Year: 1874

moment imagine that the man at nv
elbow was patricide, but murder de-
tective, from habit, is always on the
alert, and as 1 had no clue whatever to
follow in this matter, 1 was merely
searching for one everywhere-that
was all.


We continued our walk about the
room.


"This affair passes my comprehen-
sion," said I.


"And mine also," said the son.


L was about taking my leave when q
small piece of red rag on the floor, just
under the edge of the bed, attracted
my attention, and I stopped and picked
it up. .... ...


The son observed my motions, and


"I wonder how that got there I
have, the rest OF that srticle in my
drawer-it belongs to mel" t


"Do you want the piece 2" I asked.


Not at all" he replied but if you
would like to have the remainder, Twill
get it for YOU"


He left me without waiting for any
reply, and quickly returned with the
rest of the handkerchief. He handed
it to me and said as he did so: :-......


81 am at loss to conjecture who
could have torn that handkerchief, for
l thought it was safe in my apartment
when l went out early in the evening""


put the piece he gave me with the
other 1 already had, and took my
leave.


Once at home and in the solitude of
my chamber, I sat down at my table
and, with my face buried in both hands,
fell to thinking and reasoning. I
thought of the scene I had Just left,
and could not doubt that the verdict of
the coroner's jury would be death
from causes unknown" [ thought of
the son and of his torn handkerchief.
and spread out the latter before me
on the table, and fitted it to the por-
tlon had found wet and limp under
the bed of the deceased. Then I took
the wet piece in my fingers and felt and
looked at it. It did not seem to. have
been stepped in water, and to the touch
it was just in the slightest way sticky.
| further remarked that it had very
faint white tinge in spots, as if some
kind of foam had recently been upon
it. just at that instant I caught sight
of paragraph in daily paper lying in
front of me, and mechanically read it.


The paragraph was as follows:


GA ghastly scientific discovery is re-
ported from Turn, where Professor
Casturini, the celebrated oculist, has
found way of killing animals by fore
ing air into their eyes q few seconds,
and almost without causing pain. Ex-
periments were recently made at the
Royal Veterinary School, and it is said
that they have fully proved the truth of
the Professors invention. Within the
! space of a few minutes four rabbits,
three dogs and goat were killed in
this manner. The most remarkable fact
is that the operation leaves absolutely
no outward trace"


I started up instantly after having
read this, and began rapidly to walk
the room. I was flushed and agitated.
Perhaps I had the key to the mystery
[ was searching to solve


Gracious p L thought, "if this
paragraph be true, might not the meth
cd of destruction be applied as fatally
to man as to the inferior animals ?"
l hurriedly returned to the house of
death and rang the bell. .r..


The son answered the summons in
person.


He looked not little surprised at my
sudden return.


"What is the matter ?" he demanded.


Nothing" said II was quite cool
and collected by this time-"I merely
wish to make another examination Of
the chamber of the deceased"


He led me to it at once.
[ again scrutinized the body, this
time paying more attention to the face
and head of the dead man.


There was absolutely nothing to be
seen there that I had not seen before.
L then pressed open the mouth slightly
with my fingers, and, as I did so, felt,
or fancied I felt, the same slight sticki-
ness [ had detected on the limp piece
of handkerchief. I looked into the
mouth, and nearly trembled for Joy to
sec there the clearly defined white tinge
of dried foam


For moment could hardly contain
myself, and my heart beat SO loudly
that was almost afraid my companion
would hear it and grow alarmed.


However, I did control myself, and
as soon as could trust my voice, said !:


is there no way by which this house
might be entered except by the first
story?" i.y'


"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 l
wanted, for it pointed out to me way
to obtain view of this mans private
room, and that, too, without exciting
the least suspicion.


"Will you let me see that door ?" I
asked.


"With the greatest pleasure" said
he; 81 have already examined it my
self, and found it as secure as of old
but perhaps your more experienced eye
may detect some sign there that has
escaped me.


I followed him, and without the
slightest hesitation he led me 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 fasci-
mated me and rivited my attention at
once


The walls were full of shelves, and
the shelves were crowded with philo-
sophical instruments


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