Year: 1874




soon as could trust my voice, said:


'Is there no way by which this house
might be entered except by the first
storyI'


''Oh, yes," returned the son, as com
posedly as ever, there is door in my
apartment opening on an old, unused
portico; but that has been locked and
double-bolted all winter"


This observation was Just what want
ed, for il pointed out to NE II way to
obtain n view of this mans private
room, and that, too, without exciting
the least suspicion.


"Will you let me see the door," ]
asked.


with the greatest pleasure, said he
Il have already examined it myself, and
found it secure as of oid-but perhaps
your more experienced eye may detect
some sign that has escaped HE.


followed him, and without the slight
est hesitation lie led Inc to his bed
chamber


There was the door fastened as he had
said, and made show of looking at it
but that was not what fas mated me
and riyeted my attention at once,


The walls were full of shelves, and the
shelves were crowded with philosophical
Instruments.


left the portico door finally, and as l
was going, carelessly remarked:


''You seem to take an interest in sci
enceF'


"Why, yes, :" said lie, smiling, 81 do,
and flatter myself that few men here
or elsewhere have larger or better col
lection of apparatus than have"


l had touched him on his particular
vanity, and knew now that 1 might
search unmolested, and not only that,
but with his own proper aid, for the in
strument of DEATH


turned back, as l spoke, and picked
up pamphlet from the study table in
the centre of the room.


The book was written in the Italian
language.


Ihave some slight knowledge of the
tongue of modern opera, and read on
the title page that the work was one on
the various modes of destruction of ami
NAL life, and that it was by Casturinil
And Casturini was the name of the
professor spoken of in the newspaper
paragraph


/ felt that was working ON the right
track.


laid down the volume and gradually
turned the conversation to the subject
of pneumatics. in the course of which
asked if my companion had Casturini's
air-puInp. He told me no, but that he
had his air-syringel


asked to lock at it.


For the first time the son turned on
NE a hurried glance of alarm.


But | managed to appear as if sus-
pected nothing-as if nothing more dan
gerous than love of science aetuated Inc
in my investigations.


1t was a strange instrument. In shape
it was like an ordinary syringe, such as
is daily employed in medicine, only
laTger-perhaps twice as large as any OF
that kind had seen. 1t was mounted
on a stand of polished walnut, like an
electric machine, and, indeed, looked
IikeJ+one- that is, a cylinder one 1t
WIS furnished with crank, by which 1t
was worked. and two large funnel
shaped mouth pieces, These latter were
not stationary, but could be moved,
brought nearer together or more widely
separated, as circumstances required.


This, then, was the instrument OF
death, and it performed its dread work
silently and surely and left no external
trace


touched it with feeling akin to hor-
ror, and asked:


HAS this no other use than to deprive
animals of lifef"


None" was the smiling response.


''Can you operate itG'


Better than any l ever metz


was standing facing the man as he
made his boast.


| laid my hand on his shoulder.


He started and seemed not to know
what to make of my conduct.


Your crime is discovered, sirl" said |
earnestly. ''You are parricide, and l
arrest you for the murder of the man
who lies in the other chamber


His face turned fairly purple with
rage and fear, and then grew inky black.
He sat down in the chair without a
word.


His courage and, above all things, his
Incompatible audacity, had altogether
abandoned him at this terrible crisis!


/ spoke 20 him again and several times
but could get no answer.


Then l rang the bell and sent for the
eoroner's physician.


He came. looked at the man still sit
ting on the chair speechless and black in
the face, and shook his head


''This man has lost his reason r. were
the fearful words ''What has caused
itr


told him. and showed him Gas
turini's air syringe.


We took our prisoner into custody
and conveyed him, in close carriage to
the police station


The ride somewhat restored him, but
he was still altogether overwhelmed and
crushed.


We left him in a cell and went oul
various ways.


In the morning was the first to cal
and see him.


The officer in charge told me he had
been up tie greater part of the night,
and was then sleeping.


/ waited half an hour, and then, IL
company with the doctor, who had, by
that time, arrived. went to the cell.


The man was there on the bed, lying
in his shirt and pantaloons, with his face
downward, and Inotionless.


The doctor touched him-he was cold
and stiff. The parricade was dead.
By his side lay paper, crushed anC
rumpled as if in his last agonies he hao
endeavored to tear it up.


/ took it and read, written in lead
pencil, the following:


THE shrewdness of the detective ha: