Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-04-28
The Poison Was
Switched
. - - - - - - - - - - - - =.
By MORRIS SCHULTZ



taste so bitter" said Adeline Leeman.
Il never noticed it," replied her
husband, Frank. How are you feel
ing today, dearT
a little better. It's strange that
/ should have been so Ill when Doctor
Willis can't find any reason for it,"
"Oh, well, l think you've turned the
corner" replied her husband solici-
tOuSly.
He watched her cOvertly as she
made the tea and poured out the cups.
Just then a ring came at the bell.
Adeline got up and went to open the
door That was Franks opportunity
TO empty the package of arsenic into
her cup.
He had been dosing her for three
weeks. Arsenic was a good, standard
poison He had gone to another city
to buy it, Nobody looked for arsenic
unless suspicion were aroused, and
Frank Leeman had been very careful.
When Adeline was dead he meant to
marry Pauline Amhurst, who was
much younger and prettier.
And then there was their neighbor,
Tom Harrison. Harrison and Adeline
had been getting far too friendly.
That, in his mind, justified him. He
would be heartily glad when Adeline
was out of the way.
He had given her enough arsenic
to kill three men, but Adeline's sys-
TEN had been strangely resistent, and
at last he had become impatient. Into
his wlfes cup of tea he had poured
enough arsenic TO kill a dozen giants.
A few hours of pain, the attendance
of the unsuspicious old doctor-then
he would be free. Harrison had dag
nosed the case as gastric ulcer, and
there would be no inquest.
His wife was a long time at the
door Frank Leeman went out to see
who it was 1t was Harrison. A sud
den rage assailed him. He looked at
their smiling faces.
He was going to end all that. "See
here, Harrison" he shouted, "Ive had
about enough of your company
Harrison looked at him in blank
amazement He had never had any
trouble with Leeman. He could not
imagine what 1t was all about
"Why-why, Leemanw he STAN
mered.
81 won't have you hanging around
my wife Get that? Well. put 1t in
your pipe and smoke it." Leeman re
turned
Adeine, with a reproachful look,
had gone back into the dining room.
Harrison expostulated. stammered,
and went away Leeman went back
He glanced at his wife's face. Ade-
line was flushed, indignant, but she
said nothing at ALL
A few hours more and he would
have seen the last of her forever. He
stirred some sugar into his tea and
drank 1t.
did the tea taste bitter?" he asked
mo, this seems a better lot" AIDE
line answered Frank. why did you
insult Mr.. Harrison just now?"
Because you're getting too friendly
with him." he answered.
well, dear, if you feel that way
I'll never have anything more to do
with him as long as"
Why was she looking at him like
that? Why didn't the arsenic begin
to work? A dose as large as he had
given her ought to have struck her
down by now. Had anything gone
wrong?
"Why, Frank, dear, why are you
looking at me like that? AS l was
saying, III never have anything more
to do with him as long as"
What was that strange, metallic
taste in his mouth? And why was he
afre?
An awful suspicion ran through
him. He leaped to his feet stood
staring at her, clapped his hand to
his heart
Don't you feel well, dear?" Was
that a smile of triumph on her face?
"What-dld you do with the tea
cups?"
'The teacups, dear. Why, nothing.
IL emptied some tea out of the sau-
GERS and put them back again
(which saucers? Which saucers?''
And now he knew And it was too
late Nothing could save him. He
reeled, grooming, to the sofa, and lay
down
Frank. dear, what is the matter?"
you changed the teacups"
"So-you tried to kill me, Frank,
did you? Well, the tables are turned.
You aren't going to marry that WON
an. you know. And I'm not going to
marry Mr. Harrison either-at least,
not as long as YOU live"
And Leeman, relapSIng fast into
Inconsistencies. saw only the trium-
plant face of the woman whom he
had tried to murder
Thought He Could Hold Him.
It was generally conceded that the