The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-15
CHAPTER XXI

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"Mark," I said, "for heavens
sake, give this up! By some miracle
you escaped this time, but II you
don't stop, you'll be killed tool"
Eyes, please, Mr.. Hillyerl" Sue
pleaded. ut terrifies mo to think
how nearly you came to being poi
soned."
$50 you can't take Il :" Marx said.
He laughed 4ayly. IF Il doesn't
worry me, you shouldn't care. At
tempted murder II the sincerest
form Of hattery. It's . tribute to
my detective work, Bob. i means
that we're on the right track. We're
getting too close to the murderer
for his comfort!" His blue eyes
cleaned with excitement.
'But hs might try again." Sue
said. She WAS almost crying.
Mark patted her hand. mo, he
won't, sweetheart. Hes . pretty
canny fellow, even though he took .
loag chance this morning. I'm not
as accessible - Vail. It won't hap
pen again"
"How did you find out It WAS ar
senic :" I asked.
'sPure luck" He took the salt
cellar from Sues hand and said to
me, "You've eaten enough meals
with me to know my habits. What
DO I always do with . salt cellar p
"Why." I said, trying to remem-
shake out . little on the back Of your
hand drst"
THAT'S right" Mark said. he
sprinkled . few grains on his hand
and then shook them Of. "You've
seen me do It, too. Sue. Well. that
probably saved my life this morn
ing. MY hand WAS . little moist.
and when shook It, the powder
stuck to it. When I tried te, brush
It on, it didn't feel right. Il wasn't
gritty, as salt should be. I looked
closer, and discovered that It was
very flne, more like powder than
crystals.
taste. So said to myself, AHA.
this isn't salt ct oil. It's probably
arsenic trioxide, . white, tasteless.
poisonous compound In my ap-
prentice days ! wrote . melodrama
In which arsenic WAS used very free
Il 81 the villain, who, unlike ours.
was easily identified By . large
black curling mustache and . dis
position to gloat over beauty IN dis
tress. became quite . toxicologist,
writing that show"
sIIl never jeer ct your odd bits OF
knowledge again" I said solemnly.
s.I'd like to know where the ar
senic came from" Mark said.
There's arsenic IN the drug
ROOM" Sue said slowly. We looked
e each other silently. None Of ~
said anything: The arsenic had been
stolen from the drug-room-e sur.
mise later to b confirmed. And
John Calvert had free access 70 that
room.
eve should b able 70 ind out 4
anyone entered the dining room just
after your breakfast was carried
In" ! said slowly. remembering that
Calvert had been there when ! ar.
"What I'm moro interested "a
learn" be said, @is whether anyone
tas:1.- you're going 70 Ne" f'rl
I shook my head. II haven't told
. soul"
She turned to Mark, very dis.
tressed. II did," she whispered:
"Whom did you tell :" he asked
aharnlv.
.Loren,s she said. HE asked me
TO have dinner with him on Wednes.
day, and I said shouldn't b seen
With him alone 20 much. Then be
suggested that We ask Mr.. Fowler,
and before I remembered, ! told him
you. you'd probably b in New
She turned back to Mark. sim
sure he didn't try 10 kill You. Mr.
Hillyerl He couldn't do . thing like
thatl Oh. I'm 80 sorry told himl"
None Of rs spoke for several min
utes. Then Mark said slowly
sHs may very easily have told .
dozen people"
For tho first time since ! had
known her ! Was very angry with
Sue. I said 70 her sharply:
"You shouldn't have told anyone
You knew ~ didn't want anybody
% know. Why. Mark might have
bssn killed because you talked about
t."
She bowed her head and when
saW tears come into her eyes ! VA
sorry I had approached her.
III I'm not kicking, Why should
youf's Marx said % nae irEitebly,
h turned % Sue. Don't blaunl
yourself, aneel. Anyone might hsvl
done tho same thing
She raised her head and looked
at him With listening eyes.
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