New Britain herald., 1924-01-04

i doing he was hurrying me along side
 street. I saw the position at once. He i had lost his nerve. and in his agitation
 considered that must have done the
 same I was the more ready to humor
 him as I was fairly certain that no one had been hurt in the accident. For ! few moments hurried along with him. but when he turned into another small street I stopped.
 "Do you know where Ne are going"
 I asked.
 He released my arm and looked
 around I could feel rather than see i tha, lls manner was distraught. He
 dtd not answer. The accident had evi-
 dontly been shock 10 him. Shock. l Into my head flashed a phrase in ] Screed's message. The memory came
 not an instant too soon. for with
 strength which. had it taken me quite unawares would have 'oyerpowered me,
 smith had thrown one arm around me,
 jerking back my head. and was fight l ing to prevent h's drawing thin strip
 Of leather around my throat. Every | detail of tho victim in Marchmont street was before me. etched in my brain, and knew that l had to exert
 every ounce of strength in me 10 pre-
 vent this madman giving the fatal
 twist to his weapon. With all my ef- 1 fort I might not have succeeded in i saving myself. Help came from two
 men who rushed through the darkness
 to my assistance and orerpowered the 1 doctor
 Two or three hours later in a cell at l he police station Dr. smith was ask i ng how he came to be there, and what i had happened to his friend. MT. Yates, with whom he was spending the even i ing
 Partly from Dr. smith himself and i partly from men who had known him,
 we got the story as fully as if will ever he known. When travelling with
 small expedition in Northern India he and a companion had become separated from the others and had fallen into th; hands of a tribe who secretly offered human sacrifices. They were taken 10 forest temple sacred to some snake god. and the doctor, bound and help less, saw his companion die. Partially siraneed, he was trussed and laid at tho idols feet. his head propped up 10 {. face a venemous snake let loose to ! had come too late to save this man, and for weeks after the doctor was fn d prostrate condition. IS soon as he was able to travel Dr. smith returned 10 England. He took up his profession lit was his only means of livelihood--- but be was sofs1 aware that hn Nase subject to lapses of memory, short lapses. Then came an occasion when ]
 membered being in Hyde Park just as it was getting dark. and nothing more until he found himself in a small south London street in the early hours of the morning. |; never occurred tu him that he had done any harm in this period Of mental darkness. and he said noth- ing about his lapses. Even his small practice would leave him if he did. He had studied himself. and concludes thai some kind of shock always came before these lapses. An accident in inc street might be the cause, or thunder storm. He had always been afraid uf thunder storms
 Poor fellow, he was cmoved to lunatic asylum. and he is never likely 10 he better. For a long period often he is sane and intellectual man and then for a while he becomes a subtle and dangerous madman. I retract the statement that Screed shows signs Of growing human. His sentiment conGsrnng Dr smith was entirely assumed his one idea being 10 prosecute his investigations and test his theory.
 "it began with that book he handed 10 me. Mir. Yates" he told me in Betty. teashop. It mentioned that sacrifices were sometimes practiced. but il didn't gay word suggesting the kind Of ritual we were talking about. That set me speculatins. How did smith know anything about it? | suggested your friendship with him chiefly that might have the opportunity of calling when he was out. told his house. keeper that l would wait until you re- turned. In drawer found piece or leather thong. and in his diary. for the night on which the murder hap pened. I found he had case. The ad- dress was given and I called there. The woman had expected the doctor that night but he had not come. An- other man had 10 be called in. smith accountcd for his presence in March, mont Square by saving he was return- ing from a case. No doubt he started 10 go there. bu; never vent. one of these lspses came on
 nodded.
 "IIis diary was useful,r Screed con- tinuad. "On one Of the other occasions visit had taken him into the neigh borhood of tbe crime. Naturally puzzled over what circumstances could turn a sane gentleman into a hend. and rccoliseted his statement that he had to avoid shock. [ do not hope to |. a'1Ie 10 prove that he committed all the crimes. but I think We nay con- clude le did."
 ~you are satished?" asked
 Quite
 You did not trouble much about me"
 Not trouble, Why you have never been anywhere with him without be- ing watched"
 "You could not tell when the shock would come. and you did not warn me at first"
 True I did not think about it at first. When your danger did occur 10 mo I sent yOu a message
 T might have become another victim before got ii.'
 There was always the possibility. bf course" he said calmly. "One has to take some risks. You cannot expect victory without risk"