The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-08

want to" Hulse responded patroniz
ingly ut seems that Frank has
been scouting around most Of the
afternoon, and he thinks he has
found traces" -
The sergeant accepted Hulse's In.
vttation to the man hunt that eve.
ming carelessly enough, bur as soon
as dinner was over manage 70
elude him and enter the hall Just as
the. others emerged from the dining
room.
Fay Tudor caught his eye, and,
with a gesture so slight rs to be
imperceptihle TO the rest, he mo
/ toned toward the drawing.room.
did you wish to see me alone7"
she asked in a breathless tone.
Miss Tudor, understand that
you are a sufferer from insomnia;
! do you eyer take anything for it ex.
cept hot MILK"
No: that Is, not lately"
"But you have taken medicine for
1t? Powders OF some sort7'
A quick light, OF sudden interest
rather thnn OF alarm, sprang into
her eyes.
How did you know" she asked,
then added hastily: IA physician IN
Paris recommended a sort OF pow.
der They worked like magic, but l
discontinued their use more than
two months ago because they made
my head feel so congested after
each dose.r
did you bring any Of them to
this country = the powders, Y
meant" Barry inquired.
Eyes, believe / did" There haG
been a slight pause, but her reply
came In the half.bewlldered tone OF
one who had been searching her
memory. II had the prescription
filled again the day before we left
Paris."
How many powders were con.
tanned in the prescription" Barry
ignored her query.
Twelve" She bit her lips ana
then cried sharply: 1.-THE box was
untouched when. arrived here.
Don't tell me, Sergeant Barry, that
II has been tempered With IL felt
this morning. mean It seemed to
mo that my head felt Just as II used
ito do when I had taken q double
dose Of the stuff"
Barry's hand went to his pocket
and he drew forth the little box and
gave II to her, She seized Il eager.
eyes, this Is 1t, Of course!" Then
she opened 1t and a wave Of aston.
ishment and horror swept oyer her
face. why, there are only six here;
half Of them are gone! II anyone
had taken them all they would new
er have Awakened"
What would be. the effect OF
three?"
81 don't know; have never taken
more than two, but / fancy that
three would produce a slumber
more profound even than an anes:
thetic brings and which would make
one sleep until the effects had
worn of. and then be very Ill after;
ward. Sergeant, Barry, Is that what
was the matter with me this morn.
ing? told you how dizzy ! was
and how my head ached., Did some
one drug me? half suspected It
when l learned that Laurel had
been murdered there, practically
beside me- and had slept SO stolld.
ly through 1t all"
81 don't know yet" Barry replied.
adding in o significant tone: did
your hot milk taste oil right last
might, Miss Tudor?"
THE hot milk" she exclaimed.
81 don't think that It did, now that
you remind me Of II. It seems to me
that there was a chalky quality In
It and the touch OF acridness that
ono sometimes notices in butter
milk something like fermentation!
But Laurel drank 1t with mel She
took more than l. Could those pow
ders have been mixed with 1t, and
killed her?"
mo, It would only have produc.
ed sleep q little more profound
than your own" Barry replied
"You may have suffered slightly
from your share Of It this morning
! but I think something else was the
matter, too. The symptoms you
described to me are identical with
those induced by a slight inhala.
tion Of the gas which killed your
cousin,
"Fay!" Mrs. Tudor's gentle voice
sounded from the porch. "My dear,
where are your"
! Coming directly, Aunt Clara!"
Fay turned to the detective IN swift
dismay. Soh, you see that l must
go!"
"Just one question more" Barry
detained her with. gesture. ''t
thought that Captain Warren was a
stranger to your aunt, as he Is to
the neighborhood. How does 1t hap
pen that he dined here tonight?"
He has offered his services to
us, as has Mr.. Clayton, to help us
through this dreadful time, and my
aunt gladly accepted. The sheriff
wants them to SO with him tonight
on some wild.goose chase after the
man who has been lurking about,
md that is why they remained to
dinner
Il see. Please do not feel offend.