But is it ever dohe?" I asked in
credulously.
Done? Why, of course. it il. Any
doctor who has studied bacteriology
and the effect Of infection upon the hui
man system can administer culture to
you and be able to forecas. about the
exact hour Of your death. That Is. II
he IL an expert. The character in your
book would have dozen different fatal
diseases to ring the changes upon. One
Of his patients would die Of typhus, an
other Of anthrax, another of pneumonia,
and SO on"
declared. yet what he had told me
somehow impressed itself upon me.
again. infection can easily be sent
by post-in a letter" he suggested.
Those modern envelopes in which
there is thin paper lining are admira-
bly, adapted for the purpose. II the en-
velope is opened and allowed to lie
about, the germs Of disease will soon
infect the room. Many q man has lost
his life by that unsuspected means"
II really don't believe it, was my
reply.
8 But 1 know" he declared very en-
phatically.
II shall begin to dread coming into
contact with you. You are a most dan
gerous person.
He laughed merrily and said:
';Ah! We doctors are used to horrors,
you know. I'm only pointing out how
easy it Is to be dishonest in the medical
profession. Please don't think have
ever been guilty Of the practices I have
described
"Of course. not" said. 'It was
only a joke. But. really. hesitate to
think that any man would do such
Things unless he possessed a criminal
kink' -
well. assure you that it has been
done. and lots Of money has been made
by, those who have given the little
doses. Even when the patient Is in a
critical state and specialists are called,
tho latter naturally have no suspicion
Of the actual cause"
+
WHEN left him I walked to the
club and sat in the deserted
smoking room for a long time,
thinking over whst Booth-Evenden
had told me. What, I wondered, had
prompted him to make the suggestion
that should write such q book? 1
found myself entertaining a growing
dislike Of him. Surely q man who
spoke so glibly Of crime was not a
very desirable friend. And yet, after
all, rather liked him. Since he had
recovered from the loss Of his wife
he had greatly improved as a COM
panion.
Many weeks went by. and I was
abroad again-in Copenhagen, to be
exact. Time after time 1 recoilected
that strange conversation In Mount
street. and tried to fathom the mo-
tive of making that suggestion to me.
After about three months wrote to
Booth Evenden. but 1t was q fort
night before I received a reply. It
was dated from the Chateau de Pom
trieux, in Brittany. He told me that
he was, staying with friends there
and having a most enjoyable time
motoring about. He should. however.
be in London in about six weeks time,
and then he would have some news
for me.
I wondered what it was. L wrote
Fhim a letter full of curiosity. but he
replied that he could not tell me yet,
did. But one day I entered his
nat in Mount street and found him
CHEEKY and beaming.
"And the news promised to tell
you, my dear friend he laughed.
when I was seated. well. the fact
IL that I've married again."
I expressed surprise, but, Of course,
congratulated him.
Eyes, French lady. I was stay
ing at her house. the Chateau de Pom
trieux, a beautiful old place, when
your letter reached me. We had then
been married Just q week. We're
staying at Claridge's till we get a
house. But come round here every
day. Gabrielle will be here in few
minutes. She will be delighted to
meet you, I'm sure" &c.
In about q quarter .of an hour =
rather stout. elderly. lady was shown
In. and was introduced. Though
she was the reverse Of prepossessing.
she spoke English well. and was
quite reflned-much more so than the
previous Mrs. Booth -Evenden.
my husband has often spoken Of
you," she said. land am SO delighted
to know you."
| We took tea together, and I spent
very pleasant hour with them. HIS
attitude toward her was most courtly
and generous. He did not seem the
same 4calIous man who had spoken 30
airiIy Of murder q few months before.
I They had found . house 1t Lam
caster Gate, they told me. and that
day they had placed It. in the hands OF
the decorators.
.And now" said madame. I'VE SHAH
start buying furniture. It will be de-
lightful to have house in London, as
well ~ the nat in Paris"
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