Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-04-01

the circus with Leonard, and had been
seen to speak to the man.
This looked bad. After all, II 1t
was snake poison, Mrs. Carey was the
only person with a motive TO kill.
withdrew my favorable opinion. I
watched her more narrowly.
l. had actually invested $500 In an
option op the property. This gave me
plenty Of opportunity to visit there. 1
was at the farm one afternoon when
Leonard came out of the house; and
saw the womap's face bIanch
Leonard" she gasped. "Your IA
theirs bootsl"
looked and saw that the boy was
wearing the identical boots which the
two men had worn before their death.
They were much too large for him, but
they came up toward the knee. and
were very serviceable for harvest
work.
why, that's all right, mom," he an
Jswered. They'll come In handy out
In the field. Why, nom. I've had these
ION for nearly two hours, and II there
was poison In them I guess I'd have
felt it before now"
Take them OFF, screamed Mrs.
Carey. And yet, agitated though she
was, there was no sound Of guilty
knowledge in her voice, only Of fear.
Il wish I'd buried the things" she
sobbed wildly. If 1t hadn't been for
your father and bYpther having worn
them, folks wouldn't accuse me of hav-
ing killed them"
Leonard ran to her and put his arms
about her. "why, MON, folks are liars,
that's ALL" he said. He Genched his
fists. Just let NE see the man who
says you are mprdere@E be cried.
And, NOM" he added, Sf,n take them
of right away"
He sat down In the sun and pulled
Of the boots. Then, carrying them In
BID hand, he ran in h1 Aockinsed
feet back into the house
I saw the tension on Mrs. Cyey's
face. Presently Leonard Came back.
wearing pair Of ordinary boots. BE
looked very sober and palef than be-
fore He came rather unsteadiiy DIP to
his mother.
II don't feel well, NOM" be gasped,
and fell at her feet Mrs. Carey
screamed wildly, and I carried the boy
into the house and called the doctor.
The doctor arrived in half an hour
and diagnosed the case as hopeless.
By that time Leonard's legs were
swollen to three times their Size, and
he was black below the waist. But I
refused to accept the verdict.
Mrs. Carey and worked over him
all that day. II was a desperate effort
to keep him awake, and we could not
walk him on his swollen feet. But we
punched and struck him, and pulled
up his dropping eyelids. We struck
him and pushed him from side to side,
trundling him about the room. Some
how we managed to prevent the coma
Of death from developing that night,
and by morning the boy was better.
The doctor who called expecting him
to be dead, was amazed.
The next day was critical one, but
by nlghtfall Leonard was able to 20 to
sleep, and by the next morning the
swelling had gone down a little and he
was on the way to recovery. Then,
only, did l think Of the boots.
The story had spread through the
village, and warrant for Mrs. Carey's
arrest had already been issued. 1t
was who confronted the constable at
the door with my evidence. For had
slashed the boots to pieces and discov-
cred the mystery.
In the left boot was nothing. But in
the right boot, set near the ankle, was
tiny snake fang, with a portion Of
the venom sack attached to It, II had
been thrust out with such violence
that 1t had penetrated the leather and
carried this minute portion Of the poi
son sack with 1t.
1t was set downward at such an
angle that 1t would not abrade the
skin when the boot was put on, but
must inevitably do so when II was
pulled of.
The explanation was an obvious one,
and 1t cleared Mrs Carey, who now re-
sides, with Frank and Leonard. on the
old place, esteemed by everyone. The
deadly poison was Identified With that
Of the Indian hooded cobra, The snake
had escaped from the charmer and
had struck at the farmers leg, with
out his knowledge. The fang, remain
ing in the tough leather, had done no
injury until John Carey pulled of his
boots. Then 1t had killed him.