Evening star., 1935-05-05

He worked feverishly as his thoughts
raced on. He knew the dose. All that
had been worked out months before
when the idea had first occurred to
him, and be had gone over this part Of
the proceedings again and again in his
mind 80 that there could be no mis-
take, no slip. Nine drachms Of the
tincture had killed patient with no
digitalin already in his system. He
prepared his burner and the evapora-
tor. 1t took long time. Although he
was SO practiced, his hands were un-
steady and clumsy. and the irritant
fumes got into his eyes.
Suddenly he discovered that it was
nearly four O'Clock. He was panic
stricken. Only two hours and Millie
would come back, and there was lot
to be done. As the burner did its work.
his mind moved rapidly. Digitalin was
so difficult to trace afterwards: that
was the beauty Of it. Digitalin-
A shattering peal on the back door
startled him 50 much that he nearly
upset his paraphernalia. For moment
he stood, breathing wildly. like a
trapped animal. but he pulled himself
together in the end. and. changing
into his coat. went down to answer the
summons. He locked the shop door be.
hind him, smoothed his hair. and
opened the back door. confident that
he looked normal, even ordinary.
But the small boy with the evening
paper did not wait for his Saturdays
pay but rushed away after a single
glance at Mr.. Brownriggs face. He
was a timid twelve-year-old. however.
who often imagined things.
The effect of the incident on Henry
Browning was considerable. He went
back to his work like man in night
mare. and for the rest of the proceed
ings kept his mind resolutely On the
physical task.
At last it was done.
He turned out the burner. secured
the evaporator, measured the toxic
dose carefully. adding to it consider
ably to be on the safe side. After all,
one could hardly overdo it; that was
the charm of this stuff. Then he effec-
lively disposed Of the residue and felt
much better.
He had locked the door and changed
his coat again before he noticed the
awful thing. A layer Of fine dust on the
top of one of the bottles first attracted
his attention. He removed it with
fastidious care. He hated frowsy
shop.
He had replaced his handkerchief
before he saw the showcase ledge and
the first glimmering Of the dreadful
truth percolated his startled mind.
From the ledge. his eyes Travelled to
the counter top. to the dummy car
tons, to the bottles and jars. to the
window shutters, to the very floor.
Great drops appeared on Henry
BrowmigK's forehead There was not
an inch of surface in the whole shop
that was innocent of the thinnest,
faintest coat Of yellowish dust. Digi-
talin! DigitAlin over the whole chop!
Digitalin over the whole world! The
evidence of his guilt everywhere.
danning. unescapable. clear to the
first intelligent observer.
Henry Brownrigg stood very still.
Gradually his brain. cool at the
bidding Of the instinct Of ofself-preserva-
ton. began to work again. Delay.
That was the all important note.
Millie must not take the capsule to-
night as he had planned. Not tonight
nor tomorrow. Mile must not die
until every trace Of that yellow dust
had been driven from the shop.
Swiftly he reMranged his plan. To-
night be must behave - usual and to-
mo1ow. when Mile went to church,
he must clear Of the worst Of the stuff