Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-09-30
CHAPTER SEVEN

THE WHISKEY was first pol
soned and then stolen! I looked
from one to the other. DR.. Paul's
story was unbelievable. I opened
my mouth to speak. but Pauline
fOrestalled me.
Poisoned! Mother! And it was
meant for you. Oh, Paul." her arms
were around him. She was Sob
bing on his shoulder. Lets go
home, let's go home"
I'VE will, dear, as soon as we
can," he told her, holding her ten
derly close while he gently stroked
her tear bowed head.
But 1 don't want to move moth
er for a day or two. Also, and this
is important, 1 do not want her to
know what happened. That is why
I ask you to keep what tell you
a secret"
1--WE WILL" said firmly, "but tell
us, DR.. Paul, why should you think
anyone tried to poison you?"
For this reason. Every night
Chloe brings me bowl of ice, selt-
zer water and couple Of sand
wiches. She puts the tray on that
table where have always kept my
whiskey bottle" He pointed across
the room to a table with the tray
still on it.
Everyone knows that I, and I
only, take a nightcap. Plainly the
poison was intended for me-"
"But why-why I demanded.
DR.. Paul frowned. IT don't
know" he admitted. Meal and
have canvassed every possibility
and we can't even make guess.
Whoever tried to kill ne undoubt-
edly has a reason which he or she
thinks a good one, but I am COM
pletely in the dark"
II have an idea," exclaimed
Josie.
"And l." Neal added.
"Don't you suppose this poison
business was what the providers
were about last night? It's queer,
to say the least, two such things
happening at once" With chal-
longing eyes Josie looked at us.
''It might be-" DR.. Paul agreed.
"But that doesn't get us any near
er to knowing WHO poisoned the
swhiskey. What's your idea, Neal 2"
Suppose you were not the one
for whom the whiskey was intend
ed" began Neal, slowly "This cot
tage corresponds to the one on the
other side occupied by Barry and
Orton. Paul and don't like Barry"
Neal explained, glancing at us.
Hes too smooth, he doesn't ring
true, someway."
I knew what Neal meant. I felt
the same way about Barry, though
I had heard him say only a few
words.
"One night, about week ago, 1
heard him arguing with someone
in his cottage. The curtains were
all down tight, so didn't get a
look at whoever was with him. It
wasn't Orton. He was away all that
evening. The argument was a hot
one, and with another man; I know
that. It was too deep and rough a
voice for a woman. Of course, I
Olu1A A1oCCll-WIS1l i IldC now
Meals voice was disgruntled.
whats that got to do with my
wi1iskey being poisoned?" DR..
Paul was honestly perplexed.
"Just this. Suppose someone had
real grudge against Barry. A
grudge so bad they'd try to kill
him. They come sneaking in here
at night to find him. They mistake
the two cottages. and are fright
ened away by Mrs Rutherford put
ting on her light. The next night
they come earlier, sneak into the
house ana poison the whiskev.
Barry has bottle standing on his
table just as you kept yours.
Mlghtn't that be the solution ?"
It's an idea, all right. But it
seems to me that, if I went out to
poison man. I'd be sure I knew
where he lived. Not take a chance
on a wholesale carnage" grumbled
Paul. lone thing do know. I'll
have no more food left here. I'll
keep my whiskey locked up and go
to the house for a sandwich when
want one"
Mentally 1 decided to hide my