Evening star., 1922-05-26

their fareweltS, ana tndt IL WIS Coofa PSiSoiA
that killed him. investigated He called on
his wife. While she was out Of the room an
swering telephone call from Arnold MASTER
ters. He then called on Dr. Ross nerve
specialist. who had been looking after Mrs
there that morning and was apparently much
worried. From his manner. the doctor SAID,
he fancied Mr.. Maitland doubted his wife's
fidelity.
/IH o you think he was right?"
shot out Kennedy quick
ly. eyeing DR.. Ross keenly
NO, emphatically. no;
he was not right" replied the doc
tore, meeting Craig's scrutiny with
out flinching. Mrs. Maitland" he
went on more slowly as if carefully
weighing every word, belongs 10
large and growing class of women in
whom, to speak frankly, sex seems to
be suppressed She is very hand
some and attractive woman-you have
seen her? Yes. You must have noticed,
though. that she is really frigid, cold,
intellectual"
The doctor was so sharp and posi-
tive about his first statement and
so careful in phrasing the second
that l, at least. jumped to the con-
clusion that Maitland might have
been right, after all. imagined that
Kennedy. too. had his suspicious of
the doctor.
Have you ever heard .or used
cobra venom in any of your medical
work." he asked casually.
DR.. Ross wheeled in his chair sur
prised.
why. yes" he replied quickly.
you know that 1t is a test for
blood diseases. one of the most re,
Gently discovered and used parallel
TO the old tests. 1t is known as
the Well cobra-venom test
DO you use it often?
Mono" he replied. My practice
ordinarily does not lie in that di-
rection. I used it not long ago, once.
though. 1 have a patient under my
care. we'll known clubman. lie
came to me Originally
"Arnold Masterson?" asked Craig.
"Yes-how did you know his
Guessed it," replied Craig. la
conicalIy. as if he knew much more
than he cared to tell. He was a
friend of Mrs. Maitland's, was he
not?"
Ross, without hesitation. He, was
cutie ready to talk without being
urged. Ordinarily" he explained
confidentially, professional ethics
seals my lips, but in THIS lnslanc,s'
since you seem to know so much
| may as we'll tell more.
1 hardly knew whether to take MN
at his face value or not. Stlli ne Went
on: Mrs Maitland is. as l have hlnt-
ed at. what we specialists would call
A consciously frigid but unconsciousiy
passionate woman AS an intellectual
woman she suppresses nature. But
nature does and VIII assert nerseI'
we believe. Often you will hnd an
intellectual woman attracted unrea-
sonably to a purely physical mani
mean, speaking generally, not IN par
ricuIar cases. You have read Ellen
Key. 1 presume? Well, she expresses
it well in some of the things she mas
written about affinities. Now, dont
misunderstood me-" he cautioned
am speaking generally. not of this
individual case.
was following DIR. Ross closely.
When he talked so he was a most
fascinating man. .
Mrs. Maitland" ne resumed. has
heen much troubled by her dreams. as
YOU have heard. doubtless The other
day she told me of another dream.
bull. which suddenly changed into
serpent. l may say that /! had asked
her to make a record of her dreams.
as well as other data. which thousht
might be of use in the study ana
treatment of her nervous troubles. L
readily surmised that not the dreams.
but something else, perhaps some
recollection which they recalled, wor-
ried her. By careful questioning
discovered that 1t was-a broken en-
gagement.
Yes" prompted Kennedy.
THE bull-serpent. she admitted. had
q half-human face-the race OF AT
rold Masterson,
was DR.. Ross desperately shifting
suspicion from himself? l asked.
Very strange-very," ruminated
Kennedy. That reminds me again
wonder If you could let me have a
sample of this cobra venom?"
surely. Excuse me; I'll get you
some"
The doctor had scarcely shut the
door when Kennedy began prowling
around quietly. In the waiting room.
which was now deserted, stood
typewriter
the machine until he had a sample OF
every character. Then he reached
into the drawer of the desk and
hastily stuffed several blank sheets
of paper into his pocket.
you in handling this" remarked DR..
Ross, as he returned. You are as
well acquainted as I am with the dan
ger attending its careless and un-
scientific uses"
ct am, and / thank you very much,
said Kennedy.
We were standing in the waiting
room.
You will keep me advised of any
progress you make in the case?" the
can we'll imagine. my treatment of
Mrs. Maitland"
"I shall be glad to do So" replied
Kennedy, as we departed.
An hour later found US in a hand
somely appointed bachelor apartment
In fashionable hotel overlooking the
lower entrance to the park.
Mr. Masterson. 1 believer inquired
Kennedy. as slim. debonnair. young
ish-old man entered the room in
which we had been waiting.
81 am that same" he replied. ITO
what am 1 indebted for this
pleasure?"
we had been gazing at the various
curios with which he had made the
room a veritable den of the connois-
seur.
siderably." remarked Kennedy, avoid
ing the question for the time.
Eyes 1 have been back in this
country only a few weeks" Master
son replied. awaiting the answer to
the first question.
"I called" proceeded Kennedy. "in
the hope that you. Mr.. Masterson.
might be able to shed some light on
the rather peculiar case of Mr.. Matt
land. of whose death, I suppose, you
have already heard"
You have known Mrs. Maitland a
long tIme?" ignored Kennedy.
I'VE went to school together"
"And were engaged. were you not?"
Mas;erson loloked at Kennedy in ill
concealed surprise.
"Yes But how did you know that?
1t was secret-only between us
two-I thought. She broke IL or
not l."
..S6e broke off the eneagement %