The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-02
The Creeping: Mon
. by Frances Shelley Wees =

sQH kNs4
;helIey Wees --
"Can you suggest any reason for
her death by poisoning?"
mo, l cannot. It seems impos-
sible."
"Most deaths of this kind do, DR..
McBain. Your attitude is that you
are unable to understand her sui
eide, and unwilling to believe it
anything more sinister?"
Il cannot conceive of such a
possibility for single moment"
"You know something of poi
sons, perhaps, DR.. McBain. Can
you tell us how the poison which
killed Miss Lissey might have
been obtained?"
"If it is the one which was
named here this afternoon, | may
say that it is common one. and
can be obtained at any drug store"
Without a certificate?"
| 0AAA nv SUA VI IlIdI' dIIl IlOJ
in the habit of buying poisons in
that way, DR.. Mayhem"
mo. Nowhere is point on
which we need enlightenment, DR..
McBaln. There are stocks of this
poison on hand at the University,
are there not?"
Eyes"
Where, are they kept?"
"In a laboratory"
"a laboratory open to the pub
lic?"
mo. Certainly not"
Then, what laboratory? And
who would have access to it?"
McBain hesitated. THE poison
cabinet is kept-in Edgar Murchi-
sons laboratory" he said slowly.
"You are speaking of Professor
Murchison now? Who is away at
present."
Eyes"
'You say the poison cabinet. Is
it, then, kept locked?"
yes"
An Enemy, Too
DR. McBAIN." the coroner's
Deyes were round again. "Who
possesses the keys to that cabi-
metz"
Il do" he said fatty.
mo one elSe?"
mo one, except Professor MUIR
Gibson himself"
Eyes. Professor Murchison is
away, l understand. Did he take
his keys with him?"
There was more than one person
in the row against the wall who
held his breath at that question.
But now it was on Duncan Murchi-
son that the attention seemed CEN
tered. 1t was his face that drew all
eyes, his deep slow breathing and
nervous hands that compelled
their interest. Conscious of that in
tereSt, he drew himself up in his
chair, and locked his hands to-
gether.
Did he take his keys with him,
DR.. McBain?"
Il cannot answer that question,
DR.. Mayhem" McBain swallowed
hard.
do you know, or do you refuse
to say?"
McBain looked at Michael
fieetingly, but Michael's head was
bent.
Il do not know" he said.
Higgins was called next. He had
dressed himself for the occasion
in a suit of brilliant blue, which
set off the inadequacies of his
figure rather pitifully; but he was
chiefly concerned, not with his I'M
accustomed garments, but with a
lock of hair which persisted in
falling into his eyes every few Sec
onds. He brushed it back as he
faced the coroner.
MIR. Higgins, you are the CAM
pus gardener, l understand, hav-
ing charge of all the gardens on the
HorseShoe?"
eyes, sir"
"You took care of Miss Lissey's
garden?"
Eyes, sir. All them gardens.
$50 that you were frequently
employed where you could OBJ
serve unobStruSively what might
be going on out there?"
beg pardon. sir?" Higgins
shifted uncomfortably from one
foot to the other.
You often worked where you
could see what was going on with
out anyone noticing your"
yes, sir, Not as 'ow ever
watched EN-, sir"
No, Mr.. Higgins. Of course rot.
We can understand that you
couldn't avoid seeing whatever
there was to see. under the cir
cumstanCes.
No, sir" Higgins Strengthened
his shoulders, and darted a swift
glance at Michael.
Then, now that we understand
each other, let us come to the
point Mr.. Higgins. did you ever
see anything that would lead you
to believe that Miss LiSsey had any
enemies?"
Far as that goes" Higgins said
loftily, Il shouldn't ave been at
all surprised if everybody was 'er
henemieS. She was that snoopin'
and sneakin' all the time. Always
standin' behind a edge to ear
somethink wasn't none of 'er busi-
ness, sir. She was an awful Curl
osity box. sir"
you have seen her at such
times, Mr.. HigginS?"
Eyes, sire I'd be weedin' of the
garden, maybe. when I'd see or
slippin' ere and there listenin'.
She knew as 'ow I'd seen her, too,
sir. and she didn't like me q bit