,,the ,,silent ,,bullet ,by ,arthur ,b4 ,reeve ,,contents ,,craig ,,kennedy',s ,,theories ,i ,the ,silent ,bullet ,,ii ,the ,scientific ,cracksman ,,iii ,the ,bacteriological ,detective ,,iv ,the ,deadly ,tube ,v ,the ,seismograph ,adventure ,,vi ,the ,diamond ,maker ,,vii ,the ,azure ,ring ,,viii 8,spontaneous ,combustion0 ,,ix ,the ,terror ,in ,the ,air ,x ,the ,black ,hand ,,xi ,the ,artificial ,paradise ,,xii ,the ,steel ,door ,,craig ,,kennedy',s ,,theories 8,it has always seemed strange to me that no one has ever endowed a professorship in criminal science in any of our large universities40 ,craig ,kennedy laid down his evening paper and filled his pipe with my tobacco4 ,in college we had roomed together1 had shared everything1 even poverty1 and now that ,craig was a professor of chemistry and ,i was on the staff of the ,star1 we had continued the arrangement4 ,prosperity found us in a rather neat bachelor apartment on the ,heights1 not far from the ,university4 8,why should there be a chair in criminal science80 ,i remarked argumentatively1 settling back in my chair4 8,i've done my turn at police headquarters reporting1 and ,i can tell you1 ,craig1 it's no place for a college professor4 ,crime is just crime4 ,and as for dealing with it1 the good detective is born and bred to it4 ,college professors for the sociology of the thing1 yes2 for the detection of it1 give me a ,byrnes40 8,on the contrary10 replied ,kennedy1 his clean-cut features betraying an earnestness which ,i knew indicated that he was leading up to something important1 8there is a distinct place for science in the detection of crime4 ,on the ,continent they are far in advance of us in that respect4 ,we are mere children beside a dozen crime-specialists in ,paris1 whom ,i could name40 8,yes1 but where does the college professor come in80 ,i asked1 rather doubtfully4 8,you must remember1 ,walter10 he pursued1 warming up to his subject1 8that it's only within the last ten years or so that we have had the really practical college professor who could do it4 ,the silk-stockinged variety is out of date now4 ,to-day it is the college professor who is the third arbitrator in labour disputes1 who reforms our currency1 who heads our tariff commissions1 and conserves our farms and forests4 ,we have professors of everything--why not professors of crime80 ,still1 as ,i shook my head dubiously1 he hurried on to clinch his point4 8,colleges have gone a long way from the old ideal of pure culture4 ,they have got down to solving the hard facts of life--pretty nearly all1 except one4 ,they still treat crime in the old way1 study its statistics and pore over its causes and the theories of how it can be prevented4 ,but as for running the criminal himself down1 scientifically1 relentlessly--bah6 we haven't made an inch of progress since the hammer and tongs method of your ,byrnes40 8,doubtless you will write a thesis on this most interesting subject10 ,i suggested1 8and let it go at that40 8,no1 ,i am serious10 he replied1 determined for some reason or other to make a convert of me4 8,i mean exactly what ,i say4 ,i am going to apply science to the detection of crime1 the same sort of methods by which you trace out the presence of a chemical1 or run an unknown germ to earth4 ,and before ,i have gone far1 ,i am going to enlist ,walter ,jameson as an aide4 ,i think ,i shall need you in my business40 8,how do ,i come in80 8,well1 for one thing1 you will get a scoop1 a beat1--whatever you call it in that newspaper jargon of yours40 ,i smiled in a skeptical way1 such as newspapermen are wont to affect toward a thing until it is done--after which we make a wild scramble to exploit it4 ,nothing more on the subject passed between us for several days4 ,i4 ,the ,silent ,bullet 8,detectives in fiction nearly always make a great mistake10 said ,kennedy one evening after our first conversation on crime and science4 8,they almost invariably antagonize the regular detective force4 ,now in real life that's impossible--it's fatal40 8,yes10 ,i agreed1 looking up from reading an account of the failure of a large ,wall ,street brokerage house1 ,kerr ,parker ,co41 and the peculiar suicide of ,kerr ,parker4 8,yes1 it's impossible1 just as it is impossible for the regular detectives to antagonize the newspapers4 ,scotland ,yard found that out in the ,crippen case40 8,my idea of the thing1 ,jameson10 continued ,kennedy1 8is that the professor of criminal science ought to work with1 not against1 the regular detectives4 ,they're all right4 ,they're indispensable1 of course4 ,half the secret of success nowadays is organisation4 ,the professor of criminal science should be merely what the professor in a technical school often is--a sort of consulting engineer4 ,for instance1 ,i believe that organisation plus science would go far toward clearing up that ,wall ,street case ,i see you are reading40 ,i expressed some doubt as to whether the regular police were enlightened enough to take that view of it4 8,some of them are10 he replied4 8,yesterday the chief of police in a ,western city sent a man ,east to see me about the ,price murder3 you know the case80 ,indeed ,i did4 ,a wealthy banker of the town had been murdered on the road to the golf club1 no one knew why or by whom4 ,every clue had proved fruitless1 and the list of suspects was itself so long and so impossible as to seem most discouraging4 8,he sent me a piece of a torn handkerchief with a deep blood-stain on it10 pursued ,kennedy4 8,he said it clearly didn't belong to the murdered man1 that it indicated that the murderer had himself been wounded in the tussle1 but as yet it had proved utterly valueless as a clue4 ,would ,i see what ,i could make of it8 8,after his man had told me the story ,i had a feeling that the murder was committed by either a ,sicilian labourer on the links or a negro waiter at the club4 ,well1 to make a short story shorter1 ,i decided to test the blood-stain4 ,probably you didn't know it1 but the ,carnegie ,institution has just published a minute1 careful1 and dry study of the blood of human beings and of animals4 8,in fact1 they have been able to reclassify the whole animal kingdom on this basis1 and have made some most surprising additions to our knowledge of evolution4 ,now ,i don't propose to bore you with the details of the tests1 but one of the things they showed was that the blood of a certain branch of the human race gives a reaction much like the blood of a certain group of monkeys1 the chimpanzees1 while the blood of another branch gives a reaction like that of the gorilla4 ,of course there's lots more to it1 but this is all that need concern us now4 8,i tried the tests4 ,the blood on the handkerchief conformed strictly to the latter test4 ,now the gorilla was1 of course1 out of the question--this was no ,rue ,morgue murder4 ,therefore it was the negro waiter40 8,but10 ,i interrupted1 8the negro offered a perfect alibi at the start1 and--0 8,no buts1 ,walter4 ,here's a telegram ,i received at dinner3 ',congratulations4 ,confronted ,jackson your evidence as wired4 ,confessed4'0 8,well1 ,craig1 ,i take off my hat to you10 ,i exclaimed4 8,next you'll be solving this ,kerr ,parker case for sure40 8,i would take a hand in it if they'd let me10 said he simply4 ,that night1 without saying anything1 ,i sauntered down to the imposing new police building amid the squalor of ,center ,street4 ,they were very busy at headquarters1 but1 having once had that assignment for the ,star1 ,i had no trouble in getting in4 ,inspector ,barney ,o',connor of the ,central ,office carefully shifted a cigar from corner to corner of his mouth as ,i poured forth my suggestion to him4 8,well1 ,jameson10 he said at length1 8do you think this professor fellow is the goods80 ,i didn't mince matters in my opinion of ,kennedy4 ,i told him of the ,price case and showed him a copy of the telegram4 ,that settled it4 8,can you bring him down here to-night80 he asked quickly4 ,i reached for the telephone1 found ,craig in his laboratory finally1 and in less than an hour he was in the office4 8,this is a most bating case1 ,professor ,kennedy1 this case of ,kerr ,parker10 said the inspector1 launching at once into his subject4 8,here is a broker heavily interested in ,mexican rubber4 ,it looks like a good thing--plantations right in the same territory as those of the ,rubber ,trust4 ,now in addition to that he is branching out into coastwise steamship lines2 another man associated with him is heavily engaged in a railway scheme from the ,united ,states down into ,mexico4 ,altogether the steamships and railroads are tapping rubber1 oil1 copper1 and ,i don't know what other regions4 ,here in ,new ,york they have been pyramiding stocks1 borrowing money from two trust companies which they control4 ,it's a lovely scheme--you've read about it1 ,i suppose4 ,also you've read that it comes into competition with a certain group of capitalists whom we will call 'the ,system4' 8,well1 this depression in the market comes along4 ,at once rumours are spread about the weakness of the trust companies2 runs start on both of them4 ,the ,system1--you know them--make a great show of supporting the market4 ,yet the runs continue4 ,god knows whether they will spread or the trust companies stand up under it to-morrow after what happened to-day4 ,it was a good thing the market was closed when it happened4 8,kerr ,parker was surrounded by a group of people who were in his schemes with him4 ,they are holding a council of war in the directors' room4 ,suddenly ,parker rises1 staggers toward the window1 falls1 and is dead before a doctor can get to him4 ,every effort is made to keep the thing quiet4 ,it is given out that he committed suicide4 ,the papers don't seem to accept the suicide theory1 however4 ,neither do we4 ,the coroner1 who is working with us1 has kept his mouth shut so far1 and will say nothing till the inquest4 ,for1 ,professor ,kennedy1 my first man on the spot found that--,kerr ,parker--was--murdered4 8,now here comes the amazing part of the story4 ,the doors to the offices on both sides were open at the time4 ,there were lots of people in each office4 ,there was the usual click of typewriters1 and the buzz of the ticker1 and the hum of conversation4 ,we have any number of witnesses of the whole affair1 but as far as any of them knows no shot was fired1 no smoke was seen1 no noise was heard1 nor was any weapon found4 ,yet here on my desk is a thirty-two-calibre bullet4 ,the coroner's physician probed it out of ,parker's neck this afternoon and turned it over to us40 ,kennedy reached for the bullet1 and turned it thoughtfully in his fingers for a moment4 ,one side of it had apparently struck a bone in the neck of the murdered man1 and was flattened4 ,the other side was still perfectly smooth4 ,with his inevitable magnifying-glass he scrutinised the bullet on every side4 ,i watched his face anxiously1 and ,i could see that he was very intent and very excited4 8,extraordinary1 most extraordinary10 he said to himself as he turned it over and over4 8,where did you say this bullet struck80 8,in the fleshy part of the neck1 quite a little back of and below his ear and just above his collar4 ,there wasn't much bleeding4 ,i think it must have struck the base of his brain40 8,it didn't strike his collar or hair80 8,no10 replied the inspector4 8,inspector1 ,i think we shall be able to put our hands on the murderer--,i think we can get a conviction1 sir1 on the evidence that ,i shall get from this bullet in my laboratory40 8,that's pretty much like a story-book10 drawled the inspector incredulously1 shaking his head4 8,perhaps10 smiled ,kennedy4 8,but there will still be plenty of work for the police to do1 too4 ,i've only got a clue to the murderer4 ,it will take the whole organisation to follow it up1 believe me4 ,now1 ,inspector1 can you spare the time to go down to ,parker's office and take me over the ground8 ,no doubt we can develop something else there40 8,sure10 answered ,o',connor1 and within five minutes we were hurrying down town in one of the department automobiles4 ,we found the office under guard of one of the ,central ,office men1 while in the outside office ,parker's confidential clerk and a few assistants were still at work in a subdued and awed manner4 ,men were working in many other ,wall ,street offices that night during the panic1 but in none was there more reason for it than here4 ,later ,i learned that it was the quiet tenacity of this confidential clerk that saved even as much of ,parker's estate as was saved for his widow--little enough it was1 too4 ,what he saved for the clients of the firm no one will ever know4 ,somehow or other ,i liked ,john ,downey1 the clerk1 from the moment ,i was introduced to him4 ,he seemed to me1 at least1 to be the typical confidential clerk who would carry a secret worth millions and keep it4 ,the officer in charge touched his hat to the inspector1 and ,downey hastened to put himself at our service4 ,it was plain that the murder had completely mystified him1 and that he was as anxious as we were to get at the bottom of it4 8,mr4 ,downey10 began ,kennedy1 8,i understand you were present when this sad event took place40 8,yes1 sir1 sitting right here at the directors' table10 he replied1 taking a chair1 8like this40 8,now can you recollect just how ,mr4 ,parker acted when he was shot8 ,could you-er--could you take his place and show us just how it happened80 8,yes1 sir10 said ,downey4 8,he was sitting here at the head of the table4 ,mr4 ,bruce1 who is the ',,co4' of the firm1 had been sitting here at his right2 ,i was at the left4 ,the inspector has a list of all the others present4 ,that door to the right was open1 and ,mrs4 ,parker and some other ladies were in the room--0 8,mrs4 ,parker80 broke in ,kennedy4 8,yes3 ,like a good many brokerage firms we have a ladies' room4 ,many ladies are among our clients4 ,we make a point of catering to them4 ,at that time ,i recollect the door was open--all the doors were open4 ,it was not a secret meeting4 ,mr4 ,bruce had just gone into the ladies' department2 ,i think to ask some of them to stand by the firm--he was an artist at smoothing over the fears of customers1 particularly women4 ,just before he went in ,i had seen the ladies go in a group toward the far end of the room--to look down at the line of depositors on the street1 which reached around the corner from one of the trust companies1 ,i thought4 ,i was making a note of an order to send into the outside office there on the left1 and had just pushed this button here under the table to call a boy to carry it4 ,mr4 ,parker had just received a letter by special delivery1 and seemed considerably puzzled over it4 ,no1 ,i don't know what it was about4 ,of a sudden ,i saw him start in his chair1 rise up unsteadily1 clap his hand on the back of his head1 stagger across the floor--like this--and fall here40 8,then what happened80 8,why1 ,i rushed to pick him up4 ,everything was confusion4 ,i recall someone behind me saying1 ',here1 boy1 take all these papers off the table and carry them into my office before they get lost in the excitement4' ,i think it was ,bruce's voice4 ,the next moment ,i heard someone say1 ',stand back1 ,mrs4 ,parker has fainted4' ,but ,i didn't pay much attention1 for ,i was calling to someone not to get a doctor over the telephone1 but to go down to the fifth floor where one has an office4 ,i made ,mr4 ,parker as comfortable as ,i could4 ,there wasn't much ,i could do4 ,he seemed to want to say something to me1 but he couldn't talk4 ,he was paralysed1 at least his throat was4 ,but ,i did manage to make out finally what sounded to me like1 ',tell her ,i don't believe the scandal1 ,i don't believe it4' ,but before he could say whom to tell he had again become unconscious1 and by the time the doctor arrived he was dead4 ,i guess you know everything else as well as ,i do40 8,you didn't hear the shot fired from any particular direction80 asked ,kennedy4 8,no1 sir40 8,well1 where do you think it came from80 8,that's what puzzles me1 sir4 ,the only thing ,i can figure out is that it was fired from the outside office--perhaps by some customer who had lost money and sought revenge4 ,but no one out there heard it either1 any more than they did in the directors' room or the ladies' department40 8,about that message10 asked ,kennedy1 ignoring what to me seemed to be the most important feature of the case1 the mystery of the silent bullet4 8,didn't you see it after all was over80 8,no1 sir2 in fact ,i had forgotten about it till this moment when you asked me to reconstruct the circumstances exactly4 ,no1 sir1 ,i don't know a thing about it4 ,i can't say it impressed itself on my mind at the time1 either40 8,what did ,mrs4 ,parker do when she came to80 8,oh1 she cried as ,i have never seen a woman cry before4 ,he was dead by that time1 of course40 8,bruce and ,i saw her down in the elevator to her car4 ,in fact1 the doctor1 who had arrived2 said that the sooner she was taken home the better she would be4 ,she was quite hysterical40 8,did she say anything that you remember80 ,downey hesitated4 8,out with it ,downey10 said the inspector4 8,what did she say as she was going down in the elevator80 8,nothing40 8,tell us4 ,i'll arrest you if you don't40 8,nothing about the murder1 on my honour10 protested ,downey4 ,kennedy leaned over suddenly and shot a remark at him1 8,then it was about the note40 ,downey was surprised1 but not quickly enough4 ,still he seemed to be considering something1 and in a moment he said3 8,i don't know what it was about1 but ,i feel it is my duty1 after all1 to tell you4 ,i heard her say1 ',i wonder if he knew4'0 8,nothing else80 8,nothing else40 8,what happened after you came back80 8,we entered the ladies' department4 ,no one was there4 ,a woman's automobile-coat was thrown over a chair in a heap4 ,mr4 ,bruce picked it up4 ',it's ,mrs4 ,parker's1' he said4 ,he wrapped it up hastily1 and rang for a messenger40 8,where did he send it80 8,to ,mrs4 ,parker1 ,i suppose4 ,i didn't hear the address40 ,we next went over the whole suite of offices1 conducted by ,mr4 ,downey4 ,i noted how carefully ,kennedy looked into the directors' room through the open door from the ladies' department4 ,he stood at such an angle that had he been the assassin he could scarcely have been seen except by those sitting immediately next ,mr4 ,parker at the directors' table4 ,the street windows were directly in front of him1 and back of him was the chair on which the motorcoat had been found4 ,in ,parker's own office we spent some time1 as well as in ,bruce's4 ,kennedy made a search for the note1 but finding nothing in either office1 turned out the contents of ,bruce's scrap-basket4 ,there didn't seem to be anything in it to interest him1 however1 even after he had pieced several torn bits of scraps together with much difficulty1 and he was about to turn the papers back again1 when he noticed something sticking to the side of the basket4 ,it looked like a mass of wet paper1 and that was precisely what it was4 8,that's queer10 said ,kennedy1 picking it loose4 ,then he wrapped it up carefully and put it in his pocket4 8,inspector1 can you lend me one of your men for a couple of days80 he asked1 as we were preparing to leave4 8,i shall want to send him out of town to-night1 and shall probably need his services when he gets back40 8,very well4 ,riley will be just the fellow4 ,we'll go back to headquarters1 and ,i'll put him under your orders40 ,it was not until late in the following day that ,i saw ,kennedy again4 ,it had been a busy day at the ,star4 ,we had gone to work that morning expecting to see the very financial heavens fall4 ,but just about five minutes to ten1 before the ,stock ,exchange opened1 the news came in over the wire from our financial man on ,broad ,street3 8',the ,system' has forced ,james ,bruce1 partner of ,kerr ,parker1 the dead banker2 to sell his railroad1 steamship1 and rubber holdings to it4 ,on this condition it promises unlimited support to the market40 8,forced60 muttered the managing editor1 as he waited on the office phone to get the composing-room1 so as to hurry up the few lines in red ink on the first page and beat our rivals on the streets with the first extras4 8,why1 he's been working to bring that about for the past two weeks4 ,what that ,system doesn't control isn't worth having--it edits the news before our men get it1 and as for grist for the divorce courts1 and tragedies1 well--,hello1 ,jenkins1 yes1 a special extra4 ,change the big heads--copy is on the way up--rush it40 8,so you think this ,parker case is a mess80 ,i asked4 8,i know it4 ,that's a pretty swift bunch of females that have been speculating at ,kerr ,parker ,co4's4 ,i understand there's one ,titian-haired young lady--who1 by the way1 has at least one husband who hasn't yet been divorced--who is a sort of ringleader1 though she rarely goes personally to her brokers' offices4 ,she's one of those uptown plungers1 and the story is that she has a whole string of scalps of alleged ,sunday-school superintendents at her belt4 ,she can make ,bruce do pretty nearly anything1 they say4 ,he's the latest conquest4 ,i got the story on pretty good authority1 but until ,i verified the names1 dates1 and places1 of course ,i wouldn't dare print a line of it4 ,the story goes that her husband is a hanger-on of the ,system1 and that she's been working in their interest1 too4 ,that was why he was so complacent over the whole affair4 ,they put her up to capturing ,bruce1 and after she had acquired an influence over him they worked it so that she made him make love to ,mrs4 ,parker4 ,it's a long story1 but that isn't all of it4 ,the point was1 you see1 that by this devious route they hoped to worm out of ,mrs4 ,parker some inside information about ,parker's rubber schemes1 which he hadn't divulged even to his partners in business4 ,it was a deep and carefully planned plot1 and some of the conspirators were pretty deeply in the mire1 ,i guess4 ,i wish ,i'd had all the facts about who this red-haired female ,machiavelli was--what a piece of muckraking it would have made6 ,oh1 here comes the rest of the news story over the wire4 ,by ,jove1 it is said on good authority that ,bruce will be taken in as one of the board of directors4 ,what do you think of that80 ,so that was how the wind lay--,bruce making love to ,mrs4 ,parker and she presumably betraying her husband's secrets4 ,i thought ,i saw it all3 the note from somebody exposing the scheme1 ,parker's incredulity1 ,bruce sitting by him and catching sight of the note1 his hurrying out into the ladies' department1 and then the shot4 ,but who fired it8 ,after all1 ,i had only picked up another clue4 ,kennedy was not at the apartment at dinner1 and an inquiry at the laboratory was fruitless also4 ,so ,i sat down to fidget for a while4 ,pretty soon the buzzer on the door sounded1 and ,i opened it to find a messenger-boy with a large brown paper parcel4 8,is ,mr4 ,bruce here80 he asked4 8,why1 no1 he doesn't--0 then ,i checked myself and added 8,he will be here presently4 ,you can leave the bundle40 8,well1 this is the parcel he telephoned for4 ,his valet told me to tell him that they had a hard time to find it1 but he guesses it's all right4 ,the charges are forty cents4 ,sign here40 ,i signed the book1 feeling like a thief1 and the boy departed4 ,what it all meant ,i could not guess4 ,just then ,i heard a key in the lock1 and ,kennedy came in4 8,is your name ,bruce80 ,i asked4 8,why80 he replied eagerly4 8,has anything come80 ,i pointed to the package4 ,kennedy made a dive for it and unwrapped it4 ,it was a woman's pongee automobile-coat4 ,he held it up to the light4 ,the pocket on the right-hand side was scorched and burned1 and a hole was torn clean through it4 ,i gasped when the full significance of it dawned on me4 8,how did you get it80 ,i exclaimed at last in surprise4 8,that's where organisation comes in10 said ,kennedy4 8,the police at my request went over every messenger call from ,parker's office that afternoon1 and traced every one of them up4 ,at last they found one that led to ,bruce's apartment4 ,none of them led to ,mrs4 ,parker's home4 ,the rest were all business calls and satisfactorily accounted for4 ,i reasoned that this was the one that involved the disappearance of the automobile-coat4 ,it was a chance worth taking1 so ,i got ,downey to call up ,bruce's valet4 ,the valet of course recognised ,downey's voice and suspected nothing4 ,downey assumed to know all about the coat in the package received yesterday4 ,he asked to have it sent up here4 ,i see the scheme worked40 8,but1 ,kennedy1 do you think she--0 ,i stopped1 speechless1 looking at the scorched coat4 8,nothing to say--yet10 he replied laconically4 8,but if you could tell me anything about that note ,parker received ,i'd thank you40 ,i related what our managing editor had said that morning4 ,kennedy only raised his eyebrows a fraction of an inch4 8,i had guessed something of that sort10 he said merely4 8,i'm glad to find it confirmed even by hearsay evidence4 ,this red-haired young lady interests me4 ,not a very definite description1 but better than nothing at all4 ,i wonder who she is4 ,ah1 well1 what do you say to a stroll down the ,white ,way before ,i go to my laboratory8 ,i'd like a breath of air to relax my mind40 ,we had got no further than the first theatre when ,kennedy slapped me on the back4 8,by ,george1 ,jameson1 she's an actress1 of course40 8,who is8 ,what's the matter with you1 ,kennedy8 ,are you crazy80 8,the red-haired person--she must be an actress4 ,don't you remember the auburn-haired leading lady in the ',follies'--the girl who sings that song about ',mary1 ,mary1 quite contrary'8 ,her stage name1 you know1 is ,phoebe ,la ,neige4 ,well1 if it's she who is concerned in this case ,i don't think she'll be playing to-night4 ,let's inquire at the box-office40 ,she wasn't playing1 but just what it had to do with anything in particular ,i couldn't see1 and ,i said as much4 8,why1 ,walter1 you'd never do as a detective4 ,you lack intuition4 ,sometimes ,i think ,i haven't quite enough of it1 either4 ,why didn't ,i think of that sooner8 ,don't you know she is the wife of ,adolphus ,hesse1 the most inveterate gambler in stocks in the ,system8 ,why1 ,i had only to put two and two together and the whole thing flashed on me in an instant4 ,isn't it a good hypothesis that she is the red-haired woman in the case1 the tool of the ,system in which her husband is so heavily involved8 ,i'll have to add her to my list of suspects40 8,why1 you don't think she did the shooting80 ,i asked1 half hoping1 ,i must admit1 for an assenting nod from him4 8,well10 he answered dryly1 8one shouldn't let any preconceived hypothesis stand between him and the truth4 ,i've made a guess at the whole thing already4 ,it may or it may not be right4 ,anyhow she will fit into it4 ,and if it's not right1 ,i've got to be prepared to make a new guess1 that's all40 ,when we reached the laboratory on our return1 the inspector's man ,riley was there1 waiting impatiently for ,kennedy4 8,what luck80 asked ,kennedy4 8,i've got a list of purchasers of that kind of revolver10 he said4 8,we have been to every sporting-goods and arms-store in the city which bought them from the factory1 and ,i could lay my hands on pretty nearly every one of those weapons in twenty-four hours--provided1 of course1 they haven't been secreted or destroyed40 8,pretty nearly all isn't good enough10 said ,kennedy4 8,it will have to be all1 unless--0 8,that name is in the list10 whispered ,riley hoarsely4 8,oh1 then it's all right10 answered ,kennedy1 brightening up4 8,riley1 ,i will say that you're a wonder at using the organisation in ferreting out such things4 ,there's just one more thing ,i want you to do4 ,i want a sample of the notepaper in the private desks of every one of these people40 ,he handed the policeman a list of his #i 8suspects10 as he called them4 ,it included nearly every one mentioned in the case4 ,riley studied it dubiously and scratched his chin thoughtfully4 8,that's a hard one1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 sir4 ,you see1 it means getting into so many different houses and apartments4 ,now you don't want to do it by means of a warrant1 do you1 sir8 ,of course not4 ,well1 then1 how can we get in80 8,you're a pretty good-looking chap yourself1 ,riley10 said ,kennedy4 8,i should think you could jolly a housemaid1 if necessary4 ,anyhow1 you can get the fellow on the beat to do it--if he isn't already to be found in the kitchen4 ,why1 ,i see a dozen ways of getting the notepaper40 8,oh1 it's me that's the lady-killer1 sir10 grinned ,riley4 8,i'm a regular ,blarney stone when ,i'm out on a job of that sort4 ,sure1 ,i'll have some of them for you in the morning40 8,bring me what you get1 the first thing in the morning1 even if you've landed only a few samples10 said ,kennedy1 as ,riley departed1 straightening his tie and brushing his hat on his sleeve4 8,and now1 ,walter1 you too must excuse me to-night10 said ,craig4 8,i've got a lot to do1 and sha'n't be up to our apartment till very late--or early4 ,but ,i feel sure ,i've got a strangle-hold on this mystery4 ,if ,i get those papers from ,riley in good time to-morrow ,i shall invite you and several others to a grand demonstration here to-morrow night4 ,don't forget4 ,keep the whole evening free4 ,it will be a big story40 ,kennedy's laboratory was brightly lighted when ,i arrived early the next evening4 ,one by one his 8guests0 dropped in4 ,it was evident that they had little liking for the visit1 but the coroner had sent out the 8invitations10 and they had nothing to do but accept4 ,each one was politely welcomed by the professor and assigned a seat1 much as he would have done with a group of students4 ,the inspector and the coroner sat back a little4 ,mrs4 ,parker1 ,mr4 ,downey1 ,mr4 ,bruce1 myself1 and ,miss ,la ,neige sat in that order in the very narrow and uncomfortable little armchairs used by the students during lectures4 ,at last ,kennedy was ready to begin4 ,he took his position behind the long1 flat-topped table which he used for his demonstrations before his classes4 8,i realise1 ladies and gentlemen10 he began formally1 8that ,i am about to do a very unusual thing2 but1 as you all know1 the police and the coroner have been completely baffled by this terrible mystery and have requested me to attempt to clear up at least certain points in it4 ,i will begin what ,i have to say by remarking that the tracing out of a crime like this differs in nothing1 except as regards the subject-matter1 from the search for a scientific truth4 ,the forcing of man's secrets is like the forcing of nature's secrets4 ,both are pieces of detective work4 ,the methods employed in the detection of crime are1 or rather should be1 like the methods employed in the process of discovering scientific truth4 ,in a crime of this sort1 two kinds of evidence need to be secured4 ,circumstantial evidence must first be marshalled1 and then a motive must be found4 ,i have been gathering facts4 ,but to omit motives and rest contented with mere facts would be inconclusive4 ,it would never convince anybody or convict anybody4 ,in other words1 circumstantial evidence must first lead to a suspect1 and then this suspect must prove equal to accounting for the facts4 ,it is my hope that each of you may contribute something that will be of service in arriving at the truth of this unfortunate incident40 ,the tension was not relieved even when ,kennedy stopped speaking and began to fuss with a little upright target which he set up at one end of his table4 ,we seemed to be seated over a powder magazine which threatened to explode at any moment4 ,i1 at least1 felt the tension so greatly that it was only after he had started speaking again1 that ,i noticed that the target was composed of a thick layer of some putty-like material4 ,holding a thirty-two-calibre pistol in his right hand and aiming it at the target1 ,kennedy picked up a large piece of coarse homespun from the table and held it loosely over the muzzle of the gun4 ,then he fired4 ,the bullet tore through the cloth1 sped through the air1 and buried itself in the target4 ,with a knife he pried it out4 8,i doubt if even the inspector himself could have told us that when an ordinary leaden bullet is shot through a woven fabric the weave of that fabric is in the majority of cases impressed on the bullet1 sometimes clearly1 sometimes faintly40 ,here ,kennedy took up a piece of fine batiste and fired another bullet through it4 8,every leaden bullet1 as ,i have said1 which has struck such a fabric bears an impression of the threads which is recognisable even when the bullet has penetrated deeply into the body4 ,it is only obliterated partially or entirely when the bullet has been flattened by striking a bone or other hard object4 ,even then1 as in this case1 if only a part of the bullet is flattened the remainder may still show the marks of the fabric4 ,a heavy warp1 say of cotton velvet or1 as ,i have here1 homespun1 will be imprinted well on the bullet1 but even a fine batiste1 containing one hundred threads to the inch1 will show marks4 ,even layers of goods such as a coat1 shirt1 and undershirt may each leave their marks1 but that does not concern us in this case4 ,now ,i have here a piece of pongee silk1 cut from a woman's automobile-coat4 ,i discharge the bullet through it--so4 ,i compare the bullet now with the others and with the one probed from the neck of ,mr4 ,parker4 ,i find that the marks on that fatal bullet correspond precisely with those on the bullet fired through the pongee coat40 ,startling as was this revelation1 ,kennedy paused only an instant before the next4 8,now ,i have another demonstration4 ,a certain note figures in this case4 ,mr4 ,parker was reading it1 or perhaps re-reading it1 at the time he was shot4 ,i have not been able to obtain that note--at least not in a form such as ,i could use in discovering what were its contents4 ,but in a certain wastebasket ,i found a mass of wet and pulp-like paper4 ,it had been cut up1 macerated1 perhaps chewed2 perhaps it had been also soaked with water4 ,there was a washbasin with running water in this room4 ,the ink had run1 and of course was illegible4 ,the thing was so unusual that ,i at once assumed that this was the remains of the note in question4 ,under ordinary circumstances it would be utterly valueless as a clue to anything4 ,but to-day science is not ready to let anything pass as valueless4 8,i found on microscopic examination that it was an uncommon linen bond paper1 and ,i have taken a large number of microphotographs of the fibres in it4 ,they are all similar4 ,i have here also about a hundred microphotographs of the fibres in other kinds of paper1 many of them bonds4 ,these ,i have accumulated from time to time in my study of the subject4 ,none of them1 as you can see1 shows fibres resembling this one in question1 so we may conclude that it is of uncommon quality4 ,through an agent of the police ,i have secured samples of the notepaper of every one who could be concerned1 as far as ,i could see1 with this case4 ,here are the photographs of the fibres of these various notepapers1 and among them all is just one that corresponds to the fibres in the wet mass of paper ,i discovered in the scrap-basket4 ,now lest anyone should question the accuracy of this method ,i might cite a case where a man had been arrested in ,germany charged with stealing a government bond4 ,he was not searched till later4 ,there was no evidence save that after the arrest a large number of spitballs were found around the courtyard under his cell window4 ,this method of comparing the fibres with those of the regular government paper was used1 and by it the man was convicted of stealing the bond4 ,i think it is almost unnecessary to add that in the present case we know precisely who--0 ,at this point the tension was so great that it snapped4 ,miss ,la ,neige1 who was sitting beside me1 had been leaning forward involuntarily4 ,almost as if the words were wrung from her she whispered hoarsely3 8,they put me up to doing it2 ,i didn't want to4 ,but the affair had gone too far4 ,i couldn't see him lost before my very eyes4 ,i didn't want her to get him4 ,the quickest way out was to tell the whole story to ,mr4 ,parker and stop it4 ,it was the only way ,i could think of to stop this thing between another man's wife and the man ,i loved better than my own husband4 ,god knows1 ,professor ,kennedy1 that was all--0 8,calm yourself1 madame10 interrupted ,kennedy soothingly4 8,calm yourself4 ,what's done is done4 ,the truth must come out4 ,be calm4 ,now10 he continued1 after the first storm of remorse had spent itself and we were all outwardly composed again1 8we have said nothing whatever of the most mysterious feature of the case1 the firing of the shot4 ,the murderer could have thrust the weapon into the pocket or the folds of this coat0--here he drew forth the automobile coat and held it aloft1 displaying the bullet hole--8and he or she 7,i will not say which7 could have discharged the pistol unseen4 ,by removing and secreting the weapon afterward one very important piece of evidence would be suppressed4 ,this person could have used such a cartridge as ,i have here1 made with smokeless powder1 and the coat would have concealed the flash of the shot very effectively4 ,there would have been no smoke4 ,but neither this coat nor even a heavy blanket would have deadened the report of the shot4 8,what are we to think of that8 ,only one thing4 ,i have often wondered why the thing wasn't done before4 ,in fact ,i have been waiting for it to occur4 ,there is an invention that makes it almost possible to strike a man down with impunity in broad daylight in any place where there is sufficient noise to cover up a click1 a slight ',pouf6' and the whir of the bullet in the air4 8,i refer to this little device of a ,hartford inventor4 ,i place it over the muzzle of the thirty-two-calibre revolver ,i have so far been using--so4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 if you will sit at that typewriter over there and write--anything so long as you keep the keys clicking4 ,the inspector will start that imitation stock-ticker in the corner4 ,now we are ready4 ,i cover the pistol with a cloth4 ,i defy anyone in this room to tell me the exact moment when ,i discharged the pistol4 ,i could have shot any of you1 and an outsider not in the secret would never have thought that ,i was the culprit4 ,to a certain extent ,i have reproduced the conditions under which this shooting occurred4 8,at once on being sure of this feature of the case ,i despatched a man to ,hartford to see this inventor4 ,the man obtained from him a complete list of all the dealers in ,new ,york to whom such devices had been sold4 ,the man also traced every sale of those dealers4 ,he did not actually obtain the weapon1 but if he is working on schedule-time according to agreement he is at this moment armed with a search-warrant and is ransacking every possible place where the person suspected of this crime could have concealed his weapon4 ,for1 one of the persons intimately connected with this case purchased not long ago a silencer for a thirty-two-calibre revolver1 and ,i presume that that person carried the gun and the silencer at the time of the murder of ,kerr ,parker40 ,kennedy concluded in triumph1 his voice high pitched1 his eyes flashing4 ,yet to all outward appearance not a heart-beat was quickened4 ,someone in that room had an amazing store of self-possession4 ,the fear flitted across my mind that even at the last ,kennedy was baffled4 8,i had anticipated some such anti-climax10 he continued after a moment4 8,i am prepared for it40 ,he touched a bell1 and the door to the next room opened4 ,one of ,kennedy's graduate students stepped in4 8,you have the records1 ,whiting0 he asked4 8,yes1 ,professor40 8,i may say10 said ,kennedy1 8that each of your chairs is wired under the arm in such a way as to betray on an appropriate indicator in the next room every sudden and undue emotion4 ,though it may be concealed from the eye1 even of one like me who stands facing you1 such emotion is nevertheless expressed by physical pressure on the arms of the chair4 ,it is a test that is used frequently with students to demonstrate various points of psychology4 ,you needn't raise your arms from the chairs1 ladies and gentlemen4 ,the tests are all over now4 ,what did they show1 ,whiting80 ,the student read what he had been noting in the next room4 ,at the production of the coat during the demonstration of the markings of the bullet1 ,mrs4 ,parker had betrayed great emotion1 ,mr4 ,bruce had done likewise1 and nothing more than ordinary emotion had been noted for the rest of us4 ,miss ,la ,neige's automatic record during the tracing out of the sending of the note to ,parker had been especially unfavourable to her2 ,mr4 ,bruce showed almost as much excitement2 ,mrs4 ,parker very little and ,downey very little4 ,it was all set forth in curves drawn by self-recording pens on regular ruled paper4 ,the student had merely noted what took place in the lecture-room as corresponding to these curves4 8,at the mention of the noiseless gun10 said ,kennedy1 bending over the record1 while the student pointed it out to him and we leaned forward to catch his words1 8,i find that the curves of ,miss ,la ,neige1 ,mrs4 ,parker1 and ,mr4 ,downey are only so far from normal as would be natural4 ,all of them were witnessing a thing for the first time with only curiosity and no fear4 ,the curve made by ,mr4 ,bruce shows great agitation and--0 ,i heard a metallic click at my side and turned hastily4 ,it was ,inspector ,barney ,o',connor1 who had stepped out of the shadow with a pair of hand-cuffs4 8,james ,bruce1 you are under arrest10 he said4 ,there flashed on my mind1 and ,i think on the minds of some of the others1 a picture of another electrically wired chair4 ,,ii4 ,the ,scientific ,cracksman 8,i'm willing to wager you a box of cigars that you don't know the most fascinating story in your own paper to-night10 remarked ,kennedy1 as ,i came in one evening with the four or five newspapers ,i was in the habit of reading to see whether they had beaten the ,star in getting any news of importance4 8,i'll bet ,i do10 ,i said1 8or ,i was one of about a dozen who worked it up4 ,it's the ,shaw murder trial4 ,there isn't another that's even a bad second40 8,i am afraid the cigars will be on you1 ,walter4 ,crowded over on the second page by a lot of stale sensation that everyone has read for the fiftieth time1 now1 you will find what promises to be a real sensation1 a curious half-column account of the sudden death of ,john ,g4 ,fletcher40 ,i laughed4 8,craig10 ,i said1 8when you put up a simple death from apoplexy against a murder trial1 and such a murder trial2 well1 you disappoint me--that's all40 8,is it a simple case of apoplexy80 he asked1 pacing up and down the room1 while ,i wondered why he should grow excited over what seemed a very ordinary news item1 after all4 ,then he picked up the paper and read the account slowly aloud4 ,,john ,g4 ,,fletcher1 ,,steel ,,magnate1 ,,dies ,,suddenly ,,safe ,,open ,,but ,,large ,,sum ,,of ,,cash ,,untouched ,john ,graham ,fletcher1 the aged philanthropist and steelmaker1 was found dead in his library this morning at his home at ,fletcherwood1 ,great ,neck1 ,long ,island4 ,strangely1 the safe in the library in which he kept his papers and a large sum of cash was found opened1 but as far as could be learned nothing is missing4 ,it had always been ,mr4 ,fletcher's custom to rise at seven o'clock4 ,this morning his housekeeper became alarmed when he had not appeared by nine o'clock4 ,listening at the door1 she heard no sound4 ,it was not locked1 and on entering she found the former steel-magnate lying lifeless on the floor between his bedroom and the library adjoining4 ,his personal physician1 ,dr4 ,w4 ,c4 ,bryant1 was immediately notified4 ,close examination of the body revealed that his face was slightly discoloured1 and the cause of death was given by the physician as apoplexy4 ,he had evidently been dead about eight or nine hours when discovered4 ,mr4 ,fletcher is survived by a nephew1 ,john ,g4 ,fletcher1 ,,ii41 who is the ,blake professor of bacteriology at the ,university1 and by a grandniece1 ,miss ,helen ,bond4 ,professor ,fletcher was informed of the sad occurrence shortly after leaving a class this morning and hurried out to ,fletcherwood4 ,he would make no statement other than that he was inexpressibly shocked4 ,miss ,bond1 who has for several years resided with relatives1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,francis ,greene of ,little ,neck1 is prostrated by the shock4 8,walter10 added ,kennedy1 as he laid down the paper and1 without any more sparring1 came directly to the point1 8there was something missing from that safe40 ,i had no need to express the interest ,i now really felt1 and ,kennedy hastened to take advantage of it4 8,just before you came in10 he continued1 8,jack ,fletcher called me up from ,great ,neck4 ,you probably don't know it1 but it has been privately reported in the inner circle of the ,university that old ,fletcher was to leave the bulk of his fortune to found a great school of preventive medicine1 and that the only proviso was that his nephew should be dean of the school4 ,the professor told me over the wire that the will was missing from the safe1 and that it was the only thing missing4 ,from his excitement ,i judge that there is more to the story than he cared to tell over the 'phone4 ,he said his car was on the way to the city1 and he asked if ,i wouldn't come and help him--he wouldn't say how4 ,now1 ,i know him pretty well1 and ,i'm going to ask you to come along1 ,walter1 for the express purpose of keeping this thing out of the newspapers understand8--until we get to the bottom of it40 ,a few minutes later the telephone rang and the hall-boy announced that the car was waiting4 ,we hurried down to it2 the chauffeur lounged down carelessly into his seat and we were off across the city and river and out on the road to ,great ,neck with amazing speed4 ,already ,i began to feel something of ,kennedy's zest for the adventure4 ,i found myself half a dozen times on the point of hazarding a suspicion1 only to relapse again into silence at the inscrutable look on ,kennedy's face4 ,what was the mystery that awaited us in the great lonely house on ,long ,island8 ,we found ,fletcherwood a splendid estate directly on the bay1 with a long driveway leading up to the door4 ,professor ,fletcher met us at the porte cochere1 and ,i was glad to note that1 far from taking me as an intruder1 he seemed rather relieved that someone who understood the ways of the newspapers could stand between him and any reporters who might possibly drop in4 ,he ushered us directly into the library and closed the door4 ,it seemed as if he could scarcely wait to tell his story4 8,kennedy10 he began1 almost trembling with excitement1 8look at that safe door40 ,we looked4 ,it had been drilled through in such a way as to break the combination4 ,it was a heavy door1 closely fitting1 and it was the best kind of small safe that the state of the art had produced4 ,yet clearly it had been tampered with1 and successfully4 ,who was this scientific cracksman who had apparently accomplished the impossible8 ,it was no ordinary hand and brain which had executed this 8job40 ,fletcher swung the door wide1 and pointed to a little compartment inside1 whose steel door had been jimmied open4 ,then out of it he carefully lifted a steel box and deposited it on the library table4 8,i suppose everybody has been handling that box80 asked ,craig quickly4 ,a smile flitted across ,fletcher's features4 8,i thought of that1 ,kennedy10 he said4 8,i remembered what you once told me about finger-prints4 ,only myself has touched it1 and ,i was careful to take hold of it only on the sides4 ,the will was placed in this box1 and the key to the box was usually in the lock4 ,well1 the will is gone4 ,that's all2 nothing else was touched4 ,but for the life of me ,i can't find a mark on the box1 not a finger-mark4 ,now on a hot and humid summer night like last night ,i should say it was pretty likely that anyone touching this metal box would have left finger-marks4 ,shouldn't you think so1 ,kennedy80 ,kennedy nodded and continued to examine the place where the compartment had been jimmied4 ,a low whistle aroused us3 coming over to the table1 ,craig tore a white sheet of paper off a pad lying there and deposited a couple of small particles on it4 8,i found them sticking on the jagged edges of the steel where it had been forced10 he said4 ,then he whipped out a pocket magnifying-glass4 8,not from a rubber glove10 he commented half to himself4 8,by ,jove1 one side of them shows lines that look as if they were the lines on a person's fingers1 and the other side is perfectly smooth4 ,there's not a chance of using them as a clue1 except--well1 ,i didn't know criminals in ,america knew that stunt40 8,what stunt80 8,why1 you know how keen the new detectives are on the finger-print system8 ,well1 the first thing some of the up-to-date criminals in ,europe did was to wear rubber gloves so that they would leave no prints4 ,but you can't work very well with rubber gloves4 ,last fall in ,paris ,i heard of a fellow who had given the police a lot of trouble4 ,he never left a mark1 or at least it was no good if he did4 ,he painted his hands lightly with a liquid rubber which he had invented himself4 ,it did all that rubber gloves would do and yet left him the free use of his fingers with practically the same keenness of touch4 ,fletcher1 whatever is at the bottom of this affair1 ,i feel sure right now that you have to deal with no ordinary criminal40 8,do you suppose there are any relatives besides those we know of80 ,i asked ,kennedy when ,fletcher had left to summon the servants4 8,no10 he replied1 8,i think not4 ,fletcher and ,helen ,bond1 his second cousin1 to whom he is engaged1 are the only two40 ,kennedy continued to study the library4 ,he walked in and out of the doors and examined the windows and viewed the safe from all angles4 8,the old gentleman's bedroom is here10 he said1 indicating a door4 8,now a good smart noise or perhaps even a light shining through the transom from the library might arouse him4 ,suppose he woke up suddenly and entered by this door4 ,he would see the thief at work on the safe4 ,yes1 that part of reconstructing the story is simple4 ,but who was the intruder80 ,just then ,fletcher returned with the servants4 ,the questioning was long and tedious1 and developed nothing except that the butler admitted that he was uncertain whether the windows in the library were locked4 ,the gardener was very obtuse1 but finally contributed one possibly important fact4 ,he had noted in the morning that the back gate1 leading into a disused road closer to the bay than the main highway in front of the house1 was open4 ,it was rarely used1 and was kept closed only by an ordinary hook4 ,whoever had opened it had evidently forgotten to hook it4 ,he had thought it strange that it was unhooked1 and in closing it he had noticed in the mud of the roadway marks that seemed to indicate that an automobile had stood there4 ,after the servants had gone1 ,fletcher asked us to excuse him for a while1 as he wished to run over to the ,greenes'1 who lived across the bay4 ,miss ,bond was completely prostrated by the death of her uncle1 he said1 and was in an extremely nervous condition4 ,meanwhile if we found any need of a machine we might use his uncle's1 or in fact anything around the place4 8,walter10 said ,craig1 when ,fletcher had gone1 8,i want to run back to town to-night1 and ,i have something ,i'd like to have you do1 too40 ,we were soon speeding back along the splendid road to ,long ,island ,city1 while he laid out our programme4 8,you go down to the ,star office10 he said1 8and look through all the clippings on the whole ,fletcher family4 ,get a complete story of the life of ,helen ,bond1 too--what she has done in society1 with whom she has been seen mostly1 whether she has made any trips abroad1 and whether she has ever been engaged--you know1 anything likely to be significant4 ,i'm going up to the apartment to get my camera and then to the laboratory to get some rather bulky paraphernalia ,i want to take out to ,fletcherwood4 ,meet me at the ,columbus ,circle station at1 say half-past-ten40 ,so we separated4 ,my search revealed the fact that ,miss ,bond had always been intimate with the ultra-fashionable set1 had spent last summer in ,europe1 a good part of the time in ,switzerland and ,paris with the ,greenes4 ,as far as ,i could find out she had never been reported engaged1 but plenty of fortunes as well as foreign titles had been flitting about the ward of the steel-magnate4 ,craig and ,i met at the appointed time4 ,he had a lot of paraphernalia with him1 and it did not add to our comfort as we sped back1 but it wasn't much over half an hour before we again found ourselves nearing ,great ,neck4 ,instead of going directly back to ,fletcherwood1 however1 ,craig had told the chauffeur to stop at the plant of the local electric light and power company1 where he asked if he might see the record of the amount of current used the night before4 ,the curve sprawled across the ruled surface of the sheet by the automatic registering-needle was irregular1 showing the ups and downs of the current1 rising sharply from sundown and gradually declining after nine o'clock1 as the lights went out4 ,somewhere between eleven and twelve o'clock1 however1 the irregular fall of the curve was broken by a quite noticeable upward twist4 ,craig asked the men if that usually happened4 ,they were quite sure that the curve as a rule went gradually down until twelve o'clock1 when the power was shut off4 ,but they did not see anything remarkable in it4 8,oh1 ,i suppose some of the big houses had guests10 volunteered the foreman1 8and just to show off the place perhaps they turned on all the lights4 ,i don't know1 sir1 what it was1 but it couldn't have been a heavy drain1 or we would have noticed it at the time1 and the lights would all have been dim40 8,well10 said ,craig1 8just watch and see if it occurs again to-night about the same time40 8,all right1 sir40 8,and when you close down the plant for the night1 will you bring the record card up to ,fletcherwood80 asked ,craig1 slipping a bill into the pocket of the foreman's shirt4 8,i will1 and thank you1 sir40 ,it was nearly half-past eleven when ,craig had got his apparatus set up in the library at ,fletcherwood4 ,then he unscrewed all the bulbs from the chandelier in the library and attached in their places connections with the usual green silk-covered flexible wire rope4 ,these were then joined up to a little instrument which to me looked like a drill4 ,next he muffed the drill with a wad of felt and applied it to the safe door4 ,i could hear the dull tat-tat of the drill4 ,going into the bedroom and closing the door1 ,i found that it was still audible to me1 but an old man1 inclined to deafness and asleep1 would scarcely have been awakened by it4 ,in about ten minutes ,craig displayed a neat little hole in the safe door opposite the one made by the cracksman in the combination4 8,i'm glad you're honest10 ,i said1 8or else we might be afraid of you--perhaps even make you prove an alibi for last night's job60 ,he ignored my bantering and said in a tone such as he might have used before a class of students in the gentle art of scientific safe-cracking3 8,now if the power company's curve is just the same to-night as last night1 that will show how the thing was done4 ,i wanted to be sure of it1 so ,i thought ,i'd try this apparatus which ,i smuggled in from ,paris last year4 ,i believe the old man happened to be wakeful and heard it40 ,then he pried off the door of the interior compartment which had been jimmied open4 8,perhaps we may learn something by looking at this door and studying the marks left by the jimmy1 by means of this new instrument of mine10 he said4 ,on the library table he fastened an arrangement with two upright posts supporting a dial which he called a 8dynamometer40 ,the uprights were braced in the back1 and the whole thing reminded me of a miniature guillotine4 8,this is my mechanical detective10 said ,craig proudly4 8,it was devised by ,bertillon himself1 and he personally gave me permission to copy his own machine4 ,you see1 it is devised to measure pressure4 ,now let's take an ordinary jimmy and see just how much pressure it takes to duplicate those marks on this door40 ,craig laid the piece of steel on the dynamometer in the position it had occupied in the safe1 and braced it tightly4 ,then he took a jimmy and pressed on it with all his strength4 ,the steel door was connected with the indicator1 and the needle spun around until it indicated a pressure such as only a strong man could have exerted4 ,comparing the marks made in the steel in the experiment and by the safe-cracker1 it was evident that no such pressure had been necessary4 ,apparently the lock on the door was only a trifling affair1 and the steel itself was not very1 tough4 ,the safe-makers had relied on the first line of defence to repel attack4 ,craig tried again and again1 each time using less force4 ,at last he got a mark just about similar to the original marks on the steel4 8,well1 well1 what do you think of that80 he exclaimed reflectively4 8,a child could have done that part of the job40 ,just then the lights went off for the night4 ,craig lighted the oil-lamp1 and sat in silence until the electric light plant foreman appeared with2 the card-record1 which showed a curve practically identical with that of the night before4 ,a few moments later ,professor ,fletcher's machine came up the driveway1 and he joined us with a worried and preoccupied look on his face that he could not conceal4 8,she's terribly broken up by the suddenness of it all10 he murmured as he sank into an armchair4 8,the shock has been too much for her4 ,in fact1 ,i hadn't the heart to tell her anything about the robbery1 poor girl40 ,then in a moment he asked1 8,any more clues yet1 ,kennedy80 8,well1 nothing of first importance4 ,i have only been trying to reconstruct the story of the robbery so that ,i can reason out a motive and a few details2 then when the real clues come along we won't have so much ground to cover4 ,the cracksman was certainly clever4 ,he used an electric drill to break the combination and ran it by the electric light current40 8,whew60 exclaimed the professor1 8is that so8 ,he must have been above the average4 ,that's interesting40 8,by the way1 ,fletcher10 said ,kennedy1 8,i wish you would introduce me to your fiancee to-morrow4 ,i would like to know her40 8,gladly10 ,fletcher replied1 8only you must be careful what you talk about4 ,remember1 the death of uncle has been quite a shock to her--he was her only relative besides myself40 8,i will10 promised ,kennedy1 8and by the way1 she may think it strange that ,i'm out here at a time like this4 ,perhaps you had better tell her ,i'm a nerve specialist or something of that sort--anything not to connect me with the robbery1 which you say you haven't told her about40 ,the next morning found ,kennedy out bright and early1 for he had not had a very good chance to do anything during the night except reconstruct the details4 ,he was now down by the back gate with his camera1 where ,i found him turning it end-down and photographing the road4 ,together we made a thorough search of the woods and the road about the gate1 but could discover absolutely nothing4 ,after breakfast ,i improvised a dark room and developed the films1 while ,craig went down the back lane along the shore 8looking for clues10 as he said briefly4 ,toward noon he returned1 and ,i could see that he was in a brown study4 ,so ,i said nothing1 but handed him the photographs of the road4 ,he took them and laid them down in a long line on the library floor4 ,they seemed to consist of little ridges of dirt on either side of a series of regular round spots1 some of the spots very clear and distinct on the sides1 others quite obscure in the centre4 ,now and then where you would expect to see one of the spots1 just for the symmetry of the thing1 it was missing4 ,as ,i looked at the line of photographs on the floor ,i saw that they were a photograph of the track made by the tire of an automobile1 and ,i suddenly recalled what the gardener had said4 ,next ,craig produced the results of his morning's work1 which consisted of several dozen sheets of white paper1 carefully separated into three bundles4 ,these he also laid down in long lines on the floor1 each package in a separate line4 ,then ,i began to realise what he was doing1 and became fascinated in watching him on his hands and knees eagerly scanning the papers and comparing them with the photographs4 ,at last he gathered up two of the sets of papers very decisively and threw them away4 ,then he shifted the third set a bit1 and laid it closely parallel to the photographs4 8,look at these1 ,walter10 he said4 8,now take this deep and sharp indentation4 ,well1 there's a corresponding one in the photograph4 ,so you can pick them out one for another4 ,now here's one missing altogether on the paper4 ,so it is in the photograph40 ,almost like a schoolboy in his glee1 he was comparing the little round circles made by the metal insertions in an 8anti-skid0 automobile tire4 ,time and again ,i had seen imprints like that left in the dust and grease of an asphalted street or the mud of a road4 ,it had never occurred to me that they might be used in any way4 ,yet here ,craig was1 calmly tracing out the similarity before my very eyes1 identifying the marks made in the photograph with the prints left on the bits of paper4 ,as ,i followed him1 ,i had a most curious feeling of admiration for his genius4 8,craig10 ,i cried1 8that's the thumb-print of an automobile40 8,there speaks the yellow journalist10 he answered merrily4 8',thumb ,print ,system ,applied to ,motor ,cars'--,i can see the ,sunday feature story you have in your mind with that headline already4 ,yes1 ,walter1 that's precisely what this is4 ,the ,berlin police have used it a number of times with the most startling results40 8,but1 ,craig10 ,i exclaimed suddenly1 8the paper prints1 where did you get them8 ,what machine is it80 8,it's one not very far from here10 he answered sententiously1 and ,i saw he would say nothing more that might fix a false suspicion on anyone4 ,still1 my curiosity was so great that if there had been an opportunity ,i certainly should have tried out his plan on all the cars in the ,fletcher garage4 ,kennedy would say nothing more1 and we ate our luncheon in silence4 ,fletcher1 who had decided to lunch with the ,greenes1 called ,kennedy up on the telephone to tell him it would be all right for him to call on ,miss ,bond later in the afternoon4 8,and ,i may bring over the apparatus ,i once described to you to determine just what her nervous condition is80 he asked4 ,apparently the answer was yes1 for ,kennedy hung up the receiver with a satisfied1 8,good-bye40 8,walter1 ,i want you to come along with me this afternoon as my assistant4 ,remember ,i'm now ,dr4 ,kennedy1 the nerve specialist1 and you are ,dr4 ,jameson1 my colleague1 and we are to be in consultation on a most important case40 8,do you think that's fair80 ,i asked hotly1 8to take that girl off her guard1 to insinuate yourself into her confidence as a medical adviser1 and worm out of her some kind of fact incriminating someone8 ,i suppose that's your plan1 and ,i don't like the ethics1 or rather the lack of ethics1 of the thing40 8,now think a minute1 ,walter4 ,perhaps ,i am wrong2 ,i don't know4 ,certainly ,i feel that the end will justify the means4 ,i have an idea that ,i can get from ,miss ,bond the only clue that ,i need1 one that will lead straight to the criminal4 ,who knows8 ,i have a suspicion that the thing ,i'm going to do is the highest form of your so-called ethics4 ,if what ,fletcher tells us is true that girl is going insane over this thing4 ,why should she be so shocked over the death of an uncle she did not live with8 ,i tell you she knows something about this case that it is necessary for us to know1 too4 ,if she doesn't tell someone1 it will eat her mind out4 ,i'll add a dinner to the box of cigars we have already bet on this case that what ,i'm going to do is for the best--for her best40 ,again ,i yielded1 for ,i was coming to have more and more faith in the old ,kennedy ,i had seen made over into a first-class detective1 and together we started for the ,greenes'1 ,craig carrying something in one of those long black handbags which physicians use4 ,fletcher met us on the driveway4 ,he seemed to be very much affected1 for his face was drawn1 and he shifted from one position to another nervously1 from which we inferred that ,miss ,bond was feeling worse4 ,it was late afternoon1 almost verging on twilight1 as he led us through the reception-hall and thence onto a long porch overlooking the bay and redolent with honeysuckle4 ,miss ,bond was half reclining in a wicker chair us we entered4 ,she started to rise to greet us1 but ,fletcher gently restrained her1 saying1 as he introduced us1 that he guessed the doctors would pardon any informality from an invalid4 ,fletcher was a pretty fine fellow1 and ,i had come to like him2 but ,i soon found myself wondering what he had ever done to deserve winning such a girl as ,helen ,bond4 ,she was what ,i should describe as the ideal type of 8new0 woman1--tall and athletic1 yet without any affectation of mannishness4 ,the very first thought that struck me was the incongruousness of a girl of her type suffering from an attack of 8nerves10 and ,i felt sure it must be as ,craig had said1 that she was concealing a secret that was having a terrible effect on her4 ,a casual glance might not have betrayed the true state of her feelings1 for her dark hair and large brown eyes and the tan of many suns on her face and arms betokened anything but the neurasthenic4 ,one felt instinctively that she was1 with all her athletic grace1 primarily a womanly woman4 ,the sun sinking toward the hills across the bay softened the brown of her skin and1 as ,i observed by watching her closely1 served partially to conceal the nervousness which was wholly unnatural in a girl of such poise4 ,when she smiled there was a false note in it2 it was forced and it was sufficiently evident to me that she was going through a mental hell of conflicting emotions that would have killed a woman of less self-control4 ,i felt that ,i would like to be in ,fletcher's shoes--doubly so when1 at ,kennedy's request1 he withdrew1 leaving me to witness the torture of a woman of such fine sensibilities1 already hunted remorselessly by her own thoughts4 ,still1 ,i will give ,kennedy credit for a tactfulness that ,i didn't know the old fellow possessed4 ,he carried through the preliminary questions very well for a pseudo-doctor1 appealing to me as his assistant on inconsequential things that enabled me to 8save my face0 perfectly4 ,when he came to the critical moment of opening the black bag1 he made a very appropriate and easy remark about not having brought any sharp shiny instruments or nasty black drugs4 8,all ,i wish to do1 ,miss ,bond1 is to make a few1 simple little tests of your nervous condition4 ,one of them we specialists call reaction time1 and another is a test of heart action4 ,neither is of any seriousness at all1 so ,i beg of you not to become excited1 for the chief value consists in having the patient perfectly quiet and normal4 ,after they are over ,i think ,i'll know whether to prescribe absolute rest or a visit to ,newport40 ,she smiled languidly1 as he adjusted a long1 tightly fitting rubber glove on her shapely forearm and then encased it in a larger1 absolutely inflexible covering of leather4 ,between the rubber glove and the leather covering was a liquid communicating by a glass tube with a sort of dial4 ,craig had often explained to me how the pressure of the blood was registered most minutely on the dial1 showing the varied emotions as keenly as if you had taken a peep into the very mind of the subject4 ,i think the experimental psychologists called the thing a 8plethysmograph40 ,then he had an apparatus which measured association time4 ,the essential part of this instrument was the operation of a very delicate stop-watch1 and this duty was given to me4 ,it was nothing more nor less than measuring the time that elapsed between his questions to her and her answers1 while he recorded the actual questions and answers and noted the results which ,i worked out4 ,neither of us was unfamiliar with the process1 for when we were in college these instruments were just coming into use in ,america4 ,kennedy had never let his particular branch of science narrow him1 but had made a practice of keeping abreast of all the important discoveries and methods in other fields4 ,besides1 ,i had read articles about the chronoscope1 the plethysmograph1 the sphygmograph1 and others of the new psychological instruments4 ,craig carried it off1 however1 as if he did that sort of thing as an every-day employment4 8,now1 ,miss ,bond10 he said1 and his voice was so reassuring and persuasive that ,i could see she was not made even a shade more nervous by our simple preparations1 8the game--it is just like a children's parlour game--is just this3 ,i will say a word--take 'dog1' for instance4 ,you are to answer back immediately the first word that comes into your mind suggested by it--say 'cat4' ,i will say 'chain1' for example1 and probably you will answer 'collar1' and so on4 ,do you catch my meaning8 ,it may seem ridiculous1 no doubt1 but before we are through ,i feel sure you'll see how valuable such a test is1 particularly in a simple case of nervousness such as yours40 ,i don't think she found any sinister interpretation in his words1 but ,i did1 and if ever ,i wanted to protest it was then1 but my voice seemed to stick in my throat4 ,he was beginning4 ,it was clearly up to me to give in and not interfere4 ,as closely as ,i was able ,i kept my eyes riveted on the watch and other apparatus1 while my ears and heart followed with mingled emotions the low1 musical voice of the girl4 ,i will not give all the test1 for there was much of it1 particularly at the start1 that was in reality valueless1 since it was merely leading up to the 8surprise tests40 ,from the colourless questions ,kennedy suddenly changed4 ,it was done in an instant1 when ,miss ,bond had been completely disarmed and put off her guard4 8,night10 said ,kennedy4 8,day10 came back the reply from ,miss ,bond4 8,automobile40 8,horse40 8,bay40 8,beach40 8,road40 8,forest40 8,gate40 8,fence40 8,path40 8,shrubs40 8,porch40 8,house40 ,did ,i detect or imagine a faint hesitation8 8,window40 8,curtain40 ,yes1 it was plain that time4 ,but the words followed one another in quick succession4 ,there was no rest4 ,she had no chance to collect herself4 ,i noted the marked difference in the reaction time and1 in my sympathy1 damned this cold2 scientific third degree4 8,paris40 8,france40 8,quartier ,latin40 8,students40 8,apaches40 ,craig gave it its ,gallicised pronunciation1 8,apash40 8,really1 ,dr4 ,kennedy10 she said1 8there is nothing ,i can associate with them--well1 yes1 les vaches1 ,i believe4 ,you had better count that question out4 ,i've wasted a good many seconds40 8,very well1 let us try again10 he replied with a forced unconcern1 though the answer seemed to interest him1 for 8les vaches0 meant 8the cows10 otherwise known as the police4 ,no lawyer could have revelled in an opportunity for putting leading questions more ruthlessly than did ,kennedy4 ,he snapped out his words sharply and unexpectedly4 8,chandelier40 8,light40 8,electric light10 he emphasised4 8,broadway10 she answered1 endeavouring to force a new association of ideas to replace one which she strove to conceal4 8,safe40 8,vaults40 ,out of the corner of my eye ,i could see that the indicator showed a tremendously increased heart action4 ,as for the reaction time1 ,i noted that it was growing longer and more significant4 ,remorselessly he pressed his words home4 ,mentally ,i cursed him4 8,rubber40 8,tire40 8,steel40 8,pittsburg10 she cried at random4 8,strong-box10 ,no answer4 8,lock40 ,again no answer4 ,he hurried his words4 ,i was leaning forward1 tense with excitement and sympathy4 8,key40 ,silence and a fluttering of the blood pressure indicator4 8,will40 ,as the last word was uttered her air of frightened defiance was swept away4 ,with a cry of anguish1 she swayed to her feet4 8,no1 no1 doctor1 you must not1 you must not10 she cried with outstretched arms4 8,why do you pick out those words of all others8 ,can it be--0 ,if ,i had not caught her ,i believe she would have fainted4 ,the indicator showed a heart alternately throbbing with feverish excitement and almost stopping with fear4 ,what would ,kennedy do next1 ,i wondered1 determined to shut him off as soon as ,i possibly could4 ,from the moment ,i had seen her ,i had been under her spell4 ,mine should have been ,fletcher's place1 ,i knew1 though ,i cannot but say that ,i felt a certain grim pleasure in supporting even momentarily such a woman in her time of need4 8,can it be that you have guessed what no one in the world1 no1 not even dear old ,jack1 dreams ,oh1 ,i shall go mad1 mad1 mad60 ,kennedy was on his feet in an instant1 advancing toward her4 ,the look in his eyes was answer enough for her4 ,she knew that he knew1 and she paled and shuddered1 shrinking away from him4 8,miss ,bond10 he said in a voice that forced attention--it was low and vibrating with feeling--8,miss ,bond1 have you ever told a lie to shield a friend80 8,yes10 she said1 her eyes meeting his4 8,so can ,i10 came back the same tense voice1 8when ,i know the truth about that friend40 ,then for the first time tears came in a storm4 ,her breath was quick and feverish4 8,no one will ever believe1 no one will understand4 ,they will say that ,i killed him1 that ,i murdered him40 ,through it all ,i stood almost speechless1 puzzled4 ,what did it all mean8 8,no10 said ,kennedy1 8no1 for they will never know of it40 8,never know80 8,never--if in the end justice is done4 ,have you the will8 ,or did you destroy it80 ,it was a bold stroke4 8,yes4 ,no4 ,here it is4 ,how could ,i destroy it1 even though it was burning out my very soul80 ,she literally tore the paper from the bosom of her dress and cast it from her in horror and terror4 ,kennedy picked it up1 opened it1 and glanced hurriedly through it4 8,miss ,bond10 he said1 8,jack shall never know a word of this4 ,i shall tell him that the will has been found unexpectedly in ,john ,fletcher's desk among some other papers4 ,walter1 swear on your honour as a gentleman that this will was found in old ,fletcher's desk40 8,dr4 ,kennedy1 how can ,i ever thank you80 she exclaimed1 sinking wearily down into a chair and pressing her hands to her throbbing forehead4 8,by telling me just how you came by this will1 so that when you and ,fletcher are married ,i may be as good a friend1 without suspicion1 to you as ,i am to him4 ,i think a full confession would do you good1 ,miss ,bond4 ,would you prefer to have ,dr4 ,jameson not hear it80 8,no1 he may stay40 8,this much ,i know1 ,miss ,bond4 ,last summer in ,paris with the ,greenes you must have chanced to hear1 of ,pillard1 the ,apache1 one of the most noted cracksmen the world has ever produced4 ,you sought him out4 ,he taught you how to paint your fingers with a rubber composition1 how to use an electric drill1 how to use the old-fashioned jimmy4 ,you went down to ,fletcherwood by the back road about a quarter after eleven the night of the robbery in the ,greenes' little electric runabout4 ,you entered the library by an unlocked window1 you coupled your drill to the electric light connections of the chandelier4 ,you had to work quickly1 for the power would go off at midnight1 yet you could not do the job later1 when they were sleeping more soundly1 for the very same reason40 ,it was uncanny as ,kennedy rushed along in his reconstruction of the scene1 almost unbelievable4 ,the girl watched him1 fascinated4 8,john ,fletcher was wakeful that night4 ,somehow or other he heard you at work4 ,he entered the library and1 by the light streaming from his bedroom1 he saw who it was4 ,in anger he must have addressed you1 and his passion got the better of his age--he fell suddenly on the floor with a stroke of apoplexy4 ,as you bent over him he died4 ,but why did you ever attempt so foolish an undertaking8 ,didn't you know that other people knew of the will and its terms1 that you were sure to be traced out in the end1 if not by friends1 by foes8 ,how did you suppose you could profit by destroying the will1 of which others knew the provisions80 ,any other woman than ,helen ,bond would have been hysterical long before ,kennedy had finished pressing home remorselessly one fact after another of her story4 ,but1 with her1 the relief now after the tension of many hours of concealment seemed to nerve her to go to the end and tell the truth4 ,what was it8 ,had she some secret lover for whom she had dared all to secure the family fortune8 ,or was she shielding someone dearer to her than her own reputation8 ,why had ,kennedy made ,fletcher withdraw8 ,her eyes dropped and her breast rose and fell with suppressed emotion4 ,yet ,i was hardly prepared for her reply when at last she slowly raised her head and looked us calmly in the face4 8,i did it because ,i loved ,jack40 ,neither of us spoke4 ,i1 at least1 had fallen completely under the spell of this masterful woman4 ,right or wrong1 ,i could not restrain a feeling of admiration and amazement4 8,yes10 she said as her voice thrilled with emotion1 8strange as it may sound to you1 it was not love of self that made me do it4 ,i was1 ,i am madly in love with ,jack4 ,no other man has ever inspired such respect and love as he has4 ,his work in the university ,i have fairly gloated over4 ,and yet--and yet1 ,dr4 ,kennedy1 can you not see that ,i am different from ,jack8 ,what would ,i do with the income of the wife of even the dean of the new school8 ,the annuity provided for me in that will is paltry4 ,i need millions4 ,from the tiniest baby ,i have been reared that way4 ,i have always expected this fortune4 ,i have been given everything ,i wanted4 ,but it is different when one is married--you must have your own money4 ,i need a fortune1 for then ,i could have the town house1 the country house1 the yacht1 the motors1 the clothes1 the servants that ,i need--they are as much a part of my life as your profession is of yours4 ,i must have them4 8,and now it was all to slip from my hands4 ,true1 it was to go in such a way by this last will as to make ,jack happy in his new school4 ,i could have let that go1 if that was all4 ,there are other fortunes that have been laid at my feet4 ,but ,i wanted ,jack1 and ,i knew ,jack wanted me4 ,dear boy1 he never could realise how utterly unhappy intellectual poverty would have made me and how my unhappiness would have reacted on him in the end4 ,in reality this great and beneficent philanthropy was finally to blight both our love and our lives4 8,what was ,i to do8 ,stand by and see my life and my love ruined or refuse ,jack for the fortune of a man ,i did not love8 ,helen ,bond is not that kind of a woman1 ,i said to myself4 ,i consulted the greatest lawyer ,i knew4 ,i put a hypothetical case to him1 and asked his opinion in such a way as to make him believe he was advising me how to make an unbreakable will4 ,he told me of provisions and clauses to avoid1 particularly in making benefactions4 ,that was what ,i wanted to know4 ,i would put one of those clauses in my uncle's will4 ,i practised uncle's writing till ,i was as good a forger of that clause as anyone could have become4 ,i had picked out the very words in his own handwriting to practise from4 8,then ,i went to ,paris and1 as you have guessed1 learned how to get things out of a safe like that of uncle's4 ,before ,god1 all ,i planned to do was to get that will1 change it1 replace it1 and trust that uncle would never notice the change4 ,then when he was gone1 ,i would have contested the will4 ,i would have got my full share either by court proceedings or by settlement out of court4 ,you see1 ,i had planned it all out4 ,the school would have been founded--,i1 we would have founded it4 ,what difference1 ,i said1 did thirty millions or fifty millions make to an impersonal school1 a school not yet even in existence8 ,the twenty million dollars or so difference1 or even half of it1 meant life and love to me4 8,i had planned to steal the cash in the safe1 anything to divert attention from the will and make it look like a plain robbery4 ,i would have done the altering of the will that night and have returned it to the safe before morning4 ,but it was not to be4 ,i had almost opened the safe when my uncle entered the room4 ,his anger completely unnerved me1 and from the moment ,i saw him on the floor to this ,i haven't had a sane thought4 ,i forgot to take the cash1 ,i forgot everything but that will4 ,my only thought was that ,i must get it and destroy it4 ,i doubt if ,i could have altered it with my nerves so upset4 ,there1 now you have my whole story4 ,i am at your mercy40 8,no10 said ,kennedy1 8believe me1 there is a mental statute of limitations that as far as ,jameson and myself are concerned has already erased this affair4 ,walter1 will you find ,fletcher80 ,i found the professor pacing up and down the gravel walk impatiently4 8,fletcher10 said ,kennedy1 8a night's rest is all ,miss ,bond really needs4 ,it is simply a case of overwrought nerves1 and it will pass off of itself4 ,still1 ,i would advise a change of scene as soon as possible4 ,good afternoon1 ,miss ,bond1 and my best wishes for your health40 8,good afternoon1 ,dr4 ,kennedy4 ,good afternoon1 ,dr4 ,jameson40 ,i for one was glad to make my escape4 ,a half-hour later1 ,kennedy1 with well-simulated excitement1 was racing me in the car up to the ,greenes' again4 ,we literally burst unannounced into the tete-a-tete on the porch4 8,fletcher1 ,fletcher10 cried ,kennedy1 8look what ,walter and ,i have just discovered in a tin strong-box poked off in the back of your uncle's desk60 ,fletcher seized the will and by the dim light that shone through from the hall read it hastily4 8,thank ,god10 he cried2 8the school is provided for as ,i thought40 8,isn't it glorious60 murmured ,helen4 ,true to my instinct ,i muttered1 8,another good newspaper yarn killed40 ,,iii4 ,the ,bacteriological ,detective ,kennedy was deeply immersed in writing a lecture on the chemical compositions of various bacterial toxins and antitoxins1 a thing which was as unfamiliar to me as ,kamchatka1 but as familiar to ,kennedy as ,broadway and ,forty-second ,street4 8,really10 he remarked1 laying down his fountain-pen and lighting his cigar for the hundredth time1 8the more one thinks of how the modern criminal misses his opportunities the more astonishing it seems4 ,why do they stick to pistols1 chloroform1 and prussic acid when there is such a splendid assortment of refined methods they might employ80 8,give it up1 old man10 ,i replied helplessly1 8unless it is because they haven't any imagination4 ,i hope they don't use them4 ,what would become of my business if they did8 ,how would you ever get a really dramatic news feature for the ,star out of such a thing8 ',dotted line marks route taken by fatal germ2 cross indicates spot where antitoxin attacked it'--ha6 ha6 not much for the yellow journals in that1 ,craig40 8,to my mind1 ,walter1 it would be the height of the dramatic--far more dramatic than sending a bullet into a man4 ,any fool can shoot a pistol or cut a throat1 but it takes brains to be up-to-date40 8,it may be so20 ,i admitted1 and went on reading1 while ,kennedy scratched away diligently on his lecture4 ,i mention this conversation both because it bears on my story1 by a rather peculiar coincidence1 and because it showed me a new side of ,kennedy's amazing researches4 ,he was as much interested in bacteria as in chemistry1 and the story is one of bacteria4 ,it was perhaps a quarter of an hour later when the buzzer on our hall door sounded4 ,imagine my surprise on opening the door to discover the slight figure of what appeared to be a most fascinating young lady who was heavily veiled4 ,she was in a state almost bordering on hysteria1 as even ,i1 in spite of my usual obtuseness1 noticed4 8,is ,professor ,kennedy in80 she inquired anxiously4 8,yes1 ma'am20 ,i replied1 opening the door into our study4 ,she advanced toward him1 repeating her inquiry4 8,i am ,professor ,kennedy4 ,pray be seated10 he said4 ,the presence of a lady in our apartment was such a novelty that really ,i forgot to disappear1 but busied myself straightening the furniture and opening a window to allow the odour of stale tobacco to escape4 8,my name is ,eveline ,bisbee10 she began4 8,i have heard1 ,professor ,kennedy1 that you are an adept at getting at the bottom of difficult mysteries40 8,you flatter me20 he said in acknowledgment4 8,who was so foolish as to tell you that80 8,a friend who has heard of the ,kerr ,parker case10 she replied4 8,i beg your pardon10 ,i interrupted1 8,i didn't mean to intrude4 ,i think ,i'll go out4 ,i'll be back in an hour or two40 8,please1 ,mr4 ,jameson--it is ,mr4 ,jameson1 is it not80 ,i bowed in surprise4 8,if it is possible ,i wish you would stay and hear my story4 ,i am told that you and ,professor ,kennedy always work together40 ,it was my turn to be embarrassed by the compliment4 8,mrs4 ,fletcher1 of ,great ,neck10 she explained1 8has told me4 ,i believe ,professor ,kennedy performed a great service for the ,fletchers1 though ,i do not know what it was4 ,at any rate1 ,i have come to you with my case1 in which ,i have small hope of obtaining assistance unless you can help me4 ,if ,professor ,kennedy cannot solve it1 well1 ,i'm afraid nobody can40 ,she paused a moment1 then added1 8,no doubt you have read of the death of my guardian the other day40 ,of course we had4 ,who did not know that 8,jim0 ,bisbee1 the southern ,california oil-magnate1 had died suddenly of typhoid fever at the private hospital of ,dr4 ,bell1 where he had been taken from his magnificent apartment on ,riverside ,drive8 ,kennedy and ,i had discussed it at the time4 ,we had commented on the artificiality of the twentieth century4 ,no longer did people have homes2 they had apartments1 ,i had said4 ,they didn't fall ill in the good old-fashioned way any more1 either in fact1 they even hired special rooms to die in4 ,they hired halls for funeral services4 ,it was a wonder that they didn't hire graves4 ,it was all part of our twentieth century break-up of tradition4 ,indeed we did know about the death of ,jim ,bisbee4 ,but there was nothing mysterious about it4 ,it was just typical in all its surroundings of the first decade of the twentieth century in a great1 artificial city--a lonely death of a great man surrounded by all that money could buy4 ,we had read of his ward1 too1 the beautiful ,miss ,eveline ,bisbee1 a distant relation4 ,as under the heat of the room and her excitement1 she raised her veil1 we were very much interested in her4 ,at least1 ,i am sure that even ,kennedy had by this time completely forgotten the lecture on toxins4 8,there is something about my guardian's death10 she began in a low and tremulous voice1 8that ,i am sure will bear investigating4 ,it may be only a woman's foolish fears1 but--,i haven't told this to a soul till now1 except ,mrs4 ,fletcher4 ,my guardian had1 as you perhaps know1 spent his summer at his country place at ,bisbee ,hall1 ,new ,jersey1 from which he returned rather suddenly about a week ago4 ,our friends thought it merely a strange whim that he should return to the city before the summer was fairly over1 but it was not4 ,the day before he returned1 his gardener fell sick of typhoid4 ,that decided ,mr4 ,bisbee to return to the city on the following day4 ,imagine his consternation to find his valet stricken the very next morning4 ,of course they motored to ,new ,york immediately1 then he wired to me at ,newport1 and together we opened his apartment at the ,louis ,quinze4 8,but that was not to be the end of it4 ,one after another1 the servants at ,bisbee ,hall were taken with the disease until five of them were down4 ,then came the last blow--,mr4 ,bisbee fell a victim in ,new ,york4 ,so far ,i have been spared4 ,but who knows how much longer it will last8 ,i have been so frightened that ,i haven't eaten a meal in the apartment since ,i came back4 ,when ,i am hungry ,i simply steal out to a hotel--a different one every time4 ,i never drink any water except that which ,i have surreptitiously boiled in my own room over a gas-stove4 ,disinfectants and germicides have been used by the gallon1 and still ,i don't feel safe4 ,even the health authorities don't remove my fears4 ,with my guardian's death ,i had begun to feel that possibly it was over4 ,but no4 ,this morning another servant who came up from the hall last week was taken sick1 and the doctor pronounces that typhoid1 too4 ,will ,i be the next8 ,is it just a foolish fear8 ,why does it pursue us to ,new ,york8 ,why didn't it stop at ,bisbee ,hall80 ,i don't think ,i ever saw a living creature more overcome by horror1 by an invisible1 deadly fear4 ,that was why it was doubly horrible in a girl so attractive as ,eveline ,bisbee4 ,as ,i listened ,i felt how terrible it must be to be pursued by such a fear4 ,what must it be to be dogged by a disease as relentlessly as the typhoid had dogged her8 ,if it had been some great1 but visible1 tangible peril how gladly ,i could have faced it merely for the smile of a woman like this4 ,but it was a peril that only knowledge and patience could meet4 ,instinctively ,i turned toward ,kennedy1 my own mind being an absolute blank4 8,is there anyone you suspect of being the cause of such an epidemic80 he asked4 8,i may as well tell you right now that ,i have already formed two theories--one perfectly natural1 the other diabolical4 ,tell me everything40 8,well1 ,i had expected to receive a fortune of one million dollars1 free and clear1 by his will and this morning ,i am informed by his lawyer1 ,james ,denny1 that a new will had been made4 ,it is still one million4 ,but the remainder1 instead of going to a number of charities in which he was known to be interested1 goes to form a trust fund for the ,bisbee ,school of ,mechanical ,arts1 of which ,mr4 ,denny is the sole trustee4 ,of course1 ,i do not know much about my guardian's interests while he was alive1 but it strikes me as strange that he should have changed so radically1 and1 besides1 the new will is so worded that if ,i die without children my million also goes to this school--location unnamed4 ,i can't help wondering about it all40 8,why should you wonder--at least what other reasons have you for wondering80 8,oh1 ,i can't express them4 ,maybe after all it's only a woman's silly intuition4 ,but often ,i have thought in the past few days about this illness of my guardian4 ,it was so queer4 ,he was always so careful4 ,and you know the rich don't often have typhoid40 8,you have no reason to suppose that it was not typhoid fever of which he died80 ,she hesitated4 8,no10 she replied1 8but if you had known ,mr4 ,bisbee you would think it strange1 too4 ,he had a horror of infectious and contagious diseases4 ,his apartment and his country home were models4 ,no sanitarium could have been more punctilious4 ,he lived what one of his friends called an antiseptic life4 ,maybe ,i am foolish1 but it keeps getting closer and closer to me now1 and--well1 ,i wish you'd look into the case4 ,please set my mind at rest and assure me that nothing is wrong1 that it is all natural40 8,i will help you1 ,miss ,bisbee4 ,to-morrow night ,i want to take a trip quietly to ,bisbee ,hall4 ,you will see that it is all right1 that ,i have the proper letters so ,i can investigate thoroughly40 ,i shall never forget the mute and eloquent thanks with which she said good night after ,kennedy's promise4 ,kennedy sat with his eyes shaded under his hand for fully an hour after she had left4 ,then he suddenly jumped up4 8,walter10 he said1 8let us go over to ,dr4 ,bell's4 ,i know the head nurse there4 ,we may possibly learn something40 ,as we sat in the waiting-room with its thick ,oriental rugs and handsome mahogany furniture1 ,i found myself going back to our conversation of the early evening4 8,by ,jove1 ,kennedy1 you were right10 ,i exclaimed4 8,if there is anything in this germ-plot idea of hers it is indeed the height of the dramatic--it is diabolical4 ,no ordinary mortal would ever be capable of it40 ,just then the head nurse came in1 a large woman breathing of germlessness and cheerfulness in her spotless uniform4 ,we were shown every courtesy4 ,there was1 in fact1 nothing to conceal4 ,the visit set at rest my last suspicion that perhaps ,jim ,bisbee had been poisoned by a drug4 ,the charts of his temperature and the sincerity of the nurse were absolutely convincing4 ,it had really been typhoid1 and there was nothing to be gained by pursuing that inquiry further4 ,back at the apartment1 ,craig began packing his suitcase with the few things he would need for a journey4 8,i'm going out to ,bisbee ,hall to-morrow for a few days1 ,walter1 and if you could find it convenient to come along ,i should like to have your assistance40 8,to tell you the truth1 ,craig1 ,i am afraid to go10 ,i said4 8,you needn't be4 ,i'm going down to the army post on ,governor's ,island first to be vaccinated against typhoid4 ,then ,i am going to wait a few hours till it takes effect before going4 ,it's the only place in the city where one can be inoculated against it1 so far as ,i know4 ,while three inoculations are really best1 ,i understand that one is sufficient for ordinary protection1 and that is all we shall need1 if any40 8,you're sure of it80 8,almost positive40 8,very well1 ,craig4 ,i'll go40 ,down at the army post the next morning we had no difficulty in being inoculated against the disease4 ,the work of immunising our army was going on at that time1 and several thousands of soldiers in various parts of the country had already been vaccinated1 with the best of results4 8,do many civilians come over to be vaccinated80 asked ,craig of ,major ,carroll1 the surgeon in charge4 8,not many1 for very few have heard of it10 he replied4 8,i suppose you keep a record of them40 8,only their names--we can't follow them up outside the army1 to see how it works4 ,still1 when they come to us as you and ,mr4 ,jameson have done we are perfectly willing to vaccinate them4 ,the ,army ,medical ,corps takes the position that if it is good for the army it is good for civil life1 and as long as only a few civilians apply we are perfectly willing to do it for a fee covering the cost40 8,and would you let me see the list80 8,certainly4 ,you may look it over in a moment40 ,kennedy glanced hurriedly through the short list of names1 pulled out his notebook1 made an entry1 and handed the list back4 8,thank you1 ,major40 ,bisbee ,hall was a splendid place set in the heart of a great park whose area was measured by square miles rather than by acres4 ,but ,craig did not propose to stay there1 for he arranged for accommodations in a near-by town1 where we were to take our meals also4 ,it was late when we arrived1 and we spent a restless night1 for the inoculation 8took40 ,it wasn't any worse than a light attack of the grippe1 and in the morning we were both all right again1 after the passing of what is called the 8negative phase40 ,i1 for one1 felt much safer4 ,the town was very much excited over the epidemic at the hall1 and if ,i had been wondering why ,craig wanted me along my wonder was soon set at rest4 ,he had me scouring the town and country looking up every case or rumour of typhoid for miles around4 ,i made the local weekly paper my headquarters1 and the editor was very obliging4 ,he let me read all his news letters from his local correspondent at every crossroads4 ,i waded through accounts of new calves and colts1 new fences and barns1 who 8,sundayed0 with his brother1 etc41 and soon had a list of all the cases in that part of the country4 ,it was not a long one1 but it was scattered4 ,after ,i had traced them out1 following ,kennedy's instructions1 they showed nothing1 except that they were unrelated to the epidemic at the hall4 ,meanwhile1 ,kennedy was very busy there4 ,he had a microscope and slides and test-tubes and chemicals for testing things1 and ,i don't know what all1 for there was not time to initiate me into all the mysteries4 ,he tested the water from the various driven wells and in the water-tank1 and the milk from the cows2--he tried to find out what food had come in from outside1 though there was practically none1 for the hall was self-supporting4 ,there was no stone he left unturned4 ,when ,i rejoined him that night he was clearly perplexed4 ,i don't think my report decreased his perplexity1 either4 8,there is only one thing left as far as ,i have been able to discover after one day's work10 he said1 after we had gone over our activities for the day4 8,jim ,bisbee never drank the water from his own wells4 ,he always drank a bottled water shipped down from a camp of his in ,new ,york ,state1 where he had a remarkable mountain spring4 ,i tested a number of the full bottles at the hall1 but they were perfectly pure4 ,there wasn't a trace of the bacillus typhosus in any of them4 ,then it occurred to me that1 after all1 that was not the thing to do4 ,i should test the empty ones4 ,but there weren't any empty ones4 ,they told me they had all been taken down to the freight station yesterday to be shipped back to the camp4 ,i hope they haven't gone yet4 ,let's drive around and see if they are there40 ,the freight-master was just leaving1 but when he learned we were from the hall he consented to let us examine the bottles4 ,they were corked and in wooden cases1 which protected them perfectly4 ,by the light of the station lamps and the aid of a pocket-lens1 ,kennedy examined them on the outside and satisfied himself that after being replaced in the wooden cases the bottles themselves had not been handled4 8,will you let me borrow some of these bottles to-night0 he asked the agent4 8,i'll give you my word that they will be returned safely to-morrow4 ,if necessary1 ,i'll get an order for them40 ,the station-agent reluctantly yielded2 especially as a small green banknote figured in the transaction4 ,craig and ,i tenderly lifted the big bottles in their cases into our trap and drove back to our rooms in the hotel4 ,it quite excited the hangers-on to see us drive up with a lot of empty five-gallon bottles and carry them up-stairs1 but ,i had long ago given up having any fear of public opinion in carrying out anything ,craig wanted4 ,in our room we worked far into the night4 ,craig carefully swabbed out the bottom and sides of each bottle by inserting a little piece of cotton on the end of a long wire4 ,then he squeezed the water out of the cotton swab on small glass slides coated with agar-agar1 or ,japanese seaweed1 a medium in which germ-cultures multiply rapidly4 ,he put the slides away in a little oven with an alcohol-lamp which he had brought along1 leaving them to remain overnight at blood heat4 ,i had noticed all this time that he was very particular not to touch any of the bottles on the outside4 ,as for me1 ,i wouldn't have touched them for the world4 ,in fact1 ,i was getting so ,i hesitated to touch anything4 ,i was almost afraid to breathe1 though ,i knew there was no harm in that4 ,however1 it was not danger of infection in touching the bottles that made ,craig so careful4 ,he had noted1 in the dim light of the station lamps1 what seemed to be finger-marks on the bottles1 and they had interested him1 in fact1 had decided him on a further investigation of the bottles4 8,i am now going to bring out these very faint finger-prints on the bottles10 remarked ,craig1 proceeding with his examination in the better light of our room4 8,here is some powder known to chemists as 'grey powder'--mercury and chalk4 ,i sprinkle it over the faint markings1 so1 and then ,i brush it off with a camel's-hair brush lightly4 ,that brings out the imprint much more clearly1 as you can see4 ,for instance1 if you place your dry thumb on a piece of white paper you leave no visible impression4 ,if grey powder is sprinkled over the spot and then brushed off a distinct impression is seen4 ,if the impression of the fingers is left on something soft1 like wax1 it is often best to use printers' ink to bring out the ridges and patterns of the finger-marks4 ,and so on for various materials4 ,quite a science has been built up around finger-prints4 8,i wish ,i had that enlarging camera which ,i have in my laboratory4 ,however1 my ordinary camera will do1 for all ,i want is to preserve a record of these marks1 and ,i can enlarge the photographs later4 ,in the morning ,i will photograph these marks and you can do the developing of the films4 ,to-night we'll improvise the bathroom as a dark-room and get everything ready so that we can start in bright and early40 ,we were1 indeed1 up early4 ,one never has difficulty in getting up early in the country3 it is so noisy1 at least to a city-bred man4 ,city noise at five ,a4,m4 is sepulchral silence compared with bucolic activity at that hour4 ,there were a dozen negatives which ,i set about developing after ,craig had used up all our films4 ,meanwhile1 he busied himself adjusting his microscope and test-tubes and getting the agar slides ready for examination4 ,shirt-sleeves rolled up1 ,i was deeply immersed in my work when ,i heard a shout in the next room1 and the bathroom door flew open4 8,confound you1 ,kennedy1 do you want to ruin these films60 ,i cried4 ,he shut the door with a bang4 8,hurrah1 ,walter60 he exclaimed4 8,i think ,i have it1 at last4 ,i have just found some most promising colonies of the bacilli on one of my slides40 ,i almost dropped the pan of acid ,i was holding1 in my excitement4 8,well10 ,i said1 concealing my own surprise1 8,i've found out something1 too4 ,every one of these finger-prints so far is from the same pair of hands40 ,we scarcely ate any breakfast1 and were soon on our way up to the hall4 ,craig had provided himself at the local stationer's with an inking-pad1 such as is used for rubber stamps4 ,at the hall he proceeded to get the impressions of the fingers and thumbs of all the servants4 ,it was quite a long and difficult piece of work to compare the finger-prints we had taken with those photographed1 in spite of the fact that writers descant on the ease with which criminals are traced by this system devised by the famous ,galton4 ,however1 we at last finished the job between us2 or rather ,craig finished it1 with an occasional remark from me4 ,his dexterity amazed me2 it was more than mere book knowledge4 ,for a moment we sat regarding each other hopelessly4 ,none of the finger-prints taken at the hall tallied with the photographed prints4 ,then ,craig rang for the housekeeper1 a faithful old soul whom even the typhoid scare could not budge from her post4 8,are you sure ,i have seen all the servants who were at the hall while ,mr4 ,bisbee was here0 asked ,craig4 8,why1 no1 sir--you didn't ask that4 ,you asked to see all who are here now4 ,there is only one who has left1 the cook1 ,bridget ,fallon4 ,she left a couple of days ago--said she was going back to ,new ,york to get another job4 ,glad enough ,i was to get rid of her1 too1 for she was drunk most of the time after the typhoid appeared40 8,well1 ,walter1 ,i guess we shall have to go back to ,new ,york again1 then10 exclaimed ,kennedy4 8,oh1 ,i beg pardon1 ,mrs4 ,rawson1 for interrupting4 ,thank you ever so much4 ,where did ,bridget come from80 8,she came well recommended1 sir4 ,here is the letter in my writing-desk4 ,she had been employed by the ,caswell-,joneses at ,shelter ,island before she came here40 8,i may keep this letter0 asked ,craig1 scanning it quickly4 8,yes40 8,by the way1 where were the bottles of spring water kept0 8,in the kitchen40 8,did ,bridget take charge of them80 8,yes40 8,did ,mr4 ,bisbee have any guests during the last week that he was here80 8,only ,mr4 ,denny one night40 8,h'm60 exclaimed ,craig4 8,well1 it will not be so hard for us to unravel this matter1 after all1 when we get back to the city4 ,we must make that noon train1 ,walter4 ,there is nothing more for us to do here40 ,emerging from the 8,tube0 at ,ninth ,street1 ,craig hustled me into a taxicab1 and in almost no time we were at police headquarters4 ,fortunately1 ,inspector ,barney ,o',connor was in and in an amiable mood1 too1 for ,kennedy had been careful that the ,central ,office received a large share of credit for the ,kerr ,parker case4 ,craig sketched hastily the details of this new case4 ,o',connor's face was a study4 ,his honest blue ,irish eyes fairly bulged in wonder1 and when ,craig concluded with a request for help ,i think ,o',connor would have given him anything in the office1 just to figure in the case4 8,first1 ,i want one of your men to go to the surrogate's office and get the original of the will4 ,i shall return it within a couple of hours--all ,i want to do is to make a photographic copy4 ,then another man must find this lawyer1 ,james ,denny1 and in some way get his finger-prints--you must arrange that yourself4 ,and send another fellow up to the employment offices on ,fourth ,avenue and have him locate this cook1 ,bridget ,fallon4 ,i want her finger-prints1 too4 ,perhaps she had better be detained1 for ,i don't want her to get away4 ,oh1 and say1 ,o',connor1 do you want to finish this case up like the crack of a whip to-night80 8,i'm game1 sir4 ,what of it80 8,let me see4 ,it is now four o'clock4 ,if you can get hold of all these people in time ,i think ,i shall be ready for the final scene to-night--say1 at nine4 ,you know how to arrange it4 ,have them all present at my laboratory at nine1 and ,i promise we shall have a story that will get into the morning papers with leaded type on the front page40 8,now1 ,walter10 he added1 as we hurried down to the taxicab again1 8,i want you to drop off at the ,department of ,health with this card to the commissioner4 ,i believe you know ,dr4 ,leslie4 ,well1 ask him if he knows anything about this ,bridget ,fallon4 ,i will go on up-town to the laboratory and get my apparatus ready4 ,you needn't come up till nine1 old fellow1 for ,i shall be busy till then1 but be sure when you come that you bring the record of this ,fallon woman if you have to beg1 borrow1 or steal it40 ,i didn't understand it1 but ,i took the card and obeyed implicitly4 ,it is needless to say that ,i was keyed up to the greatest pitch of excitement during my interview with the health commissioner1 when ,i finally got in to see him4 ,i hadn't talked to him long before a great light struck me1 and ,i began to see what ,craig was driving at4 ,the commissioner saw it first4 8,if you don't mind1 ,mr4 ,jameson40 he said1 after ,i had told him as much of my story as ,i could1 8will you call up ,professor ,kennedy and tell him ,i'd like very much to be present to-night myself80 8,certainly ,i will10 ,i replied1 glad to get my errand done in first-class fashion in that way4 ,things must have been running smoothly1 for while ,i was sitting in our apartment after dinner1 impatiently waiting for half-past eight1 when the commissioner had promised to call for me and go up to the laboratory1 the telephone rang4 ,it was ,craig4 8,walter1 might ,i ask a favour of you80 he said4 8,when the commissioner comes ask him to stop at the ,louis ,quinze and bring ,miss ,bisbee up1 too4 ,tell her it is important4 ,no more now4 ,things are going ahead fine40 ,promptly at nine we were assembled1 a curious crowd4 ,the health commissioner and the inspector1 being members of the same political party1 greeted each other by their first names4 ,miss ,bisbee was nervous1 ,bridget was abusive1 ,denny was sullen4 ,as for ,kennedy1 he was1 as usual1 as cool as a lump of ice4 ,and ,i--well1 ,i just sat on my feelings to keep myself quiet4 ,at one end of the room ,craig had placed a large white sheet such as he used in his stereopticon lectures1 while at the top of the tier of seats that made a sort of little amphitheatre out of his lecture-room his stereopticon sputtered4 8,moving pictures to-night1 eh80 said ,inspector ,o',connor4 8,not exactly10 said ,craig1 8though--yes1 they will be moving in another sense4 ,now1 if we are all ready1 ,i'll switch off the electric lights40 ,the calcium sputtered some more1 and a square of light was thrown on the sheet4 ,kennedy snapped a little announcer such as lecturers use4 8,let me invite your attention to these enlargements of finger-prints10 he began1 as a huge thumb appeared on the screen4 8,here we have a series of finger-prints which ,i will show one after another slowly4 ,they are all of the fingers of the same person1 and they were found on some empty bottles of spring water used at ,bisbee ,hall during the two weeks previous to the departure of ,mr4 ,bisbee for ,new ,york4 8,here are1 in succession1 the finger-prints of the various servants employed about the house--and of a guest10 added ,craig1 with a slight change of tone4 8,they differ markedly from the finger-prints on the glass10 he continued1 as one after another appeared1 8all except this last one4 ,that is identical4 ,it is1 ,inspector1 what we call a composite type of finger-print--in this case a combination of what is called the 'loop' and 'whorl' types40 ,no sound broke the stillness save the sputtering of the oxygen on the calcium of the stereopticon4 8,the owner of the fingers from which these prints were made is in this room4 ,it was from typhoid germs on these fingers that the fever was introduced into the drinking water at ,bisbee ,hall40 ,kennedy paused to emphasise the statement1 then continued4 8,i am now going to ask ,dr4 ,leslie to give us a little talk on a recent discovery in the field of typhoid fever--you understand1 ,commissioner1 what ,i mean1 ,i believe80 8,perfectly4 ,shall ,i mention names80 8,no1 not yet40 8,well10 began ,dr4 ,leslie1 clearing his throat1 8within the past year or two we have made a most weird and startling discovery in typhoid fever4 ,we have found what we now call 'typhoid carriers'--persons who do not have the disease themselves1 perhaps never have had it1 but who are literally living test-tubes of the typhoid bacillus4 ,it is positively uncanny4 ,everywhere they go they scatter the disease4 ,down at the department we have the records of a number of such instances1 and our men in the research laboratories have come to the conclusion that1 far from being of rare occurrence1 these cases are comparatively common4 ,i have in mind one particular case of a servant girl1 who1 during the past five or six years1 has been employed in several families4 8,in every family typhoid fever has later broken out4 ,experts have traced out at least thirty1 cases and several deaths due to this one person4 ,in another case we found an epidemic up in ,harlem to be due to a typhoid carrier on a remote farm in ,connecticut4 ,this carrier1 innocently enough1 it is true1 contaminated the milk-supply coming from that farm4 ,the result was over fifty cases of typhoid here in this city4 8,however1 to return to the case of the servant ,i have mentioned4 ,last spring we had her under surveillance1 but as there was no law by which we could restrain her permanently she is still at large4 ,i think one of the ,sunday papers at the time had an account of her--they called her ',typhoid ,bridget1' and in red ink she was drawn across the page in gruesome fashion1 frying the skulls of her victims in a frying-pan over a roaring fire4 ,that particular typhoid carrier1 ,i understand--0 8,excuse me1 ,commissioner1 if ,i interrupt1 but ,i think we have carried this part of the programme far enough to be absolutely convincing10 said ,craig4 8,thank you very much for the clear way in which you have put it40 ,craig snapped the announcer1 and a letter appeared on the screen4 ,he said nothing1 but let us read it through4 ,to whom it may concern3 ,this is to certify that ,bridget ,fallon has been employed in my family at ,shelter ,island for the past season and that ,i have found her a reliable servant and an excellent cook4 ,a4 ,,st4 ,,john ,,caswell-,,jones4 8,before ,god1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,i'm innocent10 screeched ,bridget4 8,don't have me arrested4 ,i'm innocent4 ,i'm innocent40 ,craig gently1 but firmly1 forced her back into her chair4 ,again the announcer snapped4 ,this time the last page of ,mr4 ,bisbee's will appeared on the sheet1 ending with his signature and the witnesses4 8,i'm now going to show these two specimens of handwriting very greatly enlarged10 he said1 as the stereopticon plates were shifted again4 8,an author of many scientific works1 ,dr4 ,lindsay ,johnson1 of ,london1 has recently elaborated a new theory with regard to individuality in handwriting4 ,he maintains that in certain diseases a person's pulse beats are individual1 and that no one suffering from any such disease can control1 even for a brief space of time1 the frequency or peculiar irregularities of his heart's action1 as shown by a chart recording his pulsation4 ,such a chart is obtained for medical purposes by means of a sphygmograph1 an instrument fitted to the patient's forearm and supplied with a needle1 which can be so arranged as to record automatically on a prepared sheet of paper the peculiar force and frequency of the pulsation4 ,or the pulsation may be simply observed in the rise and fall of a liquid in a tube4 ,dr4 ,johnson holds the opinion that a pen in the hand of a writer serves1 in a modified degree1 the same end as the needle in the first-named form of the sphygmograph and that in such a person's handwriting one can see by projecting the letters1 greatly magnified1 on a screen1 the scarcely perceptible turns and quivers made in the lines by the spontaneous action of that person's peculiar pulsation4 8,to prove this1 the doctor carried out an experiment at ,charing ,cross ,hospital4 ,at his request a number of patients suffering from heart and kidney diseases wrote the ,lord's ,prayer in their ordinary handwriting4 ,the different manuscripts were then taken and examined microscopically4 ,by throwing them1 highly magnified1 on a screen1 the jerks or involuntary motions due to the patient's peculiar pulsations were distinctly visible4 ,the handwriting of persons in normal health1 says ,dr4 ,johnson1 does not always show their pulse beats4 ,what one can say1 however1 is that when a document1 purporting to be written by a certain person1 contains traces of pulse beats and the normal handwriting of that person does not show them1 then clearly that document is a forgery4 8,now1 in these two specimens of handwriting which we have enlarged it is plain that the writers of both of them suffered from a certain peculiar disease of the heart4 ,moreover1 ,i am prepared to show that the pulse beats exhibited in the case of certain pen-strokes in one of these documents are exhibited in similar strokes in the other4 ,furthermore1 ,i have ascertained from his family physician1 whose affidavit ,i have here1 that ,mr4 ,bisbee did not suffer from this or any other form of heart disease4 ,mr4 ,caswell-,jones1 in addition to wiring me that he refused to write ,bridget ,fallon a recommendation after the typhoid broke out in his country house1 also says he does not suffer from heart disease in any form4 ,from the tremulous character of the letters and figures in both these documents1 which when magnified is the more easily detected1 ,i therefore conclude that both are forgeries1 and ,i am ready to go farther and say that they are forgeries from the same hand4 8,it usually takes a couple of weeks after infection for typhoid to develop1 a time sufficient in itself to remove suspicion from acts which might otherwise be scrutinised very carefully if happening immediately before the disease developed4 ,i may add1 also1 that it is well known that stout people do very poorly when they contract typhoid1 especially if they are old4 ,mr4 ,bisbee was both stout and old4 ,to contract typhoid was for him a virtual death-warrant4 ,knowing all these facts1 a certain person purposely sought out a crafty means of introducing typhoid fever into ,mr4 ,bisbee's family4 ,that person1 furthermore1 was inoculated against typhoid three times during the month before the disease was devilishly and surreptitiously introduced into ,bisbee ,hall1 in order to protect himself or herself should it become necessary for that person to visit ,bisbee ,hall4 ,that person1 ,i believe1 is the one who suffered from an aneurism of the heart1 the writer1 or rather the forger1 of the two documents ,i have shown1 by one of which he or she was to profit greatly by the death of ,mr4 ,bisbee and the founding of an alleged school in a distant part of the country--a subterfuge1 if you recall1 used in at least one famous case for which the convicted perpetrator is now under a life sentence in ,sing ,sing4 8,i will ask ,dr4 ,leslie to take this stethoscope and examine the hearts of everyone in the room and tell me whether there is anyone here suffering from an aneurism40 ,the calcium light ceased to sputter4 ,one person after another was examined by the health commissioner4 ,was it merely my imagination1 or did ,i really hear a heart beating with wild leaps as if it would burst the bonds of its prison and make its escape if possible8 ,perhaps it was only the engine of the commissioner's machine out on the campus driveway4 ,i don't know4 ,at any rate1 he went silently from one to the other1 betraying not even by his actions what he discovered with the stethoscope4 ,the suspense was terrible4 ,i felt ,miss ,bisbee's hand involuntarily grasp my arm convulsively4 ,without disturbing the silence1 ,i reached a glass of water standing near me on ,craig's lecture-table and handed it to her4 ,the commissioner was bending over the lawyer1 trying to adjust the stethoscope better to his ears4 ,the lawyer's head was resting heavily on his hand1 and he was heaped up in an awkward position in the cramped lecture-room seat4 ,it seemed an age as ,dr4 ,leslie tried to adjust the stethoscope4 ,even ,craig felt the excitement4 ,while the commissioner hesitated1 ,kennedy reached over and impatiently switched on the electric light in full force4 ,as the light flooded the room1 blinding us for the instant1 the large form of ,dr4 ,leslie stood between us and the lawyer4 8,what does the stethoscope tell you1 ,doctor80 asked ,craig1 leaning forward expectantly4 ,he was as unprepared for the answer as any of us4 8,it tells me that a higher court than those of ,new ,york has passed judgment on this astounding criminal4 ,the aneurism has burst40 ,i felt a soft weight fall on my shoulder4 ,the ,morning ,star did not have the story1 after all4 ,i missed the greatest 8scoop0 of my life seeing ,eveline ,bisbee safely to her home after she had recovered from the shock of ,denny's exposure and punishment4 ,,iv4 ,the ,deadly ,tube 8,for ,heaven's sake1 ,gregory1 what is the matter80 asked ,craig ,kennedy as a tall1 nervous man stalked into our apartment one evening4 8,jameson1 shake hands with ,dr4 ,gregory4 ,what's the matter1 ,doctor8 ,surely your ,x-ray work hasn't knocked you out like this80 ,the doctor shook hands with me mechanically4 ,his hand was icy4 8,the blow has fallen10 he exclaimed1 as he sank limply into a chair and tossed an evening paper over to ,kennedy4 ,in red ink on the first page1 in the little square headed 8,latest ,news10 ,kennedy read the caption1 8,society ,woman ,crippled for ,life by ,x-,ray ,treatment40 8,a terrible tragedy was revealed in the suit begun today10 continued the article1 8by ,mrs4 ,huntington ,close against ,dr4 ,james ,gregory1 an ,x-ray specialist with offices at ,madison ,avenue1 to recover damages for injuries which ,mrs4 ,close alleges she received while under his care4 ,several months ago she began a course of ,x-ray treatment to remove a birthmark on her neck4 ,in her complaint ,mrs4 ,close alleges that ,dr4 ,gregory has carelessly caused ,x-ray dermatitis1 a skin disease of cancerous nature1 and that she has also been rendered a nervous wreck through the effects of the rays4 ,simultaneously with filing the suit she left home and entered a private hospital4 ,mrs4 ,close is one of the most popular hostesses in the smart set1 and her loss will be keenly felt40 8,what am ,i to do1 ,kennedy80 asked the doctor imploringly4 8,you remember ,i told you the other day about this case--that there was something queer about it1 that after a few treatments ,i was afraid to carry on any more and refused to do so8 ,she really has dermatitis and nervous prostration1 exactly as she alleges in her complaint4 ,but1 before ,heaven1 ,kennedy1 ,i can't see how she could possibly have been so affected by the few treatments ,i gave her4 ,and to-night1 just as ,i was leaving the office1 ,i received a telephone call from her husband's attorney1 ,lawrence1 very kindly informing me that the case would be pushed to the limit4 ,i tell you1 it looks black for me40 8,what can they do80 8,do8 ,do you suppose any jury is going to take enough expert testimony to outweigh the tragedy of a beautiful woman8 ,do8 ,why1 they can ruin me1 even if ,i get a verdict of acquittal4 ,they can leave me with a reputation for carelessness that no mere court decision can ever overcome40 8,gregory1 you can rely on me10 said ,kennedy4 8,anything ,i can do to help you ,i will gladly do4 ,jameson and ,i were on the point of going out to dinner4 ,join us1 and after that we will go down to your office and talk things over40 8,you are really too kind10 murmured the doctor4 ,the air of relief that was written on his face was pathetically eloquent4 8,now not a word about the case till we have had dinner10 commanded ,craig4 8,i see very plainly that you have been worrying about the blow for a long time4 ,well1 it has fallen4 ,the neat thing to do is to look over the situation and see where we stand40 ,dinner over1 we rode down-town in the subway1 and ,gregory ushered us into an office-building on ,madison ,avenue1 where he had a very handsome suite of several rooms4 ,we sat own in his waiting-room to discuss the affair4 8,it is indeed a very tragic case10 began ,kennedy1 8almost more tragic than if the victim had been killed outright4 ,mrs4 ,huntington ,close is--or rather ,i suppose ,i should say was--one of the famous beauties of the city4 ,from what the paper says1 her beauty has been hopelessly ruined by this dermatitis1 which1 ,i understand1 ,doctor1 is practically incurable40 ,dr4 ,gregory nodded1 and ,i could not help following his eyes as he looked at his own rough and scarred hands4 8,also10 continued ,craig1 with his eyes half closed and his finger-tips together1 as if1 he were taking a mental inventory of the facts in the case1 8her nerves are so shattered that she will be years in recovering1 if she ever recovers40 8,yes10 said the doctor simply4 8,i myself1 for instance1 am subject to the most unexpected attacks of neuritis4 ,but1 of course1 ,i am under the influence of the rays fifty or sixty times a day1 while she had only a few treatments at intervals of many days40 8,now1 on the other hand10 resumed ,craig1 8,i know you1 ,gregory1 very well4 ,only the other day1 before any of this came out1 you told me the whole story with your fears as to the outcome4 ,i know that that lawyer of ,close's has been keeping this thing hanging over your head for a long time4 ,and ,i also know that you are one of the most careful ,x-ray operators in the city4 ,if this suit goes against you1 one of the most brilliant men of science in ,america will be ruined4 ,now1 having said this much1 let me ask you to describe just exactly what treatments you gave ,mrs4 ,close40 ,the doctor led us into his ,x-ray room adjoining4 ,a number of ,x-ray tubes were neatly put away in a great glass case1 and at one end of the room was an operating-table with an ,x-ray apparatus suspended over it4 ,a glance at the room showed that ,kennedy's praise was not exaggerated4 8,how many treatments did you give ,mrs4 ,close80 asked ,kennedy4 8,not over a dozen1 ,i should say20 replied ,gregory4 8,i have a record of them and the dates1 which ,i will give you presently4 ,certainly they were not numerous enough or frequent enough to have caused a dermatitis such as she has4 ,besides1 look here4 ,i have an apparatus which1 for safety to the patient1 has few equals in the country4 ,this big lead-glass bowl1 which is placed over my ,x-ray tube when in use1 cuts off the rays at every point except exactly where they are needed40 ,he switched on the electric current1 and the apparatus began to sputter4 ,the pungent odour of ozone from the electric discharge filled the room4 ,through the lead-glass bowl ,i could see the ,x-ray tube inside suffused with its peculiar1 yellowish-green light1 divided into two hemispheres of different shades4 ,that1 ,i knew1 was the cathode ray1 not the ,x-ray1 for the ,x-ray itself1 which streams outside the tube1 is invisible to the human eye4 ,the doctor placed in our hands a couple of fluoroscopes1 an apparatus by which ,x-rays can be detected4 ,it consists simply of a closed box with an opening to which the eyes are placed4 ,the opposite end of the box is a piece of board coated with a salt such as platino-barium cyanide4 ,when the ,x-ray strikes this salt it makes it glow1 or fluoresce1 and objects held between the ,x-ray tube and the fluoroscope cast shadows according to the density of the parts which the ,x-rays penetrate4 ,with the lead-glass bowl removed1 the ,x-ray tube sent forth its wonderful invisible radiation and made the back of the fluoroscope glow with light4 ,i could see the bones of my fingers as ,i held them up between the ,x-ray tube and the fluoroscope4 ,but with the lead-glass bowl in position over the tube1 the fluoroscope was simply a black box into which ,i looked and saw nothing4 ,so very little of the radiation escaped from the bowl that it was negligible--except at one point where there was an opening in the bottom of the bowl to allow the rays to pass freely through exactly on the spot on the patient where they were to be used4 8,the dermatitis1 they say1 has appeared all over her body1 particularly on her head and shoulders10 added ,dr4 ,gregory4 8,now ,i have shown you my apparatus to impress on you how really impossible it would have been for her to contract it from her treatments here4 ,i've made thousands of exposures with never an ,x-ray burn before--except to myself4 ,as for myself1 ,i'm as careful as ,i can be1 but you can see ,i am under the rays very often1 while the patient is only under them once in a while40 ,to illustrate his care he pointed out to us a cabinet directly back of the operating-table1 lined with thick sheets of lead4 ,from this cabinet he conducted most of his treatments as far as possible4 ,a little peep-hole enabled him to see the patient and the ,x-ray apparatus1 while an arrangement of mirrors and a fluorescent screen enabled him to see exactly what the ,x-rays were disclosing1 without his leaving the lead-lined cabinet4 8,i can think of no more perfect protection for either patient or operator10 said ,kennedy admiringly4 8,by the way1 did ,mrs4 ,close come alone80 8,no1 the first time ,mr4 ,close came with her4 ,after that1 she came with her ,french maid40 ,the next day we paid a visit to ,mrs4 ,close herself at the private hospital4 ,kennedy had been casting about in his mind for an excuse to see her1 and ,i had suggested that we go as reporters from the ,star4 ,fortunately after sending up my card on which ,i had written ,craig's name we were at length allowed to go up to her room4 ,we found the patient reclining in an easy chair1 swathed in bandages1 a wreck of her former self4 ,i felt the tragedy keenly4 ,all that social position and beauty had meant to her had been suddenly blasted4 8,you will pardon my presumption10 began ,craig1 8but1 ,mrs4 ,close1 ,i assure you that ,i am actuated by the best of motives4 ,we represent the ,new ,york ,star--0 8,isn't it terrible enough that ,i should suffer so10 she interrupted1 8but must the newspapers hound me1 too80 8,i beg your pardon1 ,mrs4 ,close10 said ,craig1 8but you must be aware that the news of your suit of ,dr4 ,gregory has now become public property4 ,i couldn't stop the ,star1 much less the other papers1 from talking about it4 ,but ,i can and will do this1 ,mrs4 ,close4 ,i will see that justice is done to you and all others concerned4 ,believe me1 ,i am not here as a yellow journalist to make newspaper copy out of your misfortune4 ,i am here to get at the truth sympathetically4 ,incidentally1 ,i may be able to render you a service1 too40 8,you can render me no service except to expedite the suit against that careless doctor--,i hate him40 8,perhaps10 said ,craig4 8,but suppose someone else should be proved to have been really responsible8 ,would you still want to press the suit and let the guilty person escape80 ,she bit her lip4 8,what is it you want of me80 she asked4 8,i merely want permission to visit your rooms at your home and to talk with your maid4 ,i do not mean to spy on you1 far from it2 but consider1 ,mrs4 ,close1 if ,i should be able to get at the bottom of this thing1 find out the real cause of your misfortune1 perhaps show that you are the victim of a cruel wrong rather than of carelessness1 would you not be willing to let me go ahead8 ,i am frank to tell you that ,i suspect there is more to this affair than you yourself have any idea of40 8,no1 you are mistaken1 ,mr4 ,kennedy4 ,i know the cause of it4 ,it was my love of beauty4 ,i couldn't resist the temptation to get rid of even a slight defect4 ,if ,i had left well enough alone ,i should not be here now4 ,a friend recommended ,dr4 ,gregory to my husband1 who took me there4 ,my husband wishes me to remain at home1 but ,i tell him ,i feel more comfortable here in the hospital4 ,i shall never go to that house again--the memory of the torture of sleepless nights in my room there when ,i felt my good looks going1 going0--she shuddered--8is such that ,i can never forget it4 ,he says ,i would be better off there1 but no1 ,i cannot go4 ,still10 she continued wearily1 8there can be no harm in your talking to my maid40 ,kennedy noted attentively what she was saying4 8,i thank you1 ,mrs4 ,close10 he replied4 8,i am sure you will not regret your permission4 ,would you be so kind as to give me a note to her80 ,she rang1 dictated a short note to a nurse1 signed it1 and languidly dismissed us4 ,i don't know that ,i ever felt as depressed as ,i did after that interview with one who had entered a living death to ambition1 for while ,craig had done all the talking ,i had absorbed nothing but depression4 ,i vowed that if ,gregory or anybody else was responsible ,i would do my share toward bringing on him retribution4 ,the ,closes lived in a splendid big house in the ,murray ,hill section4 ,the presentation of the note quickly brought ,mrs4 ,close's maid down to us4 ,she had not gone to the hospital because ,mrs4 ,close had considered the services of the trained nurses quite sufficient4 ,yes1 the maid had noticed how her mistress had been failing1 had noticed it long ago1 in fact almost at the time when she had begun the ,x-ray treatment4 ,she had seemed to improve once when she went away for a few days1 but that was at the start1 and directly after her return she grew worse again1 until she was no longer herself4 8,did ,dr4 ,gregory1 the ,x-ray specialist1 ever attend ,mrs4 ,close at her home1 in her room80 asked ,craig4 8,yes1 once1 twice1 he call1 but he do no good10 she said with her ,french accent4 8,did ,mrs4 ,close have other callers80 8,but1 m'sieur1 everyone in society has many4 ,what does m'sieur mean80 8,frequent callers--a ,mr4 ,lawrence1 for instance80 8,oh1 yes1 ,mr4 ,lawrence frequently40 8,when ,mr4 ,close was at home80 8,yes1 on business and on business1 too1 when he was not at home4 ,he is the attorney1 m'sieur40 8,how did ,mrs4 ,close receive him80 8,he is the attorney1 m'sieur10 ,marie repeated persistently4 8,and he1 did he always call on business80 8,oh1 yes1 always on business1 but well1 madame1 she was a very beautiful woman4 ,perhaps he like beautiful women--eh bien8 ,that was before the ,doctor ,gregory treated madame4 ,after the doctor treated madame ,m'sieur ,lawrence do not call so often4 ,that's all40 8,are you thoroughly devoted to ,mrs4 ,close8 ,would you do a favour for her80 asked ,craig point-blank4 8,sir1 ,i would give my life1 almost1 for madame4 ,she was always so good to me40 8,i don't ask you to give your life for her1 ,marie10 said ,craig1 8but you can do her a great service1 a very great service40 8,i will do it40 8,to-night10 said ,craig1 8,i want you to sleep in ,mrs4 ,close's room4 ,you can do so1 for ,i know that ,mr4 ,close is living at the ,st4 ,francis ,club until his wife returns from the sanitarium4 ,to-morrow morning come to my laboratory0--,craig handed her his card--8and ,i will tell you what to do next4 ,by the way1 don't say anything to anyone in the house about it1 and keep a sharp watch on the actions of any of the servants who may go into ,mrs4 ,close's room40 8,well10 said ,craig1 8there is nothing more to be done immediately40 ,we had once more regained the street and were walking up-town4 ,we walked in silence for several blocks4 8,yes10 mused ,craig1 8there is something you can do1 after all1 ,walter4 ,i would like you to look up ,gregory and ,close and ,lawrence4 ,i already know something about them4 ,but you can find out a good deal with your newspaper connections4 ,i would like to have every bit of scandal that has ever been connected with them1 or with ,mrs4 ,close1 or10 he added significantly1 8with any other woman4 ,it isn't necessary to say that not a breath of it must be published--yet40 ,i found a good deal of gossip1 but very little of it1 indeed1 seemed to me at the time to be of importance4 ,dropping in at the ,st4 ,francis ,club1 where ,i had some friends1 ,i casually mentioned the troubles of the ,huntington ,closes4 ,i was surprised to learn that ,close spent little of his time at the ,club1 none at home1 and only dropped into the hospital to make formal inquiries as to his wife's condition4 ,it then occurred to me to drop into the office of ,society ,squibs1 whose editor ,i had long known4 ,the editor told me1 with that nameless look of the cynical scandalmonger1 that if ,i wanted to learn anything about ,huntington ,close ,i had best watch ,mrs4 ,frances ,tulkington1 a very wealthy ,western divorcee about whom the smart set were much excited1 particularly those whose wealth made it difficult to stand the pace of society as it was going at present4 8,and before the tragedy10 said the editor with another nameless look1 as if he were imparting a most valuable piece of gossip1 8it was the talk of the town1 the attention that ,close's lawyer was paying to ,mrs4 ,close4 ,but to her credit let me say that she never gave us a chance to hint at anything1 and--well1 you know us2 we don't need much to make snappy society news40 ,the editor then waged even more confidential1 for if ,i am anything at all1 ,i am a good listener1 and ,i have found that often by sitting tight and listening ,i can get more than if ,i were a too-eager questioner4 8,it really was a shame1--the way that man ,lawrence played his game10 he went on4 8,i understand that it was he who introduced ,close to ,mrs4 ,t4 ,they were both his clients4 ,lawrence had fought her case in the courts when she sued old ,tulkington for divorce1 and a handsome settlement he got for her1 too4 ,they say his fee ran up into the hundred thousands--contingent1 you know4 ,i don't know what his game was0--here he lowered his voice to a whisper 8but they say ,close owes him a good deal of money4 ,you can figure it out for yourself as you like4 ,now1 ,i've told you all ,i know4 ,come in again1 ,jameson1 when you want some more scandal1 and remember me to the boys down on the ,star40 ,the following day the maid visited ,kennedy at his laboratory while ,i was reporting to him on the result of my investigations4 ,she looked worn and haggard4 ,she had spent a sleepless night and begged that ,kennedy would not ask her to repeat the experiment4 8,i can promise you1 ,marie10 he said1 8that you will rest better to-night4 ,but you must spend one more night in ,mrs4 ,close's room4 ,by the way1 can you arrange for me to go through the room this morning when you go back80 ,marie said she could1 and an hour or so later ,craig and ,i quietly slipped into the ,close residence under her guidance4 ,he was carrying something that looked like a miniature barrel1 and ,i had another package which he had given me1 both carefully wrapped up4 ,the butler eyed us suspiciously1 but ,marie spoke a few words to him and ,i think showed him ,mrs4 ,close's note4 ,anyhow he said nothing4 ,within the room that the unfortunate woman had occupied ,kennedy took the coverings off the packages4 ,it was nothing but a portable electric vacuum cleaner1 which he quickly attached and set running4 ,up and down the floor1 around and under the bed he pushed the cleaner4 ,he used the various attachments to clean the curtains1 the walls1 and even the furniture4 ,particularly did he pay attention to the base board on the wall back of the bed4 ,then he carefully removed the dust from the cleaner and sealed it up in a leaden box4 ,he was about to detach and pack up the cleaner when another idea seemed to occur to him4 8,might as well make a thorough job of it1 ,walter10 he said1 adjusting the apparatus again4 8,i've cleaned everything but the mattress and the brass bars behind the mattress on the bed4 ,now ,i'll tackle them4 ,i think we ought to go into the suction-cleaning business--more money in it than in being a detective1 ,i'll bet40 ,the cleaner was run over and under the mattress and along every crack and cranny of the brass bed4 ,this done and this dust also carefully stowed away1 we departed1 very much to the mystification of ,marie and1 ,i could not help feeling1 of other eyes that peered in through keyholes or cracks in doors4 8,at any rate10 said ,kennedy exultingly1 8,i think we have stolen a march on them4 ,i don't believe they were prepared for this1 not at least at this stage in the game4 ,don't ask me any questions1 ,walter4 ,then you will have no secrets to keep if anyone should try to pry them loose4 ,only remember that this man ,lawrence is a shrewd character40 ,the next day ,marie came1 looking even more careworn than before4 8,what's the matter1 mademoiselle80 asked ,craig4 8,didn't you pass a better night80 8,oh1 mon ,dieu1 ,i rest well1 yes4 ,but this morning1 while ,i am at breakfast1 ,mr4 ,close send for me4 ,he say that ,i am discharged4 ,some servant tell of your visit and he verry angr-ry4 ,and now what is to become of me--will madame his wife give a recommendation now80 8,walter1 we have been discovered10 exclaimed ,craig with considerable vexation4 ,then he remembered the poor girl who had been an involuntary sacrifice to our investigation4 ,turning to her he said3 8,marie1 ,i know several very good families1 and ,i am sure you will not suffer for what you have done by being faithful to your mistress4 ,only be patient a few days4 ,go live with some of your folks4 ,i will see that you are placed again40 ,the girl was profuse in her thanks as she dried her tears and departed4 8,i hadn't anticipated having my hand forced so soon10 said ,craig after she had gone1 leaving her address4 8,however1 we are on the right track4 ,what was it that you were going to tell me when ,marie came in80 8,something that may be very important1 ,craig10 ,i said1 8though ,i don't understand it myself4 ,pressure is being brought to bear on the ,star to keep this thing out of the papers1 or at least to minimise it40 8,i'm not surprised10 commented ,craig4 8,what do you mean by pressure being brought80 8,why1 ,close's lawyer1 ,lawrence1 called up the editor this morning--,i don't suppose that you know1 but he has some connection with the interests which control the ,star--and said that the activity of one of the reporters from the ,star1 ,jameson by name1 was very distasteful to ,mr4 ,close and that this reporter was employing a man named ,kennedy to assist him4 8,i don't understand it1 ,craig20 ,i confessed1 8but here one day they give the news to the papers1 and two days later they almost threaten us with suit if we don't stop publishing it40 8,it is perplexing10 said ,craig1 with the air of one who was not a bit perplexed1 but rather enlightened4 ,he pulled down the district telegraph messenger lever three times1 and we sat in silence for a while4 8,however10 he resumed1 8,i shall be ready for them to-night40 ,i said nothing4 ,several minutes elapsed4 ,then the messenger rapped on the door4 8,i want these two notes delivered right away10 said ,craig to the boy2 8here's a quarter for you4 ,now mind you don't get interested in a detective story and forget the notes4 ,if you are back here quickly with the receipts ,i'll give you another quarter4 ,now scurry along40 ,then1 after the boy had gone1 he said casually to me3 8,two notes to ,close and ,gregory1 asking them to be present with their attorneys to-night4 ,close will bring ,lawrence1 and ,gregory will bring a young lawyer named ,asche1 a very clever fellow4 ,the notes are so worded that they can hardly refuse the invitation40 ,meanwhile ,i carried out an assignment for the ,star1 and telephoned my story in so as to be sure of being with ,craig at the crucial moment4 ,for ,i was thoroughly curious about his next move in the game4 ,i found him still in his laboratory attaching two coils of thin wire to the connections on the outside of a queer-looking little black box4 8,what's that0 ,i asked1 eyeing the sinister looking little box suspiciously4 8,an infernal machine8 ,you're not going to blow the culprit into eternity1 ,i hope40 8,never mind what it is1 ,walter4 ,you'll find that out in due time4 ,it may or it may not be an infernal machine of a different sort than any you have probably ever heard of4 ,the less you know now the less likely you are to give anything away by a look or an act4 ,come now1 make yourself useful as well as ornamental4 ,take these wires and lay them in the cracks of the floor1 and be careful not to let them show4 ,a little dust over them will conceal them beautifully40 ,craig now placed the black box back of one of the chairs well down toward the floor1 where it could hardly have been perceived unless one were suspecting something of the sort4 ,while he was doing so ,i ran the wires across the floor1 and around the edge of the room to the door4 8,there10 he said1 taking the wires from me4 8,now ,i'll complete the job by carrying them into the next room4 ,and while ,i'm doing it1 go over the wires again and make sure they are absolutely concealed40 ,that night six men gathered in ,kennedy's laboratory4 ,in my utter ignorance of what was about to happen ,i was perfectly calm1 and so were all the rest1 except ,gregory4 ,he was easily the most nervous of us all1 though his lawyer ,asche tried repeatedly to reassure him4 8,mr4 ,close10 began ,kennedy1 8if you and ,mr4 ,lawrence will sit over here on this side of the room while ,dr4 ,gregory and ,mr4 ,asche sit on the opposite side with ,mr4 ,jameson in the middle1 ,i think both of you opposing parties will be better suited4 ,for ,i apprehend that at various stages in what ,i am about to say both you1 ,mr4 ,close1 and you1 ,dr4 ,gregory1 will want to consult your attorneys4 ,that1 of course1 would be embarrassing1 if not impossible1 should you be sitting near each other4 ,now1 if we are ready1 ,i shall begin40 ,kennedy placed a small leaden casket on the table of his lecture hall4 8,in this casket10 he commenced solemnly1 8there is a certain substance which ,i have recovered from the dust swept up by a vacuum cleaner in the room of ,mrs4 ,close40 ,one could feel the very air of the room surcharged with excitement4 ,craig drew on a pair of gloves and carefully opened the casket4 ,with his thumb and forefinger he lifted out a glass tube and held it gingerly at arm's length4 ,my eyes were riveted on it1 for the bottom of the tube glowed with a dazzling point of light4 ,both ,gregory and his attorney and ,close and ,lawrence whispered to each other when the tube was displayed1 as indeed they did throughout the whole exhibition of ,kennedy's evidence4 8,no infernal machine was ever more subtle10 said ,craig1 8than the tube which ,i hold in my hand4 ,the imagination of the most sensational writer of fiction might well be thrilled with the mysteries of this fatal tube and its power to work fearful deeds4 ,a larger quantity of this substance in the tube would produce on me1 as ,i now hold it1 incurable burns1 just as it did on its discoverer before his death4 ,a smaller amount1 of course1 would not act so quickly4 ,the amount in this tube1 if distributed about1 would produce the burns inevitably1 providing ,i remained near enough for a long-enough time40 ,craig paused a moment to emphasise his remarks4 8,here in my hand1 gentlemen1 ,i hold the price of a woman's beauty40 ,he stopped again for several moments1 then resumed4 8,and now1 having shown it to you1 for my own safety ,i will place it back in its leaden casket40 ,drawing off his gloves1 he proceeded4 8,i have found out by a cablegram to-day that seven weeks ago an order for one hundred milligrams of radium bromide at thirty-five dollars a milligram from a certain person in ,america was filled by a corporation dealing in this substance40 ,kennedy said this with measured words1 and ,i felt a thrill run through me as he developed his case4 8,at that same time1 ,mrs4 ,close began a series of treatments with an ,x-ray specialist in ,new ,york10 pursued ,kennedy4 8,now1 it is not generally known outside scientific circles1 but the fact is that in their physiological effects the ,x-ray and radium are quite one and the same4 ,radium possesses this advantage1 however1 that no elaborate apparatus is necessary for its use4 ,and1 in addition1 the emanation from radium is steady and constant1 whereas the ,x-ray at best varies slightly with changing conditions of the current and vacuum in the ,x-ray tube4 ,still1 the effects on the body are much the same4 8,a few days before this order was placed ,i recall the following despatch which appeared in the ,new ,york papers4 ,i will read it4 8',liege1 ,belgium1 ,oct4--1 #aiaj4 ,what is believed to be the first criminal case in which radium figures as a death-dealing agent is engaging public attention at this university town4 ,a wealthy old bachelor1 ,pailin by name1 was found dead in his flat4 ,a stroke of apoplexy was at first believed to have caused his death1 but a close examination revealed a curious discolouration of his skin4 ,a specialist called in to view the body gave as his opinion that the old man had been exposed for a long time to the emanations of ,x-ray or radium4 ,the police theory is that ,m4 ,pailin was done to death by a systematic application of either ,x-rays or radium by a student in the university who roomed next to him4 ,the student has disappeared4' 8,now here1 ,i believe1 was the suggestion which this ,american criminal followed1 for ,i cut it out of the paper rather expecting sooner or later that some clever person would act on it4 ,i have thoroughly examined the room of ,mrs4 ,close4 ,she herself told me she never wanted to return to it1 that her memory of sleepless nights in it was too vivid4 ,that served to fix the impression that ,i had already formed from reading this clipping4 ,either the ,x-ray or radium had caused her dermatitis and nervousness4 ,which was it8 ,i wished to be sure that ,i would make no mistake4 ,of course ,i knew it was useless to look for an ,x-ray machine in or near ,mrs4 ,close's room4 ,such a thing could never have been concealed4 ,the alternative8 ,radium6 ,ah6 that was different4 ,i determined on an experiment4 ,mrs4 ,close's maid was prevailed on to sleep in her mistress's room4 ,of course radiations of brief duration would do her no permanent harm1 although they would produce their effect1 nevertheless4 ,in one night the maid became extremely nervous4 ,if she had stayed under them several nights no doubt the beginning of a dermatitis would have affected her1 if not more serious trouble4 ,a systematic application1 covering weeks and months1 might in the end even have led to death4 8,the next day ,i managed1 as ,i have said1 to go over the room thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner--a new one of my own which ,i had bought myself4 ,but tests of the dust which ,i got from the floors1 curtains1 and furniture showed nothing at all4 ,as a last thought ,i had1 however1 cleaned the mattress of the bed and the cracks and crevices in the brass bars4 ,tests of that dust showed it to be extremely radioactive4 ,i had the dust dissolved1 by a chemist who understands that sort of thing1 recrystallised1 and the radium salts were extracted from the refuse4 ,thus ,i found that ,i had recovered all but a very few milligrams of the radium that had been originally purchased in ,london4 ,here it is in this deadly tube in the leaden casket4 8,it is needless to add that the night after ,i had cleaned out this deadly element the maid slept the sleep of the just--and would have been all right when next ,i saw her but for the interference of the unjust on whom ,i had stolen a march40 ,craig paused while the lawyers whispered again to their clients4 ,then he continued3 8,now three persons in this room had an opportunity to secrete the contents of this deadly tube in the crevices of the metal work of ,mrs4 ,close's bed4 ,one of these persons must have placed an order through a confidential agent in ,london to purchase the radium from the ,english ,radium ,corporation4 ,one of these persons had a compelling motive1 something to gain by using this deadly element4 ,the radium in this tube in the casket was secreted1 as ,i have said1 in the metal work of ,mrs4 ,close's bed1 not in large enough quantities to be immediately fatal1 but mixed with dust so as to produce the result more slowly but no less surely1 and thus avoid suspicion4 ,at the same time ,mrs4 ,close was persuaded--,i will not say by whom--through her natural pride1 to take a course of ,x-ray treatment for a slight defect4 ,that would further serve to divert suspicion4 ,the fact is that a more horrible plot could hardly have been planned or executed4 ,this person sought to ruin her beauty to gain a most selfish and despicable end40 ,again ,craig paused to let his words sink into our minds4 8,now ,i wish to state that anything you gentlemen may say will be used against you4 ,that is why ,i have asked you to bring your attorneys4 ,you may consult with them1 of course1 while ,i am getting ready my next disclosure40 ,as ,kennedy had developed his points in the case ,i had been more and more amazed4 ,but ,i had not failed to notice how keenly ,lawrence was following him4 ,with half a sneer on his astute face1 ,lawrence drawled3 8,i cannot see that you have accomplished anything by this rather extraordinary summoning of us to your laboratory4 ,the evidence is just as black against ,dr4 ,gregory as before4 ,you may think you're clever1 ,kennedy1 but on the very statement of facts as you have brought them out there is plenty of circumstantial evidence against ,gregory--more than there was before4 ,as for anyone else in the room1 ,i can't see that you have anything on us--unless perhaps this new evidence you speak of may implicate ,asche1 or ,jameson10 he added1 including me in a wave of his hand1 as if he were already addressing a jury4 8,it's my opinion that twelve of our peers would be quite as likely to bring in a verdict of guilty against them as against anyone else even remotely connected with this case1 except ,gregory4 ,no1 you'll have to do better than this in your next case1 if you expect to maintain that so-called reputation of yours for being a professor of criminal science40 ,as for ,close1 taking his cue from his attorney1 he scornfully added3 8,i came to find out some new evidence against the wretch who wrecked the beauty of my wife4 ,all ,i've got is a tiresome lecture on ,x-rays and radium4 ,i suppose what you say is true4 ,well1 it only bears out what ,i thought before4 ,gregory treated my wife at home1 after he saw the damage his office treatments had done4 ,i guess he was capable of making a complete job out of it--covering up his carelessness by getting rid of the woman who was such a damning piece of evidence against his professional skill40 ,never a shade passed ,craig's face as he listened to this tirade4 8,excuse me a moment10 was all he said1 opening the door to leave the room4 8,i have just one more fact to disclose4 ,i will be back directly40 ,kennedy was gone several minutes1 during which ,close and ,lawrence fell to whispering behind their hands1 with the assurance of those who believed that this was only ,kennedy's method of admitting a defeat4 ,gregory and ,asche exchanged a few words similarly1 and it was plain that ,asche was endeavouring to put a better interpretation on something than ,gregory himself dared hope4 ,as ,kennedy re-entered1 ,close was buttoning up his coat preparatory to leaving1 and ,lawrence was lighting a fresh cigar4 ,in his hand ,kennedy held a notebook4 8,my stenographer writes a very legible shorthand2 at least ,i find it so--from long practice1 ,i suppose4 ,as ,i glance over her notes ,i find many facts which will interest you later--at the trial4 ,but--ah1 here at the end--let me read3 8',well1 he's very clever1 but he has nothing against me1 has he8' 8',no1 not unless he can produce the agent who bought the radium for you4' 8',but he can't do that4 ,no one could ever have recognised you on your flying trip to ,london disguised as a diamond merchant who had just learned that he could make his faulty diamonds good by applications of radium and who wanted a good stock of the stuff4' 8',still1 we'll have to drop the suit against ,gregory after all1 in spite of what ,i said4 ,that part is hopelessly spoiled4' 8',yes1 ,i suppose so4 ,oh1 well1 ,i'm free now4 ,she can hardly help but consent to a divorce now1 and a quiet settlement4 ,she brought it on herself--we tried every other way to do it1 but she--she was too good to fall into it4 ,she forced us to it4' 8',yes1 you'll get a good divorce now4 ,but can't we shut up this man ,kennedy8 ,even if he can't prove anything against us1 the mere rumour of such a thing coming to the ears of ,mrs4 ,tulkington would be unpleasant4' 8',go as far as you like1 ,lawrence4 ,you know what the marriage will mean to me4 ,it will settle my debts to you and all the rest4' 8',i'll see what ,i can do1 ,close4 ,he'll be back in a moment4'0 ,close's face was livid4 8,it's a pack of lies60 he shouted1 advancing toward ,kennedy1 8a pack of lies6 ,you are a fakir and a blackmailer4 ,i'll have you in jail for this1 by ,god--and you too1 ,gregory40 8,one moment1 please10 said ,kennedy calmly4 8,mr4 ,lawrence1 will you be so kind as to reach behind your chair8 ,what do you find80 ,lawrence lifted up the plain black box and with it he pulled up the wires which ,i had so carefully concealed in the cracks of the floor4 8,that10 said ,kennedy1 8is a little instrument called the microphone4 ,its chief merit lies in the fact that it will magnify a sound sixteen hundred times1 and carry it to any given point where you wish to place the receiver4 ,originally this device was invented for the aid of the deaf1 but ,i see no reason why it should not be used to aid the law4 ,one needn't eavesdrop at the keyhole with this little instrument about4 ,inside that box there is nothing but a series of plugs from which wires1 much finer than a thread1 are stretched taut4 ,yet a fly walking near it will make a noise as loud as a draft-horse4 ,if the microphone is placed in any part of the room1 especially if near the persons talking--even if they are talking in a whisper--a whisper such as occurred several times during the evening and particularly while ,i was in the next room getting the notes made by my stenographer--a whisper1 ,i say1 is like shouting your guilt from the housetops4 8,you two men1 ,close and ,lawrence1 may consider yourselves under arrest for conspiracy and whatever other indictments will lie against such creatures as you4 ,the police will be here in a moment4 ,no1 ,close1 violence won't do now4 ,the doors are locked--and see1 we are four to two40 ,v4 ,the ,seismograph ,adventure 8,dr4 ,james ,hanson1 ,coroner's ,physician1 ,criminal ,courts ,building10 read ,craig ,kennedy1 as he held a visitor's card in his hand4 ,then to the visitor he added1 8,take a chair1 ,doctor40 ,the physician thanked him and sat down4 8,professor ,kennedy10 he began1 8,i have been referred to you by ,inspector ,o',connor of the ,detective ,bureau4 ,it may seem an impertinence for a city official to call on you for assistance1 but--well1 you see1 ,i'm completely floored4 ,i think1 too1 that the case will interest you4 ,it's the ,vandam case40 ,if ,dr4 ,hanson had suddenly turned on the current of an induction coil and ,i had been holding the handles ,i don't think the thrill ,i received could have been any more sudden4 ,the ,vandam case was the sensation of the moment1 a triple puzzle1 as both ,kennedy and myself had agreed4 ,was it suicide1 murder1 or sudden death8 ,every theory1 so far1 had proved unsatisfactory4 8,i have read only what the newspapers have published10 replied ,craig to the doctor's look of inquiry4 8,you see1 my friend ,jameson here is on the staff of the ,star1 and we are in the habit of discussing these cases40 8,very glad to meet you1 ,mr4 ,jameson10 exclaimed ,dr4 ,hanson at the implied introduction4 8,the relations between my office and your paper have always been very satisfactory1 ,i can assure you40 8,thank you1 ,doctor4 ,depend on me to keep them so10 ,i replied1 shaking his proffered hand4 8,now1 as to the case10 continued the doctor slowly4 8,here is a beautiful woman in the prime of life1 the wife of a very wealthy retired banker considerably older than herself--perhaps nearly seventy--of very fine family4 ,of course you have read it all1 but let me sketch it so you will look at it from my point of view4 ,this woman1 apparently in good health1 with every luxury money can buy1 is certain within a very few years1 from her dower rights1 to be numbered among the richest women in ,america4 ,yet she is discovered in the middle of the night by her maid1 seated at the table in the library of her home1 unconscious4 ,she never regains consciousness1 but dies the following morning4 8,the coroner is called in1 and1 as his physician1 ,i must advise him4 ,the family physician has pronounced it due to natural causes1 the uremic coma of latent kidney trouble4 ,some of the newspapers1 ,i think the ,star among them1 have hinted at suicide4 ,and then there are others1 who have flatly asserted it was murder40 ,the coroner's physician paused to see if we were following him4 ,needless to say ,kennedy was ahead of him4 8,have you any facts in your possession which have not been given to the public yet80 asked ,craig4 8,i'm coming to that in a moment10 replied ,dr4 ,hanson4 8,let me sketch the case first4 ,henry ,vandam had become--well1 very eccentric in his old age1 we will say4 ,among his eccentricities none seems to have impressed the newspapers more than his devotion to a medium and her manager1 ,mrs4 ,may ,popper and ,mr4 ,howard ,farrington4 ,now1 of course1 the case does not go into the truth or falsity of spiritualism1 you understand4 ,you have your opinion1 and ,i have mine4 ,what this aspect of the case involves is merely the character of the medium and her manager4 ,you know1 of course1 that ,henry ,vandam is completely under their control40 ,he paused again1 to emphasise the point4 8,you asked me if ,i was in possession of any facts which have not been given to the press4 ,yes1 ,i am4 ,and just there lies the trouble4 ,they are so very conflicting as to be almost worse than useless1 as far as ,i can see4 ,we found near the unfortunate woman a small pill-box with three capsules still in it4 ,it was labelled ',one before retiring' and bore the name of a certain druggist and the initials ',dr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,h4' ,now1 ,i am convinced that the initials are merely a blind and do not give any clue4 ,the druggist says that a maid from the ,vandam house brought in the prescription1 which of course he filled4 ,it is a harmless enough prescription--contains1 among other things1 four and a half grains of quinine and one-sixth of a grain of morphine4 ,six capsules were prepared altogether4 8,now1 of course my first thought was that she might have taken several capsules at once and that it was a case of accidental morphine poisoning1 or it might even be suicide4 ,but it cannot be either1 to my mind1 for only three of the six capsules are gone4 ,no doubt1 also1 you are acquainted with the fact that the one invariable symptom of morphine poisoning is the contraction of the pupils of the eyes to a pin-point--often so that they are unrecognisable4 ,moreover1 the pupils are symmetrically contracted1 and this symptom is the one invariably present in coma from morphine poisoning and distinguishes it from all other forms of death4 8,on the other hand1 in the coma of kidney disease one pupil is dilated and the other contracted--they are unsymmetrical4 ,but in this case both the pupils are normal1 or only a very little dilated1 and they are symmetrical4 ,so far we have been able to find no other poison than the slight traces of morphine remaining in the stomach after so many hours4 ,i think you are enough of a chemist to know that no doctor would dare go on the stand and swear to death from morphine poisoning in the face of such evidence against him4 ,the veriest tyro of an expert toxicologist could too easily confute him40 ,kennedy nodded4 8,have you the pill-box and the prescription80 8,i have10 replied ,dr4 ,hanson1 placing them on the table4 ,kennedy scrutinised them sharply4 8,i shall need these10 he said4 8,of course you understand ,i will take very good care of them4 ,is there anything else of importance80 8,really1 ,i don't know10 said the physician dubiously4 8,it's rather out of my province1 but perhaps you would think it important4 ,it's mighty uncanny anyhow4 ,henry ,vandam1 as you doubtless know1 was much more deeply interested in the work of this medium than was his wife4 ,perhaps ,mrs4 ,vandam was a bit jealous--,i don't know4 ,but she1 too1 had an interest in spiritualism1 though he was much more deeply influenced by ,mrs4 ,popper than she4 8,here's the strange part of it4 ,the old man believes so thoroughly in rappings and materialisations that he constantly keeps a notebook in his pocket in which he records all the materialisations he thinks he sees and the rappings he hears1 along with the time and place4 ,now it so happened that on the night ,mrs4 ,vandam was taken ill1 he had retired--,i believe in another part of the house1 where he has a regular seance-room4 ,according to his story1 he was awakened from a profound sleep by a series of rappings4 ,as was his custom1 he noted the time at which they occurred4 ,something made him uneasy1 and he said to his 'control'--at least this is his story3 8',john1 is it about ,mary8' 8,three raps answered 'yes1' the usual code4 8',what is the matter8 ,is she ill8' 8,the three answering raps were so vigorous that he sprang out of bed and called for his wife's maid4 ,the maid replied that ,mrs4 ,vandam had not gone to bed yet1 but that there was a light in the library and she would go to her mistress immediately4 ,the next moment the house was awakened by the screams of the maid calling for help1 that ,mrs4 ,vandam was dying4 8,that was three nights ago4 ,on each of the two succeeding nights ,henry ,vandam says he has been awakened at precisely the same hour by a rapping1 and on each night his 'control' has given him a message from his dead wife4 ,as a man of science1 ,i attribute the whole thing to an overwrought imagination4 ,the original rappings may have been a mere coincidence with the fact of the condition of ,mrs4 ,vandam4 ,however1 ,i give this to you for what it is worth40 ,craig said nothing1 but1 as was his habit1 shaded his eyes with the tips of his fingers1 resting his elbows on the arms of his chair3 8,i suppose10 he said1 8you can give me the necessary authority to enter the ,vandam house and look at the scene of these happenings80 8,certainly10 assented the physician1 8but you will find it a queer place4 ,there are spirit paintings and spirit photographs in every room1 and ,vandam's own part of the house--well1 it's creepy1 that's all ,i can say40 8,and also ,i suppose you have performed an autopsy on the body and will allow me to drop into your laboratory to-morrow morning and satisfy myself on this morphine point80 8,certainly10 replied the coroner's physician1 8at any time you say40 8,at ten sharp1 then1 to-morrow ,i shall be there10 said ,craig4 8,it is now eight-thirty4 ,do you think ,i can see ,vandam to-night8 ,what time do these rappings occur80 8,why1 yes1 you surely will be able to see him to-night4 ,he hasn't stirred from the house since his wife died4 ,he told me he momentarily expected messages from her direct when she had got strong enough in her new world4 ,i believe they had some kind of a compact to that effect4 ,the rappings come at twelve-thirty40 8,ah1 then ,i shall have plenty of time to run over to my laboratory before seeing ,mr4 ,vandam and get some apparatus ,i have in mind4 ,no1 ,doctor1 you needn't bother to go with me4 ,just give me a card of introduction4 ,i'll see you to-morrow at ten4 ,good-night--oh1 by the way1 don't give out any of the facts you have told me40 8,jameson10 said ,craig1 when we were walking rapidly over toward the university1 8this promises to be an uncommonly difficult case40 8,as ,i view it now10 ,i said1 8,i have suspicions of everybody concerned in it4 ,even the view of the ,star1 that it is a case of suicide due to overwrought nerves1 may explain it40 8,it might even be a natural death10 ,craig added4 8,and that would make it a greater mystery than ever--a case for psychical research4 ,one thing that ,i am going to do to-night will tell me much1 however40 ,at the laboratory he unlocked a glass case and took out a little instrument which looked like two horizontal pendulums suspended by fine wires4 ,there was a large magnet near each pendulum1 and the end of each pendulum bore a needle which touched a circular drum driven by clock-work4 ,craig fussed with and adjusted the apparatus1 while ,i said nothing1 for ,i had long ago learned that in applying a new apparatus to doing old things ,craig was as dumb as an oyster1 until his work was crowned with success4 ,we had no trouble in getting in to see ,mr4 ,vandam in his seance-room4 ,his face was familiar to me1 for ,i had seen him in public a number of times1 but it looked strangely altered4 ,he was nervous1 and showed his age very perceptibly4 ,it was as the coroner's physician had said4 ,the house was littered with reminders of the cult1 books1 papers1 curious daubs of paintings handsomely framed1 and photographs2 hazy overexposures1 ,i should have called them1 but ,mr4 ,vandam took great pride in them1 and ,kennedy quite won him over by his admiration for them4 ,they talked about the rappings1 and the old man explained where and when they occurred4 ,they proceeded from a little cabinet or closet at one end of the room4 ,it was evident that he was a thorough believer in them and in the messages they conveyed4 ,craig carefully noted everything about the room and then fell to admiring the spirit photographs1 if such they might be called4 8,the best of all ,i do not display1 they are too precious10 said the old man4 8,would you like to see them80 ,craig assented eagerly1 and ,vandam left us for a moment to get them4 ,in an instant ,craig had entered the cabinet1 and in a dark corner on the floor he deposited the mechanism he had brought from the laboratory4 ,then he resumed his seat1 shutting the box in which he had brought the mechanism1 so that it would not appear that he had left anything about the room4 ,artfully he led the conversation along lines that interested the old man until he seemed to forget the hour4 ,not so1 ,craig4 ,he knew it was nearing half-past twelve4 ,the more they talked the more uncanny did this house and room of spirits seem to me4 ,in fact1 ,i was rapidly reaching the point where ,i could have sworn that once or twice something incorporeal brushed by me4 ,i know now that it was purely imagination1 but it shows what tricks the imagination can play on us4 ,rap6 rap6 rap6 rap6 rap6 ,five times came a curiously hollow noise from the cabinet4 ,if it had been possible ,i should certainly have fled1 it was so sudden and unexpected4 ,the hall clock downstairs struck the half-hour in those chimes written by ,handel for ,st4 ,paul's4 ,craig leaned over to me and whispered hoarsely1 8,keep perfectly still--don't move a hand or foot40 ,the old man seemed utterly to have forgotten us4 8,is that you1 ,john80 he asked expectantly4 ,rap6 rap6 rap6 came the reply4 8,is ,mary strong enough to speak to me to-night80 ,rap6 rap6 8,is she happy80 ,rap6 rap6 8,what makes her unhappy8 ,what does she want8 ,will you spell it out80 ,rap6 rap6 rap6 ,then1 after a pause1 the rapping started slowly1 and distinctly to spell out words4 ,it was so weird and uncanny that ,i scarcely breathed4 ,letter after letter the message came1 nineteen raps for 8s10 eight for 8h10 five for 8e10 according to the place in the alphabet1 numerically1 of the required letter4 ,at last it was complete4 8,she thinks you are not well4 ,she asks you to have that prescription filled again40 8,tell her ,i will do it to-morrow morning4 ,is there anything else80 ,rap6 rap6 came back faintly3 8,john1 ,john1 don't go yet10 pleaded the old man earnestly4 ,it was easy to see how thoroughly he believed in 8,john10 as perhaps well he might after the warning of his wife's death three nights before4 8,won't you answer one other question80 ,fainter1 almost imperceptibly1 came a rap6 rap6 ,for several minutes the old man sat absorbed in thought1 trance-like4 ,then1 gradually1 he seemed to realise that we were in the room with him4 ,with difficulty he took up the thread of the conversation where the rappings had broken it4 8,we were talking about the photographs10 he said slowly4 8,i hope soon to get one of my wife as she is now that she is transfigured4 ,john has promised me one soon40 ,he was gathering up his treasures preparatory to putting them back in their places of safekeeping4 ,the moment he was out of the room ,craig darted into the cabinet and replaced his mechanism in the box4 ,then he began softly to tap the walls4 ,at last he found the side that gave a noise similar to that which we had heard1 and he seemed pleased to have found it1 for he hastily sketched on an old envelope a plan of that part of the house1 noting on it the location of the side of the cabinet4 ,kennedy almost dragged me back to our apartment1 he was in such a hurry to examine the apparatus at his leisure4 ,he turned on all the lights1 took the thing out of its case1 and stripped off the two sheets of ruled paper wound around the two revolving drums4 ,he laid them flat on the table and studied them for some minutes with evidently growing satisfaction4 ,at last he turned to me and said1 8,walter1 here is a ghost caught in the act40 ,i looked dubiously at the irregular up-and-down scrawl on the paper1 while he rang up the ,homicide ,bureau of the ,central ,office and left word for ,o',connor to call him up the first thing in the morning4 ,still eyeing with satisfaction the record traced on the sheets of paper1 he lighted a cigarette in a matter-of-fact way and added3 8,it proves to be a very much flesh-and-blood ghost1 this ',john4' ,it walked up to the wall back of that cabinet1 rapped1 listened to old ,vandam1 rapped some more1 got the answer it wanted1 and walked deliberately away4 ,the cabinet1 as you may have noticed1 is in a corner of the room with one side along the hallway4 ,the ghost must have been in the hall40 8,but who was it80 8,not so fast1 ,walter10 laughed ,craig4 8,isn't it enough for one night that we have found out that much80 ,fortunately ,i was tired1 or ,i certainly should have dreamed of rappings and of 8,john0 that night4 ,i was awakened early by ,kennedy talking with someone over the telephone4 ,it was ,inspector ,o',connor4 ,of course ,i heard only one side of the conversation1 but as near as ,i could gather ,kennedy was asking the inspector to obtain several samples of ink for him4 ,i had not heard the first part of the conversation1 and was considerably surprised when ,kennedy hung up the receiver and said3 8,vandam had the prescription filled again early this morning1 and it will soon be in the hands of ,o',connor4 ,i hope ,i haven't spoiled things by acting too soon1 but ,i don't want to run the risk of a double tragedy40 8,well10 ,i said1 8it is incomprehensible to me4 ,first ,i suspected suicide4 ,then ,i suspected murder4 ,now ,i almost suspect a murder and a suicide4 ,the fact is1 ,i don't know just what ,i suspect4 ,i'm like ,dr4 ,hanson--floored4 ,i wonder if ,vandam would voluntarily take all the capsules at once in order to be with his wife80 8,one of them alone would be quite sufficient if the 'ghost' should take a notion1 as ,i think it will1 to walk in the daytime10 replied ,craig enigmatically4 8,i don't want to run any chances1 as ,i have said4 ,i may be wrong in my theory of the case1 ,walter1 so let us not discuss this phase of it until ,i have gone a step farther and am sure of my ground4 ,o',connor's man will get the capsules before ,vandam has a chance to take the first one1 anyhow4 ,the 'ghost' had a purpose in that message1 for ,o',connor tells me that ,vandam's lawyer visited him yesterday and in all probability a new will is being made1 perhaps has already been made40 ,we breakfasted in silence and later rode down to the office of ,dr4 ,hanson1 who greeted us enthusiastically4 8,i've solved it at last10 he cried1 8and it's easy40 ,kennedy looked gravely over the analysis which ,dr4 ,hanson shoved into his hand1 and seemed very much interested in the probable quantity of morphine that must have been taken to yield such an analysis4 ,the physician had a text-book open on his desk4 8,our old ideas of the infallible test of morphine poisoning are all exploded10 he said1 excitedly beginning to read a passage he had marked in the book4 8',i have thought that inequality of the pupils1 that is to say1 where they are not symmetrically contracted1 is proof that a case is not one of narcotism1 or morphine poisoning4 ,but ,professor ,taylor has recorded a case of morphine poisoning in which the unsymmetrical contraction occurred4' 8,there1 now1 until ,i happened to run across that in one of the authorities ,i had supposed the symmetrical contraction of the pupils of the eyes to be the distinguishing symptom of morphine poisoning ,professor ,kennedy1 in my opinion we can1 after all1 make out our case as one of morphine poisoning40 8,is that case in the book all you base your opinion on80 asked ,craig with excessive politeness4 8,yes1 sir10 replied the doctor reluctantly4 8,well10 said ,kennedy quietly1 8if you will investigate that case quoted from ,professor ,taylor1 you will find that it has been proved that the patient had one glass eye40 8,then my contention collapses and she was not poisoned80 8,no1 ,i do not say that4 ,all ,i say is that expert testimony would refute us as far as we have gone4 ,but if you will let me make a few tests of my own ,i can readily clear up that end of the case1 ,i now feel sure4 ,let me take these samples to my laboratory40 ,i was surprised when we ran into ,inspector ,o',connor waiting for us in the corridor of the ,criminal ,courts ,building as we left the office of the coroner's physician4 ,he rushed up to ,kennedy and shoved into his hand a pill-box in which six capsules rattled4 ,kennedy narrowly inspected the box1 opened it1 and looked thoughtfully at the six white capsules lying so innocently within4 8,one of these capsules would have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to ',john1'0 said ,craig contemplatively1 as he shut the box and deposited it carefully in his inside vest pocket4 8,i don't believe ,i even said good morning to you1 ,o',connor10 he continued4 8,i hope ,i haven't kept you waiting here long4 ,have you obtained the samples of ink80 8,yes1 ,professor4 ,here they are4 ,as soon as you telephoned this morning ,i sent my men out separately to get them4 ,there's the ink from the druggist1 this is from the ,vandam library1 this is from ,farrington's room1 and this is from ,mrs4 ,popper's apartment40 8,thank you1 ,inspector4 ,i don't know what ,i'd do without your help10 said ,kennedy1 eagerly taking four small vials from him4 8,science is all right1 but organisation enables science to work quickly4 ,and quickness is the essence of this case40 ,during the afternoon ,kennedy was very busy in his laboratory1 where ,i found him that night after my hurried dinner1 from which he was absent4 8,what1 is it after dinner-time80 he exclaimed1 holding up a glass beaker and watching the reaction of something he poured into it from a test-tube4 8,craig1 ,i believe that when you are absorbed in a case1 you would rather work than eat4 ,did you have any lunch after ,i left you80 8,i don't think so10 he replied1 regarding the beaker and not his answer4 8,now1 ,walter1 old fellow1 ,i don't want you to be offended with me1 but really ,i can work better if you don't constantly remind me of such things as eating and sleeping4 ,say1 do you want to help me--really80 8,certainly4 ,i am as interested in the case as you are1 but ,i can't make heads or tails of it10 ,i replied4 8,then1 ,i wish you would look up ,mrs4 ,popper to-night and have a private seance with her4 ,what ,i want you to do particularly is to get a good idea of the looks of the room in which she is accustomed to work4 ,i'm going to duplicate it here in my laboratory as nearly as possible4 ,then ,i want you to arrange with her for a private 'circle' here to-morrow night4 ,tell her it is with a few professors at the university who are interested in psychical research and that ,mr4 ,vandam will be present4 ,i'd rather have her come willingly than to force her to come4 ,incidentally watch that manager of hers1 ,farrington4 ,by all means he must accompany her40 ,that evening ,i dropped casually in on ,mrs4 ,popper4 ,she was a woman of great brilliance and delicacy1 both in her physical and mental perceptions1 of exceptional vivacity and cleverness4 ,she must have studied me more closely than ,i was aware of1 for ,i believe she relied on diverting my attention whenever she desired to produce one of her really wonderful results4 ,needless to say1 ,i was completely mystified by her performance4 ,she did spirit writing that would have done credit to the immortal ,slade1 told me a lot of things that were true1 and many more that were unverifiable or hopelessly vague4 ,it was really worth much more than the price1 and ,i did not need to feign the interest necessary to get her terms for a circle in the laboratory4 ,of course ,i had to make the terms with ,farrington4 ,the first glance aroused my suspicions of him4 ,he was shifty-eyed1 and his face had a hard and mercenary look4 ,in spite of1 perhaps rather because of1 my repugnance we quickly came to an agreement1 and as ,i left the apartment ,i mentally resolved to keep my eye on him4 ,craig came in late1 having been engaged in his chemical analyses all the evening4 ,from his manner ,i inferred that they had been satisfactory1 and he seemed much gratified when ,i told him that ,i had arranged successfully for the seance and that ,farrington would accompany the medium4 ,as we were talking over the case a messenger arrived with a note from ,o',connor4 ,it was written with his usual brevity3 8,have just found from servants that ,farrington and ,mrs4 ,p4 have key to ,vandam house4 ,wish ,i had known it before4 ,house shadowed4 ,no one has entered or left it to-night40 ,craig looked at his watch4 ,it was a quarter after one4 8,the ghost won't walk to-night1 ,walter10 he said as he entered his bedroom for a much-needed rest4 8,i guess ,i was right after all in getting the capsules as soon as possible4 ,the ghost must have flitted unobserved in there this morning directly after the maid brought them back from the druggist40 ,again1 the next morning1 he had me out of bed bright and early4 ,as we descended from the ,sixth ,avenue 8,l10 he led me into a peculiar little shop in the shadow of the 8,l0 structure4 ,he entered as though he knew the place well2 but1 then1 that air of assurance was ,kennedy's stock in trade and sat very well on him4 ,few people1 ,i suppose1 have ever had a glimpse of this workshop of magic and deception4 ,this little shop of ,marina's was the headquarters of the magicians of the country4 ,levitation and ghostly disappearing hands were on every side4 ,the shelves in the back of the shop were full of nickel1 brass1 wire1 wood1 and papier-mache contrivances1 new and strange to the eye of the uninitiated4 ,yet it was all as systematic as a hardware shop4 8,is ,signor ,marina in80 asked ,craig of a girl in the first room1 given up to picture post-cards4 ,the room was as deceptive as the trade1 for it was only an anteroom to the storeroom ,i have described above4 ,this storeroom was also a factory1 and half a dozen artisans were hard at work in it4 ,yes1 the signor was in1 the girl replied1 leading us back into the workshop4 ,he proved to be a short man with a bland1 open face and frank eyes1 the very antithesis of his trade4 8,i have arranged for a circle with ,mrs4 ,may ,popper10 began ,kennedy1 handing the man his card4 8,i suppose you know her80 8,indeed yes10 he answered4 8,i furnished her seance room40 8,well1 ,i want to hire for to-night just the same sort of tables1 cabinets1 carpets1 everything that she has--only hire1 you understand1 but ,i am willing to pay you well for them4 ,it is the best way to get a good sitting1 ,i believe4 ,can you do it80 ,the little man thought a moment1 then replied3 8,si1 signor yes--very nearly1 near enough4 ,i would do anything for ,mrs4 ,popper4 ,she is a good customer4 ,but her manager--0 8,my friend here1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 has had seances with her in her own apartment10 interposed ,craig4 8,perhaps he can help you to recollect just what is necessary40 8,i know very well1 signor4 ,i have the duplicate bill1 the bill which was paid by that ,farrington with a check from the banker ,vandam4 ,leave it to me40 8,then you will get the stuff together this morning and have it up to my place this afternoon40 8,yes1 ,professor1 yes4 ,it is a bargain4 ,i would do anything for ,mrs4 ,popper--she is a fine woman40 ,late that afternoon ,i rejoined ,craig at his laboratory4 ,signor ,marina had already arrived with a truck and was disposing the paraphernalia about the laboratory4 ,he had first laid a thick black rug4 ,mrs4 ,popper very much affected black carpets1 and ,i had noticed that ,vandam's room was carpeted in black1 too4 ,i suppose black conceals everything that one oughtn't to see at a seance4 ,a cabinet with a black curtain1 several chairs1 a light deal table1 several banjos1 horns1 and other instruments were disposed about the room4 ,with a few suggestions from me we made a fair duplication of the hangings on the walls4 ,kennedy was manifestly anxious to finish1 and at last it was done4 ,after ,marina had gone1 ,kennedy stretched a curtain over the end of the room farthest from the cabinet4 ,behind it he placed on a shelf the apparatus composed of the pendulums and magnets4 ,the beakers and test-tubes were also on this shelf4 ,he had also arranged that the cabinet should be so situated that it was next a hallway that ran past his laboratory4 8,to-night1 ,jameson10 he said1 indicating a spot on the hall wall just back of the cabinet1 8,i shall want you to bring my guests out here and do a little spirit rapping--,i'll tell you just what to do when the time comes40 ,that night1 when we gathered in the transformed laboratory1 there were ,henry ,vandam1 ,dr4 ,hanson1 ,inspector ,o',connor1 ,kennedy1 and myself4 ,at last the sound of wheels was heard1 and ,mrs4 ,popper drove up in a hansom1 accompanied by ,farrington4 ,they both inspected the room narrowly and seemed satisfied4 ,i had1 as ,i have said1 taken a serious dislike to the man1 and watched him closely4 ,i did not like his air of calm assurance4 ,the lights were switched off1 all except one sixteen-candle-power lamp in the farthest corner1 shaded by a deep-red globe4 ,it was just light enough to see to read very1 large print with difficulty4 ,mrs4 ,popper began immediately with the table4 ,kennedy and ,i sat on her right and left respectively1 in the circle1 and held her hands and feet4 ,i confess to a real thrill when ,i felt the light table rise first on two legs1 then on one1 and finally remain suspended in the air1 whence it dropped with a thud1 as if someone had suddenly withdrawn his support4 ,the medium sat with her back to the curtain of the cabinet1 and several times ,i could have sworn that a hand reached out and passed close to my head4 ,at least it seemed so4 ,the curtain bulged at times1 and a breeze seemed to sweep out from the cabinet4 ,after some time of this sort of work ,craig led gradually up to a request for a materialisation of the control of ,vandam1 but ,mrs4 ,popper refused4 ,she said she did not feel strong enough1 and ,farrington put in a hasty word that he1 too1 could feel that 8there was something working against them40 ,but ,kennedy was importunate and at last she consented to see if 8,john0 would do some rapping1 even if he could not materialise4 ,kennedy asked to be permitted to put the questions4 8,are you the ',john' who appears to ,mr4 ,vandam every night at twelve-thirty80 ,rap6 rap6 rap6 came the faint reply from the cabinet4 ,or rather it seemed to me to come from the floor near the cabinet1 and perhaps to be a trifle muffled by the black carpet4 8,are you in communication with ,mrs4 ,vandam80 ,rap6 rap6 rap6 8,can she be made to rap for us80 ,rap6 rap6 8,will you ask her a question and spell out her answer80 ,rap6 rap6 rap6 ,craig paused a moment to frame the question1 then shot it out point-blank3 8,does ,mrs4 ,vandam know now in the other world whether anyone in this room substituted a morphine capsule for one of those ordered by her three days before she died8 ,does she know whether the same person has done the same thing with those later ordered by ,mr4 ,vandam80 8,john0 seemed considerably perturbed at the mention of capsules4 ,it was a long time before any answer was forthcoming4 ,kennedy was about to repeat the question when a faint sound was heard4 ,rap6---- ,suddenly came a wild scream4 ,it was such a scream as ,i had never heard before in my life4 ,it came as though a dagger had been thrust into the heart of ,mrs4 ,popper4 ,the lights flashed up as ,kennedy turned the switch4 ,a man was lying flat on the floor--it was ,inspector ,o',connor4 ,he had succeeded in slipping noiselessly1 like a snake1 below the curtain into the cabinet4 ,craig had told him to look out for wires or threads stretched from ,mrs4 ,popper's clothing to the bulging curtain of the cabinet4 ,imagine his surprise when he saw that she had simply freed her foot from the shoe1 which ,i was carefully holding down1 and with a backward movement of the leg was reaching out into the cabinet behind her chair and was doing the rapping with her toes4 ,lying on the floor he had grasped her foot and caught her heel with a firm hand4 ,she had responded with a wild yell that showed she knew she was trapped4 ,her secret was out4 ,hysterically ,mrs4 ,popper began to upbraid the inspector as he rose to his feet1 but ,farrington quickly interposed4 8,something was working against us to-night1 gentlemen4 ,yet you demanded results4 ,and when the spirits will not come1 what is she to do8 ,she forgets herself in her trance2 she produces1 herself1 the things that you all could see supernaturally if you were in sympathy40 ,the mere sound of ,farrington's voice seemed to rouse in me all the animosity of my nature4 ,i felt that a man who could trump up an excuse like that when a person was caught with the goods was capable of almost anything4 8,enough of this fake seance10 exclaimed ,craig4 8,i have let it go on merely for the purpose of opening the eyes of a certain deluded gentleman in this room4 ,now1 if you will all be seated ,i shall have something to say that will finally establish whether ,mary ,vandam was the victim of accident1 suicide1 or murder40 ,with hearts beating rapidly we sat in silence4 ,craig took the beakers and test-tubes from the shelf behind the curtain and placed them on the little deal table that had been so merrily dancing about the room4 8,the increasing frequency with which tales of murder by poison appear in the newspapers10 he began formally1 8is proof of how rapidly this new civilisation of ours is taking on the aspects of the older civilisations across the seas4 ,human life is cheap in this country2 but the ways in which human life has been taken among us have usually been direct1 simple1 aboveboard1 in keeping with our democratic and pioneer traditions4 ,the pistol and the bowie-knife for the individual1 the rope and the torch for the mob1 have been the usual instruments of sudden death4 ,but when we begin to use poisons most artfully compounded in order to hasten an expected bequest and remove obstacles in its way--well1 we are practising an art that calls up all the memories of sixteenth century ,italy4 8,in this beaker10 he continued1 8,i have some of the contents of the stomach of the unfortunate woman4 ,the coroner's physician has found that they show traces of morphine4 ,was the morphine in such quantities as to be fatal8 ,without doubt4 ,but equally without doubt analysis could not discover and prove it in the face of one inconsistency4 ,the usual test which shows morphine poisoning failed in this case4 ,the pupils of her eyes were not symmetrically contracted4 ,in fact they were normal4 8,now1 the murderer must have known of this test4 ,this clever criminal also knew that to be successful in the use of this drug where others had failed1 the drug must be skilfully mixed with something else4 ,in that first box of capsules there were six4 ,the druggist compounded them correctly according to the prescription4 ,but between the time when they came into the house from the druggist's and the time when she took the first capsule1 that night1 someone who had access to the house emptied one capsule of its harmless contents and refilled it with a deadly dose of morphine--a white powder which looks just like the powder already in the capsules4 8,why1 then1 the normal pupils of the eyes8 ,simply because the criminal put a little atropine1 or belladonna1 with the morphine4 ,my tests show absolutely the presence of atropine1 ,dr4 ,hanson10 said ,craig1 bowing to the physician4 8,the best evidence1 however1 is yet to come4 ,a second box of six capsules1 all intact1 was discovered yesterday in the possession of ,henry ,vandam4 ,i have analysed the capsules4 ,one contains no quinine at all--it is all morphine and atropine4 ,it is1 without doubt1 precisely similar to the capsule which killed ,mrs4 ,vandam4 ,another night or so1 and ,henry ,vandam would have died the same death40 ,the old man groaned4 ,two such exposures had shaken him4 ,he looked from one of us to another as if not knowing in whom he could trust4 ,but ,kennedy hurried on to his next point4 8,who was it that gave the prescription to ,mrs4 ,vandam originally8 ,she is dead and cannot tell4 ,the others won't tell1 for the person who gave her that prescription was the person who later substituted the fatal capsule in place of the harmless4 ,the original prescription is here4 ,i have been able to discover from it nothing at all by examining the handwriting4 ,nor does the texture of the paper indicate anything to me4 ,but the ink--ah1 the ink4 8,most inks seem very similar1 ,i suppose1 but to a person who has made a study of the chemical composition of ink they are very different4 ,ink is composed of iron tannate1 which on exposure to air gives the black of writing4 ,the original pigment--say blue or blue-black ink--is placed in the ink1 to make the writing visible at first1 and gradually fades1 giving place to the black of the tannate which is formed4 ,the dyestuffs employed in the commercial inks of to-day vary in colour from pale greenish blue to indigo and deep violet4 ,no two give identical reactions--at all events not when mixed with the iron tannate to form the pigment in writing4 8,it is owing to the difference in these provisional colouring matters that it is possible to distinguish between writing written with different kinds of ink4 ,i was able easily to obtain samples of the inks used by the ,vandams1 by ,mrs4 ,popper1 by ,mr4 ,farrington1 and by the druggist4 ,i have compared the writing of the original prescription with a colour scale of my own construction1 and ,i have made chemical tests4 ,the druggist's ink conforms exactly to the writing on the two pill-boxes1 but not to the prescription4 ,one of the other three inks conforms by test absolutely to the ink in that prescription signed ',dr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,h4' as a blind4 ,in a moment my chain of evidence against the owner of that bottle of ink will be complete40 ,i could not help but think of the two pendulums on the shelf behind the curtain1 but ,craig said nothing for a moment to indicate that he referred to that apparatus4 ,we sat dazed4 ,farrington seemed nervous and ill at ease4 ,mrs4 ,popper1 who had not recovered from the hysterical condition of her exposure1 with difficulty controlled her emotion4 ,vandam was crushed4 8,i have not only arranged this laboratory so as to reproduce ,mrs4 ,popper's seance-room10 began ,craig afresh1 8but ,i have had the cabinet placed in relatively the same position a similar cabinet occupies in ,mr4 ,vandam's private seance-room in the ,vandam mansion4 8,one night1 ,mr4 ,jameson and myself were visiting ,mr4 ,vandam4 ,at precisely twelve-thirty we heard most unaccountable rappings from that cabinet4 ,i particularly noted the position of the cabinet4 ,back of it ran a hallway4 ,that is duplicated here4 ,back of this cabinet is a hallway4 ,i had heard of these rappings before we went1 but was afraid that it would be impossible for me to catch the ghost red handed4 ,there is a limit to what you can do the first time you enter a man's house1 and1 besides1 that was no time to arouse suspicion in the mind of anyone4 ,but science has a way out of every dilemma4 ,i determined to learn something of these rappings40 ,craig paused and glanced first at ,farrington1 then at ,mrs4 ,popper1 and then at ,mr4 ,vandam4 8,mr4 ,jameson10 he resumed1 8will escort the doctor1 the inspector1 ,mr4 ,farrington1 ,mrs4 ,popper1 and ,mr4 ,vandam into my imitation hall of the ,vandam mansion4 ,i want each of you in turn to tiptoe up that hall to a spot indicated on the wall1 back of the cabinet1 and strike that spot several sharp blows with your knuckles40 ,i did as ,craig instructed tiptoeing up myself first so that they could not mistake his meaning4 ,the rest followed separately1 and after a moment we returned silently in suppressed excitement to the room4 ,craig was still standing by the table1 but now the pendulums with the magnets and needles and the drums worked by clockwork were before him4 8,another person outside the ,vandam family had a key to the ,vandam mansion10 he began gravely4 8,that person1 by the way1 was the one who waited1 night by night1 until ,mrs4 ,vandam took the fatal capsule1 and then when she had taken it apprised the old man of the fact and strengthened an already blind faith in the shadow world40 ,you could have heard a pin drop4 ,in fact you could almost have felt it drop4 8,that other person who1 unobserved1 had free access to the house10 he continued in the breathless stillness1 8is in this room now40 ,he was looking at ,o',connor as if for corroboration4 ,o',connor nodded4 8,information derived from the butler10 he muttered4 8,i did not know this until yesterday10 ,kennedy continued1 8but ,i suspected that something of the sort existed when ,i was first told by ,dr4 ,hanson of the rappings4 ,i determined to hear those rappings1 and make a record of them4 ,so1 the night ,mr4 ,jameson and ,i visited ,mr4 ,vandam1 ,i carried this little instrument with me40 ,almost lovingly he touched the pendulums on the table4 ,they were now at rest and kept so by means of a lever that prevented all vibration whatever4 8,see1 ,i release this lever--now1 let no one in the room move4 ,watch the needles on the paper as the clockwork revolves the drums4 ,i take a step--ever so lightly4 ,the pendulums vibrate1 and the needles trace a broken line on the paper on each drum4 ,i stop2 the lines are practically straight4 ,i take another step and another1 ever so lightly4 ,see the delicate pendulums vibrate8 ,see1 the lines they trace are jagged lines40 ,he stripped the paper off the drums and laid it flat on the table before him1 with two other similar pieces of paper4 8,just before the time of the rapping ,i placed this instrument in the corner of the ,vandam cabinet1 just as ,i placed it in this cabinet after ,mr4 ,jameson conducted you from the room4 ,in neither case were suspicions aroused4 ,everything in both cases was perfectly normal--,i mean the 'ghost' was in ignorance of the presence1 if not the very existence1 of this instrument4 8,this is an improved seismograph10 he explained1 8one after a very recent model by ,prince ,galitzin of the ,imperial ,academy of ,st4 ,petersburg4 ,the seismograph1 as you know1 was devised to register earthquakes at a distance4 ,this one not only measures the size of a distant earthquake1 but the actual direction from which the earth-tremors come4 ,that is why there are two pendulums and two drums4 8,the magnetic arrangement is to cut short the vibrations set up in the pendulums1 to prevent them from continuing to vibrate after the first shock4 ,thus they are ready in an instant to record another tremor4 ,other seismographs continue to vibrate for a long time as a result of one tremor only4 ,besides1 they give little indication of the direction from which the tremors come4 8,i think you must all appreciate that your tiptoeing up the hall must cause a far greater disturbance in this delicate seismograph than even a very severe earthquake thousands of miles away1 which it was built to record40 ,he paused and examined the papers sharply4 8,this is the record made by the 'ghost's' walk the other night10 he said1 holding up two of them in his left hand4 8,here on the table1 on two other longer sheets1 ,i have records of the vibrations set up by those in this room walking to-night4 8,here is ,mr4 ,jameson's--his is not a bit like the ghost's4 ,nor is ,mr4 ,vandam's4 ,least of all are ,dr4 ,hanson's and ,inspector ,o',connor's1 for they are heavy men4 8,now here is ,mr4 ,farrington's0--he bent down closely1 8he is a light man1 and the ghost was light40 ,craig was playing with his victim like a cat with a mouse4 ,suddenly ,i felt something brush by me1 and with a swish of air and of garments ,i saw ,mrs4 ,popper fling herself wildly at the table that bore the incriminating records4 ,in another instant ,farrington was on his feet and had made a wild leap in the same direction4 ,it was done so quickly that ,i must have acted first and thought afterward4 ,i found myself in the midst of a melee with my hand at his throat and his at mine4 ,o',connor with a jiu-jitsu movement bent ,farrington's other arm until he released me with a cry of pain4 ,in front of me ,i saw ,craig grasping ,mrs4 ,popper's wrists as in a vise4 ,she was glaring at him like a tigress4 8,do you suppose for a moment that that toy is going to convince the world that ,henry ,vandam has been deceived and that the spirit which visited him was a fraud8 ,is that why you have lured me here under false pretences1 to play on my feelings1 to insult me1 to take advantage of a lone1 defenceless woman1 surrounded by hostile men8 ,shame on you10 she added contemptuously4 8,you call yourself a gentleman1 but ,i call you a coward40 ,kennedy1 always calm and collected1 ignored the tirade4 ,his voice was as cold as steel as he said3 8,it would do little good1 ,mrs4 ,popper1 to destroy this one link in the chain ,i have forged4 ,the other links are too heavy for you4 ,don't forget the evidence of the ink4 ,it was your ink4 ,don't forget that ,henry ,vandam will not any longer conceal that he has altered his will in favour of you4 ,to-night he goes from here to his lawyer's to draw up a new will altogether4 ,don't forget that you have caused the ,vandams separately to have the prescription filled1 and that you are now caught in the act of a double murder4 ,don't forget that you had access to the ,vandam mansion1 that you substituted the deadly for the harmless capsules4 ,don't forget that your rappings announced the death of one of your victims and urged the other1 a cruelly wronged and credulous old man1 to leave millions to you who had deceived and would have killed him4 8,no1 the record of the ghost on the seismograph was not ,mr4 ,farrington's1 as ,i implied at the moment when you so kindly furnished this additional proof of your guilt by trying to destroy the evidence4 ,the ghost was you1 ,mrs4 ,popper1 and you are at liberty to examine the markings as minutely as you please1 but you must not destroy them4 ,you are an astute criminal1 ,mrs4 ,popper1 but to-night you are under arrest for the murder of ,mary ,vandam and the attempted murder of ,henry ,vandam40 ,,vi4 ,the ,diamond ,maker 8,i've called1 ,professor ,kennedy1 to see if we can retain you in a case which ,i am sure will tax even your resources4 ,heaven knows it has taxed ours40 ,the visitor was a large1 well-built man4 ,he placed his hat on the table and1 without taking off his gloves1 sat down in an easy chair which he completely filled4 8,andrews is my name--third vice-president of the ,great ,eastern ,life ,insurance ,company4 ,i am the nominal head of the company's private detective force1 and though ,i have some pretty clever fellows on my staff we've got a case that1 so far1 none of us has been able to unravel4 ,i'd like to consult you about it40 ,kennedy expressed his entire willingness to be consulted1 and after the usual formalities were over1 ,mr4 ,andrews proceeded4 8,i suppose you are aware that the large insurance companies maintain quite elaborate detective forces and follow very keenly such of the cases of their policy-holders as look at all suspicious4 ,this case which ,i wish to put in your hands is that of ,mr4 ,solomon ,morowitch1 a wealthy ,maiden ,lane jeweller4 ,i suppose you have read something in the papers about his sudden death and the strange robbery of his safe80 8,very little10 replied ,craig4 8,there hasn't been much to read40 8,of course not1 of course not10 said ,mr4 ,andrews with some show of gratification4 8,i flatter myself that we have pulled the wires so as to keep the thing out of the papers as much as possible4 ,we don't want to frighten the quarry till the net is spread4 ,the point is1 though1 to find out who is the quarry4 ,it's most baffling40 8,i am at your service10 interposed ,craig quietly1 8but you will have to enlighten me as to the facts in the case4 ,as to that1 ,i know no more than the newspapers40 8,oh1 certainly1 certainly4 ,that is to say1 you know nothing at all and can approach it without bias40 ,he paused and then1 seeming to notice something in ,craig's manner1 added hastily3 8,i'll be perfectly frank with you4 ,the policy in question is for one hundred thousand dollars1 and is incontestable4 ,his wife is the beneficiary4 ,the company is perfectly willing to pay1 but we want to be sure that it is all straight first4 ,there are certain suspicious circumstances that in justice to ourselves we think should be cleared up4 ,that is all--believe me4 ,we are not seeking to avoid an honest liability40 8,what are these suspicious circumstances80 asked ,craig1 apparently satisfied with the explanation4 8,this is in strict confidence1 gentlemen10 began ,mr4 ,andrews4 8,mr4 ,morowitch1 according to the story as it comes to us1 returned home late one night last week1 apparently from his office1 in a very weakened1 a semiconscious1 condition4 ,his family physician1 ,doctor ,thornton1 was summoned1 not at once1 but shortly4 ,he pronounced ,mr4 ,morowitch to be suffering from a congestion of the lungs that was very like a sudden attack of pneumonia4 8,mr4 ,morowitch had at once gone to bed1 or at least was in bed1 when the doctor arrived1 but his condition grew worse so rapidly that the doctor hastily resorted to oxygen1 under which treatment he seemed to revive4 ,the doctor had just stepped out to see another patient when a hurry call was sent to him that ,mr4 ,morowitch was rapidly sinking4 ,he died before the doctor could return4 ,no statement whatever concerning the cause of his sudden illness was made by ,mr4 ,morowitch1 and the death-certificate1 a copy of which ,i have1 gives pneumonia as the cause of death4 ,one of our men has seen ,doctor ,thornton1 but has been able to get nothing out of him4 ,mrs4 ,morowitch was the only person with her1 husband at the time40 ,there was something in his tone that made me take particular note of this last fact1 especially as he paused for an instant4 8,now1 perhaps there would be nothing surprising about it all1 so far at least1 were it not for the fact that the following morning1 when his junior partner1 ,mr4 ,kahan1 opened the place of business1 or rather went to it1 for it was to remain closed1 of course1 he found that during the night someone had visited it4 ,the lock on the great safe1 which contained thousands of dollars' worth of diamonds1 was intact2 but in the top of the safe a huge hole was found--an irregular1 round hole1 big enough to put your foot through4 ,imagine it1 ,professor ,kennedy1 a great hole in a safe that is made of chrome steel1 a safe that1 short of a safety-deposit vault1 ought to be about the strongest thing on earth4 8,why1 that steel would dull and splinter even the finest diamond-drill before it made an impression4 ,the mere taking out and refitting of drills into the brace would be a most lengthy process4 ,eighteen or twenty hours is the time by actual test which it would take to bore such a hole through those laminated plates1 even if there were means of exerting artificial pressure4 ,as for the police1 they haven't even a theory yet40 8,and the diamonds0 8,all gone--everything of any value was gone4 ,even the letter-files were ransacked4 ,his desk was broken open1 and papers of some nature had been taken out of it4 ,thorough is no name for the job4 ,isn't that enough to arouse suspicion80 8,i should like to see that safe10 was all ,kennedy said4 8,so you shall1 so you shall10 said ,mr4 ,andrews4 8,then we may retain you in our service8 ,my car is waiting down-stairs4 ,we can go right down to ,maiden ,lane if you wish40 8,you may retain me on one condition10 said ,craig without moving4 8,i am to be free to get at the truth whether it benefits or hurts the company1 and the case is to be entirely in my hands40 8,hats on10 agreed ,mr4 ,andrews1 reaching in his vest pocket and pulling out three or four brevas4 8,my chauffeur is quite a driver4 ,he can almost beat the subway down40 8,first1 to my laboratory10 interposed ,craig4 8,it will take only a few minutes40 ,we drove up to the university and stopped on the campus while ,craig hurried into the ,chemistry ,building to get something4 8,i like your professor of criminal science20 said ,andrews to me1 blowing a huge fragrant cloud of smoke4 ,i1 for my part1 liked the vice-president4 ,he was a man who seemed thoroughly to enjoy life1 to have most of the good things1 and a capacity for getting out of them all that was humanly possible4 ,he seemed to be particularly enjoying this ,morowitch case4 8,he has solved some knotty cases10 was all ,i said4 8,i've come to believe there is no limit to his resourcefulness40 8,i hope not4 ,he's up against a tough one this trip1 though1 my boy40 ,i did not even resent the 8my boy40 ,andrews was one of those men in whom we newspaper writers instinctively believe4 ,i knew that it would be 8pens lifted0 only so long as the case was incomplete4 ,when the time comes with such men they are ready to furnish us the best 8copy0 in the world4 ,kennedy quickly rejoined us1 carrying a couple of little glass bottles with ground-glass stoppers4 ,morowitch ,co4 was1 of course1 closed when we arrived1 but we had no trouble in being admitted by the ,central ,office man who had been detailed to lock the barn door after the horse was stolen4 ,it was precisely as ,mr4 ,andrews had said4 ,mr4 ,kahan showed us the safe4 ,through the top a great hole had been made--,i say made1 for at the moment ,i was at a loss to know whether it had been cut1 drilled1 burned1 blown out1 or what-not4 ,kennedy examined the edges of the hole carefully1 and just the trace of a smile of satisfaction flitted over his face as he did so4 ,without saying a word he took the glass stopper out of the larger bottle which he had brought and poured the contents on the top of the safe near the hole4 ,there it lay1 a little mound of reddish powder4 ,kennedy took a little powder of another kind from the other bottle and lighted it with a match4 8,stand back--close to the wall10 he called as he dropped the burning mass on the red powder4 ,in two or three leaps he joined us at the far end of the room4 ,almost instantly a dazzling1 intense flame broke out1 and sizzled and crackled4 ,with bated breath we watched4 ,it was almost incredible1 but that glowing mass of powder seemed literally to be sinking1 sinking right down into the cold steel4 ,in tense silence we waited4 ,on the ceiling we could still see the reflection of the molten mass in the cup which it had burned for itself in the top of the safe4 ,at last it fell through into the safe--fell as the burning roof of a frame building would fall into the building4 ,no one spoke a word1 but as we cautiously peered over the top of the safe we instinctively turned to ,kennedy for an explanation4 ,the ,central ,office man1 with eyes as big as half-dollars1 acted almost as if he would have liked to clap the irons on ,kennedy4 ,for there in the top of the safe was another hole1 smaller but identical in nature with the first one4 8,thermit10 was all ,kennedy said4 8,thermit80 echoed ,andrews1 shifting the cigar which he had allowed to go out in the excitement4 8,yes1 an invention of a chemist named ,goldschmidt1 of ,essen1 ,germany4 ,it is a compound of iron oxide1 such as comes off a blacksmith's anvil or the rolls of a rolling-mill1 and powdered metallic aluminum4 ,you could thrust a red-hot bar into it without setting it off1 but when you light a little magnesium powder and drop it on thermit1 a combustion is started that quickly reaches fifty-four hundred degrees ,fahrenheit4 ,it has the peculiar property of concentrating its heat to the immediate spot on which it is placed4 ,it is one of the most powerful oxidising agents known1 and it doesn't even melt the rest of the steel surface4 ,you see how it ate its way through the steel4 ,either black or red thermit will do the trick equally well40 ,no one said anything4 ,there was nothing to say4 8,someone uncommonly clever1 or instructed by someone uncommonly clever1 must have done that job10 added ,craig4 8,well1 there is nothing more to be done here10 he added1 after a cursory look about the office4 8,mr4 ,andrews1 may ,i have a word with you8 ,come on1 ,jameson4 ,good day1 ,mr4 ,kahan4 ,good day1 ,officer40 ,outside we stopped for a moment at the door of ,andrews's car4 8,i shall want to see ,mr4 ,morowitch's papers at home10 said ,craig1 8and also to call on ,doctor ,thornton4 ,do you think ,i shall have any difficulty80 8,not at all10 replied ,mr4 ,andrews1 8not at all4 ,i will go with you myself and see that you have none4 ,say1 ,professor ,kennedy10 he broke out1 8that was marvellous4 ,i never dreamed such a thing was possible4 ,but don't you think you could have learned something more up there in the office by looking around80 8,i did learn it10 answered ,kennedy4 8,the lock on the door was intact--whoever did the job let himself in by a key4 ,there is no other way to get in40 ,andrews gave a low whistle and glanced involuntarily up at the window with the sign of ,morowitch ,co4 in gold letters several floors above4 8,don't look up4 ,i think that was ,kahan looking out at us10 he said1 fixing his eyes on his cigar4 8,i wonder if he knows more about this than he has told6 ,he was the 'company1' you know1 but his interest in the business was only very slight4 ,by ,george--0 8,not too fast1 ,mr4 ,andrews10 interrupted ,craig4 8,we have still to see ,mrs4 ,morowitch and the doctor before we form any theories40 8,a very handsome woman1 too10 said ,andrews1 as we seated ourselves in the car3 8,a good deal younger than ,morowitch4 ,say1 ,kahan isn't a bad-looking chap1 either1 is he8 ,i hear he was a very frequent visitor at his partner's house4 ,well1 which first1 ,mrs4 ,m4 or the doctor80 8,the house10 answered ,craig4 ,mr4 ,andrews introduced us to ,mrs4 ,morowitch1 who was in very deep mourning1 which served1 as ,i could not help noticing1 rather to heighten than lessen her beauty4 ,by contrast it brought out the rich deep colour of her face and the graceful lines of her figure4 ,she was altogether a very attractive young widow4 ,she seemed to have a sort of fear of ,andrews1 whether merely because he represented the insurance company on which so much depended or because there were other reasons for fear1 ,i could not1 of course1 make out4 ,andrews was very courteous and polite1 yet ,i caught myself asking if it was not a professional rather than a personal politeness4 ,remembering his stress on the fact that she was alone with her husband when he died1 it suddenly flashed across my mind that somewhere ,i had read of a detective who1 as his net was being woven about a victim1 always grew more and more ominously polite toward the victim4 ,i know that ,andrews suspected her of a close connection with the case4 ,as for myself1 ,i don't know what ,i suspected as yet4 ,no objection was offered to our request to examine ,mr4 ,morowitch's personal effects in the library1 and accordingly ,craig ransacked the desk and the letter-file4 ,there was practically nothing to be discovered4 8,had ,mr4 ,morowitch ever received any threats of robbery80 asked ,craig1 as he stood before the desk4 8,not that ,i know of10 replied ,mrs4 ,morowitch4 8,of course every jeweller who carries a large stock of diamonds must be careful4 ,but ,i don't think my husband had any special reason to fear robbery4 ,at least he never said anything about it4 ,why do you ask80 8,oh1 nothing4 ,i merely thought there might be some hint as to the motives of the robbery10 said ,craig4 ,he was fingering one of those desk-calendars which have separate leaves for each day with blank spaces for appointments4 8',close deal ,poissan1'0 he read slowly from one of the entries1 as if to himself4 8,that's strange4 ,it was the correspondence under the letter ',p' that was destroyed at the office1 and there is nothing in the letter-file here1 either4 ,who was ,poissan80 ,mrs4 ,morowitch hesitated1 either from ignorance or from a desire to evade the question4 8,a chemist1 ,i think10 she said doubtfully4 8,my husband had some dealings with him--some discovery he was going to buy4 ,i don't know anything about it4 ,i thought the deal was off40 8,the deal80 8,really1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 you had better ask ,mr4 ,kahan4 ,my husband talked very1 little to me about business affairs40 8,but what was the discovery80 8,i don't know4 ,i only heard ,mr4 ,morowitch and ,mr4 ,kahan refer to some deal about a discovery regarding diamonds40 8,then ,mr4 ,kahan knows about it80 8,i presume so40 8,thank you1 ,mrs4 ,morowitch10 said ,kennedy1 when it was evident that she either could not or would not add anything to what she had said4 8,pardon us for causing all this trouble40 8,no trouble at all10 she replied graciously1 though ,i could see she was intent on every word and motion of ,kennedy and ,andrews4 ,kennedy stopped the car at a drug-store a few blocks away and asked for the business telephone directory4 ,in an instant1 under chemists1 he put his finger on the name of ,poissan--8,henri ,poissan1 electric furnaces1--,william ,st410 he read4 8,i shall visit him to-morrow morning4 ,now for the doctor40 ,doctor ,thornton was an excellent specimen of the genus physician to the wealthy--polished1 cool1 suave4 ,one of ,mr4 ,andrews's men1 as ,i have said1 had seen him already1 but the interview had been very unsatisfactory4 ,evidently1 however1 the doctor had been turning something over in his mind since then and had thought better of it4 ,at any rate1 his manner was cordial enough now4 ,as he closed the doors to his office1 he began to pace the floor4 8,mr4 ,andrews10 he said1 8,i am in some doubt whether ,i had better tell you or the coroner what ,i know4 ,there are certain professional secrets that a doctor must1 as a duty to his patients1 conceal4 ,that is professional ethics4 ,but there are also cases when1 as a matter of public policy1 a doctor should speak out40 ,he stopped and faced us4 8,i don't mind telling you that ,i dislike the publicity that would attend any statement ,i might make to the coroner40 8,exactly10 said ,andrews4 8,i appreciate your position exactly4 ,your other patients would not care to see you involved in a scandal--or at least you would not care to have them see you so involved1 with all the newspaper notoriety such a thing brings40 ,doctor ,thornton shot a quick glance at ,andrews1 as if he would like to know just how much his visitor knew or suspected4 ,andrews drew a paper from his pocket4 8,this is a copy of the death-certificate10 he said4 8,the ,board of ,health has furnished it to us4 ,our physicians at the insurance company tell me it is rather extraordinarily vague4 ,a word from us calling the attention of the proper authorities to it would be sufficient1 ,i think4 ,but1 ,doctor1 that is just the point4 ,we do not desire publicity any more than you do4 ,we could have the body of ,mr4 ,morowitch exhumed and examined1 but ,i prefer to get the facts in the case without resorting to such extreme measures40 8,it would do no good10 interrupted the doctor hastily4 8,and if you'll save me the publicity1 ,i'll tell you why40 ,andrews nodded1 but still held the death-certificate where the doctor was constantly reminded of it4 8,in that certificate ,i have put down the cause of death as congestion of the lungs due to an acute attack of pneumonia4 ,that is substantially correct1 as far as it goes4 ,when ,i was summoned to see ,mr4 ,morowitch ,i found him in a semiconscious state and scarcely breathing4 ,mrs4 ,morowitch told me that he had been brought home in a taxicab by a man who had picked him up on ,william ,street4 ,i'm frank to say that at first sight ,i thought it was a case of plain intoxication1 for ,mr4 ,morowitch sometimes indulged a little freely when he made a splendid deal4 ,i smelled his breath1 which was very feeble4 ,it had a sickish sweet odour1 but that did not impress me at the time4 ,i applied my stethoscope to his lungs4 ,there was a very marked congestion1 and ,i made as my working diagnosis pneumonia4 ,it was a case for quick and heroic action4 ,in a very few minutes ,i had a tank of oxygen from the hospital4 8,in the meantime ,i had thought over that sweetish odour1 and it flashed on my mind that it might1 after all1 be a case of poisoning4 ,when the oxygen arrived ,i administered it at once4 ,as it happens1 the ,rockefeller ,institute has just published a report of experiments with a new antidote for various poisons1 which consists simply in a new method of enforced breathing and throwing off the poison by oxidising it in that way4 ,in either case--the pneumonia theory or the poison theory--this line of action was the best that ,i could have adopted on the spur of the moment4 ,i gave him some strychnine to strengthen his heart and by hard work ,i had him resting apparently a little easier4 ,a nurse had been sent for1 but had not arrived when a messenger came to me telling of a very sudden illness of ,mrs4 ,morey1 the wife of the steel-magnate4 ,as the ,morey home is only a half-block away1 ,i left ,mr4 ,morowitch1 with very particular instructions to his wife as to what to do4 8,i had intended to return immediately1 but before ,i got back ,mr4 ,morowitch was dead4 ,now ,i think ,i've told you all4 ,you see1 it was nothing but a suspicion--hardly enough to warrant making a fuss about4 ,i made out the death-certificate1 as you see4 ,probably that would have been all there was to it if ,i hadn't heard of this incomprehensible robbery4 ,that set me thinking again4 ,there1 ,i'm glad ,i've got it out of my system4 ,i've thought about it a good deal since your man was here to see me40 8,what do you suspect was the cause of that sweetish odour80 asked ,kennedy4 ,the doctor hesitated4 8,mind1 it is only a suspicion4 ,cyanide of potassium or cyanogen gas2 either would give such an odour40 8,your treatment would have been just the same had you been certain80 8,practically the same1 the ,rockefeller treatment40 8,could it have been suicide0 asked ,andrews4 8,there was no motive for it1 ,i believe10 replied the doctor4 8,but was there any such poison in the ,morowitch house80 8,i know that they were much interested in photography4 ,cyanide of potassium is used in certain processes in photography40 8,who was interested in photography1 ,mr4 or ,mrs4 ,morowitch80 8,both of them40 8,was ,mrs4 ,morowitch80 8,both of them10 repeated the doctor hastily4 ,it was evident how ,andrews's questions were tending1 and it was also evident that the doctor did not wish to commit himself or even to be misunderstood4 ,kennedy had sat silently for some minutes1 turning the thing over in his mind4 ,apparently disregarding ,andrews entirely1 he now asked1 8,doctor1 supposing it had been cyanogen gas which caused the congestion of the lungs1 and supposing it had not been inhaled in quantities large enough to kill outright1 do you nevertheless feel that ,mr4 ,morowitch was in a weak enough condition to die as a result of the congestion produced by the gas after the traces of the cyanogen had been perhaps thrown off80 8,that is precisely the impression which ,i wished to convey40 8,might ,i ask whether in his semiconscious state he said anything that might at all serve as a clue80 8,he talked ramblingly1 incoherently4 ,as near as ,i can remember it1 he seemed to believe himself to have become a millionaire1 a billionaire4 ,he talked of diamonds1 diamonds1 diamonds4 ,he seemed to be picking them up1 running his fingers through them1 and once ,i remember he seemed to want to send for ,mr4 ,kahan and tell him something4 ',i can make them1 ,kahan1' he said1 'the finest1 the largest1 the whitest--,i can make them4'0 ,kennedy was all attention as ,dr4 ,thornton added this new evidence4 8,you know10 concluded the doctor1 8that in cyanogen poisoning there might be hallucinations of the wildest kind4 ,but then1 too1 in the delirium of pneumonia it might be the same40 ,i could see by the way ,kennedy acted that for the first time a ray of light had dawned upon him in tracing out the case4 ,as we rose to go1 the doctor shook hands with us4 ,his last words were said with an air of great relief1 8,gentlemen1 ,i have eased my conscience considerably40 ,as we parted for the night ,kennedy faced ,andrews4 8,you recall that you promised me one thing when ,i took up this case80 he asked4 ,andrews nodded4 8,then take no steps until ,i tell you4 ,shadow ,mrs4 ,morowitch and ,mr4 ,kahan1 but do not let them know you suspect them of anything4 ,let me run down this ,poissan clue4 ,in other words1 leave the case entirely in my hands in other respects4 ,let me know any new facts you may unearth1 and some time to-morrow ,i shall call on you1 and we will determine what the next step is to be4 ,good night4 ,i want to thank you for putting me in the way of this case4 ,i think we shall all be surprised at the outcome40 ,it was late the following afternoon before ,i saw ,kennedy again4 ,he was in his laboratory winding two strands of platinum wire carefully about a piece of porcelain and smearing on it some peculiar black glassy granular substance that came in a sort of pencil1 like a stick of sealing-wax4 ,i noticed that he was very particular to keep the two wires exactly the same distance from each other throughout the entire length of the piece of porcelain1 but ,i said nothing to distract his attention1 though a thousand questions about the progress of the case were at my tongue's end4 ,instead ,i watched him intently4 ,the black substance formed a sort of bridge connecting and covering the wires4 ,when he had finished he said3 8,now you can ask me your questions1 while ,i heat and anneal this little contrivance4 ,i see you are bursting with curiosity40 8,well1 did you see ,poissan80 ,i asked4 ,kennedy continued to heat the wire-covered porcelain4 8,i did1 and he is going to give me a demonstration of his discovery to-night40 8,his discovery60 8,you remember ,morowitch's 'hallucination1' as the doctor called it8 ,that was no hallucination2 that was a reality4 ,this man ,poissan says he has discovered a way to make diamonds artificially out of pure carbon in an electric furnace4 ,morowitch1 ,i believe1 was to buy his secret4 ,his dream of millions was a reality--at least to him40 8,and did ,kahan and ,mrs4 ,morowitch know it80 ,i asked quickly4 8,i don't know yet10 replied ,craig1 finishing the annealing4 ,the black glassy substance was now a dull grey4 8,what's that stuff you were putting on the wire80 ,i asked4 8,oh1 just a by-product made in the manufacture of sulphuric acid10 answered ,kennedy airily1 adding1 as if to change the subject3 8,i want you to go with me to-night4 ,i told ,poissan ,i was a professor in the university and that ,i would bring one of our younger trustees1 the son of the banker1 ,t4 ,pierpont ,spencer1 who might put some capital into his scheme4 ,now1 ,jameson1 while ,i'm finishing up my work here1 run over to the apartment and get my automatic revolver4 ,i may need it to-night4 ,i have communicated with ,andrews1 and he will be ready4 ,the demonstration will take place at half-past-eight at ,poissan's laboratory4 ,i tried to get him to give it here1 but he absolutely refused40 ,half an hour later ,i rejoined ,craig at his laboratory1 and we rode down to the ,great ,eastern ,life ,building4 ,andrews was waiting for us in his solidly furnished office4 ,outside ,i noted a couple of husky men1 who seemed to be waiting for orders from their chief4 ,from the manner in which the vice-president greeted us it was evident that he was keenly interested in what ,kennedy was about to do4 8,so you think ,morowitch's deal was a deal to purchase the secret of diamond-making80 he mused4 8,i feel sure of it10 replied ,craig4 8,i felt sure of it the moment ,i looked up ,poissan and found that he was a manufacturer of electric furnaces4 ,don't you remember the famous ,lemoine case in ,london and ,paris80 8,yes1 but ,lemoine was a fakir of the first water20 said ,andrews4 8,do you think this man is1 too80 8,that's what ,i'm going to find out to-night before ,i take another step10 said ,craig4 8,of course there can be no doubt that by proper use the electric furnace will make small1 almost microscopic diamonds4 ,it is not unreasonable to suppose that some day someone will be able to make large diamonds synthetically by the same process40 8,maybe this man has done it10 agreed ,andrews4 8,who knows8 ,i'll wager that if he has and that if ,morowitch had bought an interest in his process ,kahan knew of it4 ,he's a sharp one4 ,and ,mrs4 ,morowitch doesn't let grass grow under her feet1 when it comes to seeing the main chance as to money4 ,now just supposing ,mr4 ,morowitch had bought an interest in a secret like that and supposing ,kahan was in love with ,mrs4 ,morowitch and that they--0 8,let us suppose nothing1 ,mr4 ,andrews10 interrupted ,kennedy4 8,at least not yet4 ,let me see2 it is now ten minutes after eight4 ,poissan's place is only a few blocks from here4 ,i'd like to get there a few minutes early4 ,let's start40 ,as we left the office1 ,andrews signalled to the two men outside1 and they quietly followed a few feet in the rear1 but without seeming to be with us4 ,poissan's laboratory was at the top of a sort of loft building a dozen stories or so high4 ,it was a peculiar building1 with several entrances besides a freight elevator at the rear and fire-escapes that led to adjoining lower roofs4 ,we stopped around the corner in the shadow1 and ,kennedy and ,andrews talked earnestly4 ,as near as ,i could make out ,kennedy was insisting that it would be best for ,andrews and his men not to enter the building at all1 but wait down-stairs while he and ,i went up4 ,at last the arrangement was agreed on4 8,here10 said ,kennedy1 undoing a package he had carried1 8is a little electric bell with a couple of fresh dry batteries attached to it1 and wires that will reach at least four hundred feet4 ,you and the men wait in the shadow here by this side entrance for five minutes after ,jameson and ,i go up4 ,then you must engage the night watchman in some way4 ,while he is away you will find two wires dangling down the elevator shaft4 ,attach them to these wires from the bell and the batteries--these two--you know how to do that4 ,the wires will be hanging in the third shaft--only one elevator is running at night1 the first4 ,the moment you hear the bell begin to ring2 jump into the elevator and come up to the twelfth floor--we'll need you40 ,as ,kennedy and ,i rode up in the elevator ,i could not help thinking what an ideal place a down-town office building is for committing a crime1 even at this early hour of the evening4 ,if the streets were deserted1 the office-buildings were positively uncanny in their grim1 black silence with only here and there a light4 ,the elevator in the first shaft shot down again to the ground floor1 and as it disappeared ,kennedy took two spools of wire from his pocket and hastily shoved them through the lattice work the third elevator shaft4 ,they quickly unrolled1 and ,i could hear them strike the top of the empty car below in the basement4 ,that meant that ,andrews on the ground floor could reach the wires and attach them to the bell4 ,quickly in the darkness ,kennedy attached the ends of the wires to the curious little coil ,i had seen him working on in the laboratory1 and we proceeded down the hall to the rooms occupied by ,poissan1 ,kennedy had allowed for the wire to reach from the elevator-shaft up this hall1 also1 and as he walked he paid it out in such a manner that it fell on the floor close to the wall1 where1 in the darkness1 it would never be noticed or stumbled over4 ,around an 8,l0 in the hall ,i could see a ground-glass window with a light shining through it4 ,kennedy stopped at the window and quickly placed the little coil on the ledge1 close up against the glass1 with the wires running from it down the hall4 ,then we entered4 8,on time to the minute1 ,professor10 exclaimed ,poissan1 snapping his watch4 8,and this1 ,i presume1 is the banker who is interested in my great discovery of making artificial diamonds of any size or colour80 he added1 indicating me4 8,yes10 answered ,craig1 8as ,i told you1 a son of ,mr4 ,t4 ,pierpont ,spencer40 ,i shook hands with as much dignity as ,i could assume1 for the role of impersonation was a new one to me4 ,kennedy carelessly laid his coat and hat on the inside ledge of the ground-glass window1 just opposite the spot where he had placed the little coil on the other side of the glass4 ,i noted that the window was simply a large pane of wire-glass set in the wall for the purpose of admitting light in the daytime from the hall outside4 ,the whole thing seemed eerie to me--especially as ,poissan's assistant was a huge fellow and had an evil look such as ,i had seen in pictures of the inhabitants of quarters of ,paris which one does not frequent except in the company of a safe guide4 ,i was glad ,kennedy had brought his revolver1 and rather vexed that he had not told me to do likewise4 ,however1 ,i trusted that ,craig knew what he was about4 ,we seated ourselves some distance from a table on which was a huge1 plain1 oblong contrivance that reminded me of the diagram of a parallelopiped which had caused so much trouble in my solid geometry at college4 8,that's the electric furnace1 sir10 said ,craig to me with an assumed deference1 becoming a college professor explaining things to the son of a great financier4 8,you see the electrodes at either end8 ,when the current is turned on and led through them into the furnace you can get the most amazing temperatures in the crucible4 ,the most refractory of chemical compounds can be broken up by that heat4 ,what is the highest temperature you have attained1 ,professor80 8,something over three thousand degrees ,centigrade10 replied ,poissan1 as he and his assistant busied themselves about the furnace4 ,we sat watching him in silence4 8,ah1 gentlemen1 now ,i am ready10 he exclaimed at length1 when everything was arranged to his satisfaction4 8,you see1 here is a lump of sugar carbon--pure amorphous carbon3 ,diamonds1 as you know1 are composed of pure carbon crystallised under enormous pressure4 ,now1 my theory is that if we can combine an enormous pressure and an enormous heat we can make diamonds artificially4 ,the problem of pressure is the thing1 for here in the furnace we have the necessary heat4 ,it occurred to me that when molten cast iron cools it exerts a tremendous pressure4 ,that pressure is what ,i use40 8,you know1 ,spencer1 solid iron floats on molten iron like solid water--ice--floats on liquid water10 explained ,craig to me4 ,poissan nodded4 8,i take this sugar carbon and place it in this soft iron cup4 ,then ,i screw on this cap over the cup1 so4 ,now ,i place this mass of iron scraps in the crucible of the furnace and start the furnace40 ,he turned a switch1 and long yellowish-blue sheets of flame spurted out from the electrodes on either side4 ,it was weird1 gruesome4 ,one could feel the heat of the tremendous electric discharge4 ,as ,i looked at the bluish-yellow flames they gradually changed to a beautiful purple1 and a sickish sweet odour filled the room4 ,the furnace roared at first1 but as the vapors increased it became a better conductor of the electricity1 and the roaring ceased4 ,in almost no time the mass of iron scraps became molten4 ,suddenly ,poissan plunged the cast-iron cup into the seething mass4 ,the cup floated and quickly began to melt4 ,as it did so he waited attentively until the proper moment4 ,then with a deft motion he seized the whole thing with a long pair of tongs and plunged it into a vat of running water4 ,a huge cloud of steam filled the room4 ,i felt a drowsy sensation stealing over me as the sickish sweet smell from the furnace increased4 ,gripping the chair1 ,i roused myself and watched ,poissan attentively4 ,he was working rapidly4 ,as the molten mass cooled and solidified he took it out of the water and laid it on an anvil4 ,then his assistant began to hammer it with careful1 sharp blows1 chipping off the outside4 8,you see1 we have to get down to the core of carbon gently10 he said1 as he picked up the little pieces of iron and threw them into a scrap-box4 8,first rather brittle cast iron1 then hard iron1 then iron and carbon1 then some black diamonds1 and in the very centre the diamonds4 8,ah6 we are getting to them4 ,here is a small diamond4 ,see1 ,mr4 ,spencer--gently ,francois--we shall come to the large ones presently40 8,one moment1 ,professor ,poissan10 interrupted ,craig2 8let your assistant break them out while ,i stand over him40 8,impossible4 ,you would not know when you saw them4 ,they are just rough stones40 8,oh1 yes1 ,i would40 8,no1 stay where you are4 ,unless ,i attend to it the diamonds might be ruined40 ,there was something peculiar about his insistence1 but after he picked out the next diamond ,i was hardly prepared for ,kennedy's next remark4 8,let me see the palms of your hands40 ,poissan shot an angry glance at ,kennedy1 but he did not open his hands4 8,i merely wish to convince you1 ',mr4 ,spencer1'0 said ,kennedy to me1 8that it is no sleight-of-hand trick and that the professor has not several uncut stones palmed in his hand like a prestidigitator40 ,the ,frenchman faced us1 his face livid with rage4 8,you call me a prestidigitator1 a fraud--you shall suffer for that6 ,sacrebleu6 ,ventre du ,saint ,gris6 ,no man ever insults the honour of ,poissan4 ,francois1 water on the electrodes60 ,the assistant dashed a few drops of water on the electrodes4 ,the sickish odour increased tremendously4 ,i felt myself almost going1 but with an effort ,i again roused myself4 ,i wondered how ,craig stood the fumes1 for ,i suffered an intense headache and nausea4 8,stop60 ,craig thundered4 8,there's enough cyanogen in this room already4 ,i know your game--the water forms acetylene with the carbon1 and that uniting with the nitrogen of the air under the terrific heat of the electric arc forms hydrocyanic acid4 ,would you poison us1 too8 ,do you think you can put me unconscious out on the street and have a society doctor diagnose my case as pneumonia8 ,or do you think we shall die quietly in some hospital as a certain ,new ,york banker did last year after he had watched an alchemist make silver out of apparently nothing60 ,the effect on ,poissan was terrible4 ,he advanced toward ,kennedy1 the veins in his face fairly standing out4 ,shaking his forefinger1 he shouted3 8,you know that1 do you8 ,you are no professor1 and this is no banker4 ,you are spies1 spies4 ,you come from the friends of ,morowitch1 do you8 ,you have gone too far with me40 ,kennedy said nothing1 but retreated and took his coat and hat off the window ledge4 ,the hideous penetrating light of the tongues of flame from the furnace played on the ground-glass window4 ,poissan laughed a hollow laugh4 8,put down your hat and coat1 ,mistair ,kennedy10 he hissed4 8,the door has been locked ever since you have been here4 ,those windows are barred1 the telephone wire is cut1 and it is three hundred feet to the street4 ,we shall leave you here when the fumes have overcome you4 ,francois and ,i can stand them up to a point1 and when we reach that point we are going40 ,instead of being cowed ,kennedy grew bolder1 though ,i1 for my part1 felt so weakened that ,i feared the outcome of a hand-to-hand encounter with either ,poissan or ,francois1 who appeared as fresh as if nothing had happened4 ,they were hurriedly preparing to leave us4 8,that would do you no good10 ,kennedy rejoined1 8for we have no safe full of jewels for you to rob4 ,there are no keys to offices to be stolen from our pockets4 ,and let me tell you--you are not the only man in ,new ,york who knows the secret of thermite4 ,i have told the secret to the police1 and they are only waiting to find who destroyed ,morowitch's correspondence under the letter ',p' to apprehend the robber of his safe4 ,your secret is out40 8,revenge6 revenge60 ,poissan cried4 8,i will have revenge4 ,francois1 bring out the jewels--ha6 ha6--here in this bag are the jewels of ,mr4 ,morowitch4 ,to-night ,francois and ,i will go down by the back elevator to a secret exit4 ,in two hours all your police in ,new ,york cannot find us4 ,but in two hours you two impostors will be suffocated--perhaps you will die of cyanogen1 like ,morowitch1 whose jewels ,i have at last40 ,he went to the door into the hall and stood there with a mocking laugh4 ,i moved to make a rush toward them1 but ,kennedy raised his hand4 8,you will suffocate10 ,poissan hissed again4 ,just then we heard the elevator door clang1 and hurried steps came down the long hall4 ,craig whipped out his automatic and began pumping the bullets out in rapid succession4 ,as the smoke cleared ,i expected to see ,poissan and ,francois lying on the floor4 ,instead1 ,craig had fired at the lock of the door4 ,he had shattered it into a thousand bits4 ,andrews and his men were running down the hall4 8,curse you60 muttered ,poissan as he banged the now useless lock1 8who let those fellows in8 ,are you a wizard80 ,craig smiled coolly as the ventilation cleared the room of the deadly cyanogen4 8,on the window-sill outside is a selenium cell4 ,selenium is a bad conductor of electricity in the dark1 and an excellent conductor when exposed to light4 ,i merely moved my coat and hat1 and the light from the furnace which was going to suffocate us played through the glass on the cell1 the circuit was completed without your suspecting that ,i could communicate with friends outside1 a bell was rung on the street1 and here they are4 ,andrews1 there is the murderer of ,morowitch1 and there in his hands are the ,morowitch--0 ,poissan had moved toward the furnace4 ,with a quick motion he seized the long tongs4 ,there was a cloud of choking vapour4 ,kennedy leaped to the switch and shut off the current4 ,with the tongs he lifted out a shapeless piece of valueless black graphite4 8,all that is left of the priceless ,morowitch jewels10 he exclaimed ruefully4 8,but we have the murderer40 8,and to-morrow a certified check for one hundred thousand dollars goes to ,mrs4 ,morowitch with my humblest apologies and sympathy10 added ,andrews4 8,professor ,kennedy1 you have earned your retainer40 ,,vii4 ,the ,azure ,ring ,files of newspapers and innumerable clippings from the press bureaus littered ,kennedy's desk in rank profusion4 ,kennedy himself was so deeply absorbed that ,i had merely said good evening as ,i came in and had started to open my mail4 ,with an impatient sweep of his hand1 however1 he brushed the whole mass of newspapers into the waste-basket4 8,it seems to me1 ,walter10 he exclaimed in disgust1 8that this mystery is considered insoluble for the very reason which should make it easy to solve--the extraordinary character of its features40 ,inasmuch as he had opened the subject1 ,i laid down the letter ,i was reading4 8,i'll wager ,i can tell you just why you made that remark1 ,craig10 ,i ventured4 8,you're reading up on that ,wainwright-,templeton affair40 8,you are on the road to becoming a detective yourself1 ,walter10 he answered with a touch of sarcasm4 8,your ability to add two units to two other units and obtain four units is almost worthy of ,inspector ,o',connor4 ,you are right and within a quarter of an hour the district attorney of ,westchester ,county will be here4 ,he telephoned me this afternoon and sent an assistant with this mass of dope4 ,i suppose he'll want it back10 he added1 fishing the newspapers out of the basket again4 8,but1 with all due respect to your profession1 ,i'll say that no one would ever get on speaking terms with the solution of this case if he had to depend solely on the newspaper writers40 8,no80 ,i queried1 rather nettled at his tone4 8,no10 he repeated emphatically4 8,here one of the most popular girls in the fashionable suburb of ,williston1 and one of the leading younger members of the bar in ,new ,york1 engaged to be married1 are found dead in the library of the girl's home the day before the ceremony4 ,and now1 a week later1 no one knows whether it was an accident due to the fumes from the antique charcoal-brazier1 or whether it was a double suicide1 or suicide and murder1 or a double murder1 or--or--why1 the experts haven't even been able to agree on whether they have discovered poison or not10 he continued1 growing as excited as the city editor did over my first attempt as a cub reporter4 8,they haven't agreed on anything except that on the eve of what was1 presumably1 to have been the happiest day of their lives two of the best known members of the younger set are found dead1 while absolutely no one1 as far as is known1 can be proved to have been near them within the time necessary to murder them4 ,no wonder the coroner says it is simply a case of asphyxiation4 ,no wonder the district attorney is at his wits' end4 ,you fellows have hounded them with your hypotheses until they can't see the facts straight4 ,you suggest one solution and before-0 ,the door-bell sounded insistently1 and without waiting for an answer a tall1 spare1 loose-jointed individual stalked in and laid a green bag on the table4 8,good evening1 ,professor ,kennedy10 he began brusquely4 8,i am ,district ,attorney ,whitney1 of ,westchester4 ,i see you have been reading up on the case4 ,quite right40 8,quite wrong10 answered ,craig4 8,let me introduce my friend1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 of the ,star4 ,sit down4 ,jameson knows what ,i think of the way the newspapers have handled this case4 ,i was about to tell him as you came in that ,i intended to disregard everything that had been printed1 to start out with you as if it were a fresh subject and get the facts at first hand4 ,let's get right down to business4 ,first tell us just how it was that ,miss ,wainwright and ,mr4 ,templeton were discovered and by whom40 ,the district attorney loosened the cords of the green bag and drew out a bundle of documents4 8,i'll read you the affidavit of the maid who found them10 he said1 fingering the documents nervously4 8,you see1 ,john ,templeton had left his office in ,new ,york early that afternoon1 telling his father that he was going to visit ,miss ,wainwright4 ,he caught the three-twenty train1 reached ,williston all right1 walked to the ,wainwright house1 and1 in spite of the bustle of preparation for the wedding1 the next day1 he spent the rest of the afternoon with ,miss ,wainwright4 ,that's where the mystery begins4 ,they had no visitors4 ,at least1 the maid who answers the bell says they had none4 ,she was busy with the rest of the family1 and ,i believe the front door was not locked--we don't lock our doors in ,williston1 except at night40 ,he had found the paper and paused to impress these facts on our minds4 8,mrs4 ,wainwright and ,miss ,marian ,wainwright1 the sister1 were busy about the house4 ,mrs4 ,wainwright wished to consult ,laura about something4 ,she summoned the maid and asked if ,mr4 ,templeton and ,miss ,wainwright were in the house4 ,the maid replied that she would see1 and this is her affidavit4 ,ahem6 ,i'll skip the legal part3 ',i knocked at the library door twice1 but obtaining no answer1 ,i supposed they had gone out for a walk or perhaps a ride across country as they often did4 ,i opened the door partly and looked in4 ,there was a silence in the room1 a strange1 queer silence4 ,i opened the door further and1 looking toward the davenport in the corner1 ,i saw ,miss ,laura and ,mr4 ,templeton in such an awkward position4 ,they looked as if they had fallen asleep4 ,his head was thrown back against the cushions of the davenport1 and on his face was a most awful look4 ,it was discoloured4 ,her head had fallen forward on his shoulder1 sideways1 and on her face1 too1 was the same terrible stare and the same discolouration4 ,their right hands were tightly clasped4 8',i called to them4 ,they did not answer4 ,then the horrible truth flashed on me4 ,they were dead4 ,i felt giddy for a minute1 but quickly recovered myself1 and with a cry for help ,i rushed to ,mrs4 ,wainwright's room1 shrieking that they were dead4 ,mrs4 ,wainwright fainted4 ,miss ,marian called the doctor on the telephone and helped us restore her mother4 ,she seemed perfectly cool in the tragedy1 and ,i do not know what we servants should have done if she had not been there to direct us4 ,the house was frantic1 and ,mr4 ,wainwright was not at home4 8',i did not detect any odour when ,i opened the library door4 ,no glasses or bottles or vials or other receptacles which could have held poison were discovered or removed by me1 or to the best of my knowledge and belief by anyone else4'0 8,what happened next80 asked ,craig eagerly4 8,the family physician arrived and sent for the coroner immediately1 and later for myself4 ,you see1 he thought at once of murder40 8,but the coroner1 ,i understand1 thinks differently10 prompted ,kennedy4 8,yes1 the coroner has declared the case to be accidental4 ,he says that the weight of evidence points positively to asphyxiation4 ,still1 how can it be asphyxiation8 ,they could have escaped from the room at any time2 the door was not locked4 ,i tell you1 in spite of the fact that the tests for poison in their mouths1 stomachs1 and blood have so far revealed nothing1 ,i still believe that ,john ,templeton and ,laura ,wainwright were murdered40 ,kennedy looked at his watch thoughtfully4 8,you have told me just enough to make me want to see the coroner himself10 he mused4 8,if we take the next train out to ,williston with you1 will you engage to get us a half-hour talk with him on the case1 ,mr4 ,whitney80 8,surely4 ,but we'll have to start right away4 ,i've finished my other business in ,new ,york4 ,inspector ,o',connor--ah1 ,i see you know him--has promised to secure the attendance of anyone whom ,i can show to be a material witness in the case4 ,come on1 gentlemen3 ,i'll answer your other questions on the train40 ,as we settled ourselves in the smoker1 ,whitney remarked in a low voice1 8,you know1 someone has said that there is only one thing more difficult to investigate and solve than a crime whose commission is surrounded by complicated circumstances and that is a crime whose perpetration is wholly devoid of circumstances40 8,are you so sure that this crime is wholly devoid of circumstances80 asked ,craig4 8,professor10 he replied1 8,i'm not sure of anything in this case4 ,if ,i were ,i should not require your assistance4 ,i would like the credit of solving it myself1 but it is beyond me4 ,just think of it3 so far we haven't a clue1 at least none that shows the slightest promise1 although we have worked night and day for a week4 ,it's all darkness4 ,the facts are so simple that they give us nothing to work on4 ,it is like a blank sheet of paper40 ,kennedy said nothing1 and the district attorney proceeded3 8,i don't blame ,mr4 ,nott1 the coroner1 for thinking it an accident4 ,but to my mind1 some master criminal must have arranged this very baffling simplicity of circumstances4 ,you recall that the front door was unlocked4 ,this person must have entered the house unobserved1 not a difficult thing to do1 for the ,wainwright house is somewhat isolated4 ,perhaps this person brought along some poison in the form of a beverage1 and induced the two victims to drink4 ,and then1 this person must have removed the evidences as swiftly as they were brought in and by the same door4 ,that1 ,i think1 is the only solution40 8,that is not the only solution4 ,it is one solution10 interrupted ,kennedy quietly4 8,do you think someone in the house did it80 ,i asked quickly4 8,i think10 replied ,craig1 carefully measuring his words1 8that if poison was given them it must have been by someone they both knew pretty well40 ,no one said a word1 until at last ,i broke the silence4 8,i know from the gossip of the ,star office that many ,williston people say that ,marian was very jealous of her sister ,laura for capturing the catch of the season4 ,williston people don't hesitate to hint at it40 ,whitney produced another document from that fertile green bag4 ,it was another affidavit4 ,he handed it to us4 ,it was a statement signed by ,mrs4 ,wainwright1 and read3 8,before ,god1 my daughter ,marian is innocent4 ,if you wish to find out all1 find out more about the past history of ,mr4 ,templeton before he became engaged to ,laura4 ,she would never in the world have committed suicide4 ,she was too bright and cheerful for that1 even if ,mr4 ,templeton had been about to break off the engagement4 ,my daughters ,laura and ,marian were always treated by ,mr4 ,wainwright and myself exactly alike4 ,of course they had their quarrels1 just as all sisters do1 but there was never1 to my certain knowledge1 a serious disagreement1 and ,i was always close enough to my girls to know4 ,no1 ,laura was murdered by someone outside40 ,kennedy did not seem to attach much importance to this statement4 8,let us see10 he began reflectively4 8,first1 we have a young woman especially attractive and charming in both person and temperament4 ,she is just about to be married and1 if the reports are to be believed1 there was no cloud on her happiness4 ,secondly1 we have a young man whom everyone agrees to have been of an ardent1 energetic1 optimistic temperament4 ,he had everything to live for1 presumably4 ,so far1 so good4 ,everyone who has investigated this case1 ,i understand1 has tried to eliminate the double-suicide and the suicide-and-murder theories4 ,that is all right1 providing the facts are as stated4 ,we shall see1 later1 when we interview the coroner4 ,now1 ,mr4 ,whitney1 suppose you tell us briefly what you have learned about the past history of the two unfortunate lovers40 8,well1 the ,wainwrights are an old ,westchester family1 not very wealthy1 but of the real aristocracy of the county4 ,there were only two children1 ,laura and ,marian4 ,the ,templetons were much the same sort of family4 ,the children all attended a private school at ,white ,plains1 and there also they met ,schuyler ,vanderdyke4 ,these four constituted a sort of little aristocracy in the school4 ,i mention this1 because ,vanderdyke later became ,laura's first husband4 ,this marriage with ,templeton was a second venture40 8,how long ago was she divorced80 asked ,craig attentively4 8,about three years ago4 ,i'm coming to that in a moment4 ,the sisters went to college together1 ,templeton to law school1 and ,vanderdyke studied civil engineering4 ,their intimacy was pretty well broken up1 all except ,laura's and ,vanderdyke's4 ,soon after he graduated he was taken into the construction department of the ,central ,railroad by his uncle1 who was a vice-president1 and ,laura and he were married4 ,as far as ,i can learn he had been a fellow of convivial habits at college1 and about two years after their marriage his wife suddenly became aware of what had long been well known in ,williston1 that ,vanderdyke was paying marked attention to a woman named ,miss ,laporte in ,new ,york4 8,no sooner had ,laura ,vanderdyke learned of this intimacy of her husband10 continued ,whitney1 8than she quietly hired private detectives to shadow him1 and on their evidence she obtained a divorce4 ,the papers were sealed1 and she resumed her maiden name4 8,as far as ,i can find out1 ,vanderdyke then disappeared from her life4 ,he resigned his position with the railroad and joined a party of engineers exploring the upper ,amazon4 ,later he went to ,venezuela4 ,miss ,laporte also went to ,south ,america about the same time1 and was for a time in ,venezuela1 and later in ,peru4 8,vanderdyke seems to have dropped all his early associations completely1 though at present ,i find he is back in ,new ,york raising capital for a company to exploit a new asphalt concession in the interior of ,venezuela4 ,miss ,laporte has also reappeared in ,new ,york as ,mrs4 ,ralston1 with a mining claim in the mountains of ,peru40 8,and ,templeton80 asked ,craig4 8,had he had any previous matrimonial ventures80 8,no1 none4 ,of course he had had love affairs1 mostly with the country-club set4 ,he had known ,miss ,laporte pretty well1 too1 while he was in law school in ,new ,york4 ,but when he settled down to work he seems to have forgotten all about the girls for a couple of years or so4 ,he was very anxious to get ahead1 and let nothing stand in his way4 ,he was admitted to the bar and taken in by his father as junior member of the firm of ,templeton1 ,mills ,templeton4 ,not long ago he was appointed a special master to take testimony in the get-rich-quick-company prosecutions1 and ,i happen to know that he was making good in the investigation40 ,kennedy nodded4 8,what sort of fellow personally was ,templeton80 he asked4 8,very popular10 replied the district attorney1 8both at the country club and in his profession in ,new ,york4 ,he was a fellow of naturally commanding temperament--the ,templetons were always that way4 ,i doubt if many young men even with his chances could have gained such a reputation at thirty-five as his4 ,socially he was very popular1 too1 a great catch for all the sly mamas of the country club who had marriageable daughters4 ,he liked automobiles and outdoor sports1 and he was strong in politics1 too4 ,that was how he got ahead so fast4 8,well1 to cut the story short1 ,templeton met the ,wainwright girls again last summer at a resort on ,long ,island4 ,they had just returned from a long trip abroad1 spending most of the time in the ,far ,east with their father1 whose firm has business interests in ,china4 ,the girls were very attractive4 ,they rode and played tennis and golf better than most of the men1 and this fall ,templeton became a frequent visitor at the ,wainwright home in ,williston4 8,people who know them best tell me that his first attentions were paid to ,marian1 a very dashing and ambitious young woman4 ,nearly every day ,templeton's car stopped at the house and the girls and some friend of ,templeton's in the country club went for a ride4 ,they tell me that at this time ,marian always sat with ,templeton on the front seat4 ,but after a few weeks the gossips--nothing of that sort ever escapes ,williston--said that the occupant of the front seat was ,laura4 ,she often drove the car herself and was very clever at it4 ,at any rate1 not long after that the engagement was announced40 ,as he walked up from the pretty little ,williston station ,kennedy asked3 8,one more question1 ,mr4 ,whitney4 ,how did ,marian take the engagement80 ,the district attorney hesitated4 8,i will be perfectly frank1 ,mr4 ,kennedy10 he answered4 8,the country-club people tell me that the girls were very cool toward each other4 ,that was why ,i got that statement from ,mrs4 ,wainwright4 ,i wish to be perfectly fair to everyone concerned in this case40 ,we found the coroner quite willing to talk1 in spite of the fact that the hour was late4 8,my friend1 ,mr4 ,whitney1 here1 still holds the poison theory10 began the coroner1 8in spite of the fact that everything points absolutely toward asphyxiation4 ,if ,i had been able to discover the slightest trace of illuminating-gas in the room ,i should have pronounced it asphyxia at once4 ,all the symptoms accorded with it4 ,but the asphyxia was not caused by escaping illuminating-gas4 8,there was an antique charcoal-brazier in the room1 and ,i have ascertained that it was lighted4 ,now1 anything like a brazier will1 unless there is proper ventilation1 give rise to carbonic oxide or carbon monoxide gas1 which is always present in the products of combustion1 often to the extent of from five to ten per cent4 ,a very slight quantity of this gas1 insufficient even to cause an odour in a room1 will give a severe headache1 and a case is recorded where a whole family in ,glasgow was poisoned without knowing it by the escape of this gas4 ,a little over one per cent of it in the atmosphere is fatal1 if breathed for any length of time4 ,you know1 it is a product of combustion1 and is very deadly--it is the much-dreaded white damp or afterdamp of a mine explosion4 8,i'm going to tell you a secret which ,i have not given out to the press yet4 ,i tried an experiment in a closed room today1 lighting the brazier4 ,some distance from it ,i placed a cat confined in a cage so it could not escape4 ,in an hour and a half the cat was asphyxiated40 ,the coroner concluded with an air of triumph that quite squelched the district attorney4 ,kennedy was all attention4 8,have you preserved samples of the blood of ,mr4 ,templeton and ,miss ,wainwright80 he asked4 8,certainly4 ,i have them in my office40 ,the coroner1 who was also a local physician1 led us back into his private office4 8,and the cat80 added ,craig4 ,doctor ,nott produced it in a covered basket4 ,quickly ,kennedy drew off a little of the blood of the cat and held it up to the light along with the human samples4 ,the difference was apparent4 8,you see10 he explained1 8carbon monoxide combines firmly with the blood1 destroying the red colouring matter of the red corpuscles4 ,no1 ,doctor1 ,i'm afraid it wasn't carbonic oxide that killed the lovers1 although it certainly killed the cat40 ,doctor ,nott was crestfallen1 but still unconvinced4 8,if my whole medical reputation were at stake10 he repeated1 8,i should still be compelled to swear to asphyxia4 ,i've seen it too often1 to make a mistake4 ,carbonic oxide or not1 ,templeton and ,miss ,wainwright were asphyxiated40 ,it was now ,whitney's chance to air his theory4 8,i have always inclined toward the cyanide-of-potassium theory1 either that it was administered in a drink or perhaps injected by a needle10 he said4 8,one of the chemists has reported that there was a possibility of slight traces of cyanide in the mouths40 8,if it had been cyanide10 replied ,craig1 looking reflectively at the two jars before him on the table1 8these blood specimens would be blue in colour and clotted4 ,but they are not4 ,then1 too1 there is a substance in the saliva which is used in the process of digestion4 ,it gives a reaction which might very easily be mistaken for a slight trace of cyanide4 ,i think that explains what the chemist discovered2 no more1 no less4 ,the cyanide theory does not fit40 8,one chemist hinted at nux vomica10 volunteered the coroner4 8,he said it wasn't nux vomica1 but that the blood test showed something very much like it4 ,oh1 we've looked for morphine chloroform1 ether1 all the ordinary poisons1 besides some of the little known alkaloids4 ,believe me1 ,professor ,kennedy1 it was asphyxia40 ,i could tell by the look that crossed ,kennedy's face that at last a ray of light had pierced the darkness4 8,have you any spirits of turpentine in the office80 he asked4 ,the coroner shook his head and took a step toward the telephone as if to call the drug-store in town4 8,or ether80 interrupted ,craig4 8,ether will do40 8,oh1 yes1 plenty of ether40 ,craig poured a little of one of the blood samples from the jar into a tube and added a few drops of ether4 ,a cloudy dark precipitate formed4 ,he smiled quietly and said1 half to himself1 8,i thought so40 8,what is it80 asked the coroner eagerly4 8,nux vomica80 ,craig shook his head as he stared at the black precipitate4 8,you were perfectly right about the asphyxiation1 ,doctor10 he remarked slowly1 8but wrong as to the cause4 ,it wasn't carbon monoxide or illuminating-gas4 ,and you1 ,mr4 ,whitney1 were right about the poison1 too4 ,only it is a poison neither of you ever heard of40 8,what is it80 we asked simultaneously4 8,let me take these samples and make some further tests4 ,i am sure of it1 but it is new to me4 ,wait till to-morrow night1 when my chain of evidence is completed4 ,then you are all cordially invited to attend at my laboratory at the university4 ,i'll ask you1 ,mr4 ,whitney1 to come armed with a warrant for ,john or ,jane ,doe4 ,please see that the ,wainwrights1 particularly ,marian1 are present4 ,you can tell ,inspector ,o',connor that ,mr4 ,vanderdyke and ,mrs4 ,ralston are required as material witnesses--anything so long as you are sure that these five persons are present4 ,good night1 gentlemen40 ,we rode back to the city in silence1 but as we neared the station1 ,kennedy remarked3 8,you see1 ,walter1 these people are like the newspapers4 ,they are floundering around in a sea of unrelated facts4 ,there is more than they think back of this crime4 ,i've been revolving in my mind how it will be possible to get some inkling about this concession of ,vanderdyke's1 the mining claim of ,mrs4 ,ralston1 and the exact itinerary of the ,wainwright trip in the ,far ,east4 ,do you think you can get that information for me8 ,i think it will take me all day to-morrow to isolate this poison and get things in convincing shape on that score4 ,meanwhile if you can see ,vanderdyke and ,mrs4 ,ralston you can help me a great deal4 ,i am sure you will find them very interesting people40 8,i have been told that she is quite a female high financier10 ,i replied1 tacitly accepting ,craig's commission4 8,her story is that her claim is situated near the mine of a group of powerful ,american capitalists1 who are opposed to having any competition1 and on the strength of that story she has been raking in the money right and left4 ,i don't know ,vanderdyke1 never heard of him before1 but no doubt he has some equally interesting game40 8,don't let them think you connect them with the case1 however10 cautioned ,craig4 ,early the next morning ,i started out on my quest for facts1 though not so early but that ,kennedy had preceded me to his work in his laboratory4 ,it was not very difficult to get ,mrs4 ,ralston to talk about her troubles with the government4 ,in fact1 ,i did not even have to broach the subject of the death of ,templeton4 ,she volunteered the information that in his handling of her case he had been very unjust to her1 in spite of the fact that she had known him well a long time ago4 ,she even hinted that she believed he represented the combination of capitalists who were using the government to aid their own monopoly and prevent the development of her mine4 ,whether it was an obsession of her mind1 or merely part of her clever scheme1 ,i could not make out4 ,i noted1 however1 that when she spoke of ,templeton it was in a studied1 impersonal way1 and that she was at pains to lay the blame for the governmental interference rather on the rival mine-owners4 ,it quite surprised me when ,i found from the directory that ,vanderdyke's office was on the floor below in the same building4 ,like ,mrs4 ,ralston's1 it was open1 but not doing business1 pending the investigation by the ,post-,office ,department4 ,vanderdyke was a type of which ,i had seen many before4 ,well dressed to the extreme1 he displayed all those evidences of prosperity which are the stock in trade of the man with securities to sell4 ,he grasped my hand when ,i told him ,i was going to present the other side of the post-office cases and held it between both of his as if he had known me all his life4 ,only the fact that he had never seen me before prevented his calling me by my first name4 ,i took mental note of his stock of jewellery1 the pin in his tie that might almost have been the ,hope diamond1 the heavy watch chain across his chest1 and a very brilliant seal ring of lapis lazuli on the hand that grasped mine4 ,he saw me looking at it and smiled4 8,my dear fellow1 we have deposits of that stuff that would make a fortune if we could get the machinery to get at it4 ,why1 sir1 there is lapis lazuli enough on our claim to make enough ultramarine paint to supply all the artists to the end of the world4 ,actually we could afford to crush it up and sell it as paint4 ,and that is merely incidental to the other things on the concession4 ,the asphalt's the thing4 ,that's where the big money is4 ,when we get started1 sir1 the old asphalt trust will simply melt away1 melt away40 ,he blew a cloud of tobacco smoke and let it dissolve significantly in the air4 ,when it came to talking about the suits1 however1 ,vanderdyke was not so communicative as ,mrs4 ,ralston1 but he was also not so bitter against either the post-office or ,templeton4 8,poor ,templeton10 he said4 8,i used to know him years ago when we were boys4 ,went to school with him and all that sort of thing1 you know1 but until ,i ran across him1 or rather he ran across me1 in this investigation ,i hadn't heard much about him4 ,pretty clever fellow he was1 too4 ,the state will miss him1 but my lawyer tells me that we should have won the suit anyhow1 even if that unfortunate tragedy hadn't occurred4 ,most unaccountable1 wasn't it8 ,i've read about it in the papers for old time's sake1 and can make nothing out of it40 ,i said nothing1 but wondered how he could pass so lightheartedly over the death of the woman who had once been his wife4 ,however1 ,i said nothing4 ,the result was he launched forth again on the riches of his ,venezuelan concession and loaded me down with 8literature10 which ,i crammed into my pocket for future reference4 ,my next step was to drop into the office of a ,spanish-,america paper whose editor was especially well informed on ,south ,american affairs4 8,do ,i know ,mrs4 ,ralston80 he repeated1 thoughtfully lighting one of those black cigarettes that look so vicious and are so mild4 8,i should say so4 ,i'll tell you a little story about her4 ,three or four years ago she turned up in ,caracas4 ,i don't know who ,mr4 ,ralston was--perhaps there never was any ,mr4 ,ralston4 ,anyhow1 she got in with the official circle of the ,castro government and was very successful as an adventuress4 ,she has considerable business ability and represented a certain group of ,americans4 ,but1 if you recall1 when ,castro was eliminated pretty nearly everyone who had stood high with him went1 too4 ,it seems that a number of the old concessionaires played the game on both sides4 ,this particular group had a man named ,vanderdyke on the anti-,castro side4 ,so1 when ,mrs4 ,ralston went1 she just quietly sailed by way of ,panama to the other side of the continent1 to ,peru--they paid her well--and ,vanderdyke took the title role4 8,oh1 yes1 she and ,vanderdyke were very good friends1 very1 indeed4 ,i think they must have known each other here in the ,states4 ,still they played their parts well at the time4 ,since things have settled down in ,venezuela1 the concessionaires have found no further use for ,vanderdyke either1 and here they are1 ,vanderdyke and ,mrs4 ,ralston1 both in ,new ,york now1 with two of the most outrageous schemes of financing ever seen on ,broad ,street4 ,they have offices in the same building1 they are together a great deal1 and now ,i hear that the state attorney-general is after both of them40 ,with this information and a very meagre report of the ,wainwright trip to the ,far ,east1 which had taken in some out-of-the-way places apparently1 ,i hastened back to ,kennedy4 ,he was surrounded by bottles1 tubes1 jars1 retorts1 ,bunsen burners1 everything in the science and art of chemistry1 ,i thought4 ,i didn't like the way he looked4 ,his hand was unsteady1 and his eyes looked badly1 but he seemed quite put out when ,i suggested that he was working too hard over the case4 ,i was worried about him1 but rather than say anything to offend him ,i left him for the rest of the afternoon1 only dropping in before dinner to make sure that he would not forget to eat something4 ,he was then completing his preparations for the evening4 ,they were of the simplest kind1 apparently4 ,in fact1 all ,i could see was an apparatus which consisted of a rubber funnel1 inverted and attached to a rubber tube which led in turn into a jar about a quarter full of water4 ,through the stopper of the jar another tube led to a tank of oxygen4 ,there were several jars of various liquids on the table and a number of chemicals4 ,among other things was a sort of gourd1 encrusted with a black substance1 and in a corner was a box from which sounds issued as if it contained something alive4 ,i did not trouble ,kennedy with questions1 for ,i was only too glad when he consented to take a brisk walk and join me in a thick porterhouse4 ,it was a large party that gathered in ,kennedy's laboratory that night1 one of the largest he had ever had4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,wainwright and ,miss ,marian came1 the ladies heavily veiled4 ,doctor ,nott and ,mr4 ,whitney were among the first to arrive4 ,later came ,mr4 ,vanderdyke and last of all ,mrs4 ,ralston with ,inspector ,o',connor4 ,altogether it was an unwilling party4 8,i shall begin10 said ,kennedy1 8by going over1 briefly1 the facts in this case40 ,tersely he summarised it1 to my surprise laying great stress on the proof that the couple had been asphyxiated4 8,but it was no ordinary asphyxiation10 he continued4 8,we have to deal in this case with a poison which is apparently among the most subtle known4 ,a particle of matter so minute as to be hardly distinguishable by the naked eye1 on the point of a needle or a lancet1 a prick of the skin scarcely felt under any circumstances and which would pass quite unheeded if the attention were otherwise engaged1 and not all the power in the world--unless one was fully prepared--could save the life of the person in whose skin the puncture had been made40 ,craig paused a moment1 but no one showed any evidence of being more than ordinarily impressed4 8,this poison1 ,i find1 acts on the so-called endplates of the muscles and nerves4 ,it produces complete paralysis1 but not loss of consciousness1 sensation1 circulation1 or respiration until the end approaches4 ,it seems to be one of the most powerful sedatives ,i have ever heard of4 ,when introduced in even a minute quantity it produces death finally by asphyxiation--by paralysing the muscles of respiration4 ,this asphyxia is what so puzzled the coroner4 8,i will now inject a little of the blood serum of the victims into a white mouse40 ,he took a mouse from the box ,i had seen1 and with a needle injected the serum4 ,the mouse did not even wince1 so lightly did he touch it1 but as we watched1 its life seemed gently to ebb away1 without pain and without struggle4 ,its breath simply seemed to stop4 ,next he took the gourd ,i had seen on the table and with a knife scraped off just the minutest particle of the black licorice-like stuff that encrusted it4 ,he dissolved the particle in some alcohol and with a sterilised needle repeated his experiment on a second mouse4 ,the effect was precisely similar to that produced by the blood on the first4 ,it did not seem to me that anyone showed any emotion except possibly the slight exclamation that escaped ,miss ,marian ,wainwright4 ,i fell to wondering whether it was prompted by a soft heart or a guilty conscience4 ,we were all intent on what ,craig was doing1 especially ,doctor ,nott1 who now broke in with a question4 8,professor ,kennedy1 may ,i ask a question8 ,admitting that the first mouse died in an apparently similar manner to the second1 what proof have you that the poison is the same in both cases8 ,and if it is the same can you show that it affects human beings in the same way1 and that enough of it has been discovered in the blood of the victims to have caused their death8 ,in other words1 ,i want the last doubt set aside4 ,how do you know absolutely that this poison which you discovered in my office last night in that black precipitate when you added the ether--how do you know that it asphyxiated the victims80 ,if ever ,craig startled me it was by his quiet reply4 8,i've isolated it in their blood1 extracted it1 sterilised it1 and ,i've tried it on myself40 ,in breathless amazement1 with eyes riveted on ,craig1 we listened4 8,altogether ,i was able to recover from the blood samples of both of the victims of this crime six centigrams of the poison10 he pursued4 8,starting with two centigrams of it as a moderate dose1 ,i injected it into my right arm subcutaneously4 ,then ,i slowly worked my way up to three and then four centigrams4 ,they did not produce any very appreciable results other than to cause some dizziness1 slight vertigo1 a considerable degree of lassitude1 and an extremely painful headache of rather unusual duration4 ,but five centigrams considerably improved on this4 ,it caused a degree of vertigo and lassitude that was most distressing1 and six centigrams1 the whole amount which ,i had recovered from the samples of blood1 gave me the fright of my life right here in this laboratory this afternoon4 8,perhaps ,i was not wise in giving myself so large an injection on a day when ,i was overheated and below par otherwise because of the strain ,i have been under in handling this case4 ,however that may be1 the added centigram produced so much more on top of the five centigrams previously taken that for a time ,i had reason to fear that that additional centigram was just the amount needed to bring my experiments to a permanent close4 8,within three minutes of the time of injection the dizziness and vertigo had become so great as to make walking seem impossible4 ,in another minute the lassitude rapidly crept over me1 and the serious disturbance of my breathing made it apparent to me that walking1 waving my arms1 anything1 was imperative4 ,my lungs felt glued up1 and the muscles of my chest refused to work4 ,everything swam before my eyes1 and ,i was soon reduced to walking up and down the laboratory with halting steps1 only preventing falling on the floor by holding fast to the edge of this table4 ,it seemed to me that ,i spent hours gasping for breath4 ,it reminded me of what ,i once experienced in the ,cave of the ,winds of ,niagara1 where water is more abundant in the atmosphere than air4 ,my watch afterward indicated only about twenty minutes of extreme distress1 but that twenty minutes is one never to be forgotten1 and ,i advise you all1 if you ever are so foolish as to try the experiment1 to remain below the five-centigram limit4 8,how much was administered to the victims1 ,doctor ,nott1 ,i cannot say1 but it must have been a good deal more than ,i took4 ,six centigrams1 which ,i recovered from these small samples1 are only nine-tenths of a grain4 ,yet you see what effect it had4 ,i trust that answers your question40 ,doctor ,nott was too overwhelmed to reply4 8,and what is this deadly poison80 continued ,craig1 anticipating our thoughts4 8,i have been fortunate enough to obtain a sample of it from the ,museum of ,natural ,history4 ,it comes in a little gourd1 or often a calabash4 ,this is in a gourd4 ,it is blackish brittle stuff encrusting the sides of the gourd just as if it was poured in in the liquid state and left to dry4 ,indeed1 that is just what has been done by those who manufacture this stuff after a lengthy and somewhat secret process40 ,he placed the gourd on the edge of the table where we could all see it4 ,i was almost afraid even to look at it4 8,the famous traveller1 ,sir ,robert ,schomburgh first brought it into ,europe1 and ,darwin has described it4 ,it is now an article of commerce and is to be found in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia as a medicine1 though of course it is used in only very minute quantities1 as a heart stimulant40 ,craig opened a book to a place he had marked3 8,at least one person in this room will appreciate the local colour of a little incident ,i am going to read--to illustrate what death from this poison is like4 ,two natives of the part of the world whence it comes were one day hunting4 ,they were armed with blowpipes and quivers full of poisoned darts made of thin charred pieces of bamboo tipped with this stuff4 ,one of them aimed a dart4 ,it missed the object overhead1 glanced off the tree1 and fell down on the hunter himself4 ,this is how the other native reported the result3 8',quacca takes the dart out of his shoulder4 ,never a word4 ,puts it in his quiver and throws it in the stream4 ,gives me his blowpipe for his little son4 ,says to me good-bye for his wife and the village4 ,then he lies down4 ,his tongue talks no longer4 ,no sight in his eyes4 ,he folds his arms4 ,he rolls over slowly4 ,his mouth moves without sound4 ,i feel his heart4 ,it goes fast and then slow4 ,it stops4 ,quacca has shot his last woorali dart4'0 ,we looked at each other1 and the horror of the thing sank deep into our minds4 ,woorali4 ,what was it8 ,there were many travellers in the room who had been in the ,orient1 home of poisons1 and in ,south ,america4 ,which one had run across the poison8 8,woorali1 or curare10 said ,craig slowly1 8is the well-known poison with which the ,south ,american ,indians of the upper ,orinoco tip their arrows4 ,its principal ingredient is derived from the ,strychnos toxifera tree1 which yields also the drug nux vomica40 ,a great light dawned on me4 ,i turned quickly to where ,vanderdyke was sitting next to ,mrs4 ,ralston1 and a little behind her4 ,his stony stare and laboured breathing told me that he had read the purport of ,kennedy's actions4 8,for ,god's sake1 ,craig10 ,i gasped4 8,an emetic1 quick--,vanderdyke40 ,a trace of a smile flitted over ,vanderdyke's features1 as much as to say that he was beyond our interference4 8,vanderdyke10 said ,craig1 with what seemed to me a brutal calmness1 8then it was you who were the visitor who last saw ,laura ,wainwright and ,john ,templeton alive4 ,whether you shot a dart at them ,i do not know4 ,but you are the murderer40 ,vanderdyke raised his hand as if to assent4 ,it fell back limp1 and ,i noted the ring of the bluest lapis lazuli4 ,mrs4 ,ralston threw herself toward him4 8,will you not do something8 ,is there no antidote8 ,don't let him die60 she cried4 8,you are the murderer10 repeated ,kennedy1 as if demanding a final answer4 ,again the hand moved in confession1 and he feebly moved the finger on which shone the ring4 ,our attention was centred on ,vanderdyke4 ,mrs4 ,ralston1 unobserved1 went to the table and picked up the gourd4 ,before ,o',connor could stop her she had rubbed her tongue on the black substance inside4 ,it was only a little bit1 for ,o',connor quickly dashed it from her lips and threw the gourd through the window1 smashing the glass4 8,kennedy10 he shouted frantically1 8,mrs4 ,ralston has swallowed some of it40 ,kennedy seemed so intent on ,vanderdyke that ,i had to repeat the remark4 ,without looking up1 he said3 8,oh1 one can swallow it--it's strange1 but it is comparatively inert if swallowed even in a pretty good-sized quantity4 ,i doubt if ,mrs4 ,ralston ever heard of it before except by hearsay4 ,if she had1 she'd have scratched herself with it instead of swallowing it40 ,if ,craig had been indifferent to the emergency of ,vanderdyke before1 he was all action now that the confession had been made4 ,in an instant ,vanderdyke was stretched on the floor and ,craig had taken out the apparatus ,i had seen during the afternoon4 8,i am prepared for this10 he exclaimed quickly4 8,here is the apparatus for artificial respiration4 ,nott1 hold that rubber funnel over his nose1 and start the oxygen from the tank4 ,pull his tongue forward so it won't fall down his throat and choke him4 ,i'll work his arms4 ,walter1 make a tourniquet of your handkerchief and put it tightly on the muscles of his left arm4 ,that may keep some of the poison in his arm from spreading into the rest of his body4 ,this is the only antidote known--artificial respiration40 ,kennedy was working feverishly1 going through the motions of first aid to a drowned man4 ,mrs4 ,ralston was on her knees beside ,vanderdyke1 kissing his hands and forehead whenever ,kennedy stopped for a minute1 and crying softly4 8,schuyler1 poor boy1 ,i wonder how you could have done it4 ,i was with him that day4 ,we rode up in his car1 and as we passed through ,williston he said he would stop a minute and wish ,templeton luck4 ,i didn't think it strange1 for he said he had nothing any longer against ,laura ,wainwright1 and ,templeton only did his duty as a lawyer against us4 ,i forgave ,john for prosecuting us1 but ,schuyler didn't1 after all4 ,oh1 my poor boy1 why did you do it8 ,we could have gone somewhere else and started all over again--it wouldn't have been the first time40 ,at last came the flutter of an eyelid and a voluntary breath or two4 ,vanderdyke seemed to realise where he was4 ,with a last supreme effort he raised his hand and drew it slowly across his face4 ,then he fell back1 exhausted by the effort4 ,but he had at last put himself beyond the reach of the law4 ,there was no tourniquet that would confine the poison now in the scratch across his face4 ,back of those lack-lustre eyes he heard and knew1 but could not move or speak4 ,his voice was gone1 his limbs1 his face1 his chest1 and1 last1 his eyes4 ,i wondered if it were possible to conceive a more dreadful torture than that endured by a mind which so witnessed the dying of one organ after another of its own body1 shut up1 as it were1 in the fulness of life1 within a corpse4 ,i looked in bewilderment at the scratch on his face4 8,how did he do it80 ,i asked4 ,carefully ,craig drew off the azure ring and examined it4 ,in that part which surrounded the blue lapis lazuli1 he indicated a hollow point1 concealed4 ,it worked with a spring and communicated with a little receptacle behind1 in such a way that the murderer could give the fatal scratch while shaking hands with his victim4 ,i shuddered1 for my hand had once been clasped by the one wearing that poison ring1 which had sent ,templeton1 and his fiancee and now ,vanderdyke himself1 to their deaths4 ,,viii4 8,spontaneous ,combustion0 ,kennedy and ,i had risen early1 for we were hustling to get off for a week-end at ,atlantic ,city4 ,kennedy was tugging at the straps of his grip and remonstrating with it under his breath1 when the door opened and a messenger-boy stuck his head in4 8,does ,mr4 ,kennedy live here80 he asked4 ,craig impatiently seized the pencil1 signed his name in the book1 and tore open a night letter4 ,from the prolonged silence that followed ,i felt a sense of misgiving4 ,i1 at least1 had set my heart on the ,atlantic ,city outing1 but with the appearance of the messenger-boy ,i intuitively felt that the board walk would not see us that week4 8,i'm afraid the ,atlantic ,city trip is off1 ,walter10 remarked ,craig seriously4 8,you remember ,tom ,langley in our class at the university8 ,well1 read that40 ,i laid down my safety razor and took the message4 ,tom had not spared words1 and ,i could see at a glance at the mere length of the thing that it must be important4 ,it was from ,camp ,hang-out in the ,adirondacks4 8,dear old ,k410 it began1 regardless of expense1 8can you arrange to come up here by next train after you receive this8 ,uncle ,lewis is dead4 ,most mysterious4 ,last night after we retired noticed peculiar odour about house4 ,didn't pay much attention4 ,this morning found him lying on floor of living-room1 head and chest literally burned to ashes1 but lower part of body and arms untouched4 ,room shows no evidence of fire1 but full of sort of oily soot4 ,otherwise nothing unusual4 ,on table near body siphon of seltzer1 bottle of imported limes1 and glass for rickeys4 ,have removed body1 but am keeping room exactly as found until you arrive4 ,bring ,jameson4 ,wire if you cannot come1 but make every effort and spare no expense4 ,anxiously1 ,tom ,langley40 ,craig was impatiently looking at his watch as ,i hastily ran through the letter4 8,hurry1 ,walter10 he exclaimed4 8,we can just catch the ,empire ,state4 ,never mind shaving--we'll have a stopover at ,utica to wait for the ,montreal express4 ,here1 put the rest of your things in your grip and jam it shut4 ,we'll get something to eat on the train--,i hope4 ,i'll wire we're coming4 ,don't forget to latch the door40 ,kennedy was already half-way to the elevator1 and ,i followed ruefully1 still thinking of the ocean and the piers1 the bands and the roller chairs4 ,it was a good ten-hour journey up to the little station nearest ,camp ,hang-out and at least a two hour ride after that4 ,we had plenty of time to reflect over what this death might mean to ,tom and his sister and to speculate on the manner of it4 ,tom and ,grace ,langley were relatives by marriage of ,lewis ,langley1 who1 after the death of his wife1 had made them his proteges4 ,lewis ,langley was principally noted1 as far as ,i could recall1 for being a member of some of the fastest clubs of both ,new ,york and ,london4 ,neither ,kennedy nor myself had shared in the world's opinion of him1 for we knew how good he had been to ,tom in college and1 from ,tom1 how good he had been to ,grace4 ,in fact1 he had made ,tom assume the ,langley name1 and in every way had treated the brother and sister as if they had been his own children4 ,tom met us with a smart trap at the station1 a sufficient indication1 if we had not already known1 of the 8roughing it0 at such a luxurious ,adirondack 8camp0 as ,camp ,hang-out4 ,he was unaffectedly glad to see us1 and it was not difficult to read in his face the worry which the affair had already given him4 8,tom2 ,i'm awfully sorry to--0 began ,craig when1 warned by ,langley's look at the curious crowd that always gathers at the railroad station at train time1 he cut it short4 ,we stood silently a moment while ,tom was arranging the trap for us4 ,as we swung around the bend in the road that cut off the little station and its crowd of lookers-on1 ,kennedy was the first to speak4 8,tom10 he said1 8first of all1 let me ask that when we get to the camp we are to be simply two old classmates whom you had asked to spend a few days before the tragedy occurred4 ,anything will do4 ,there may be nothing at all to your evident suspicions1 and then again there may4 ,at any rate1 play the game safely--don't arouse any feeling which might cause unpleasantness later in case you are mistaken40 8,i quite agree with you10 answered ,tom4 8,you wired1 from ,albany1 ,i think1 to keep the facts out of the papers as much as possible4 ,i'm afraid it is too late for that4 ,of course the thing became vaguely known in ,saranac1 although the county officers have been very considerate of us1 and this morning a ,new ,york ,record correspondent was over and talked with us4 ,i couldn't refuse1 that would have put a very bad face on it40 8,too bad10 ,i exclaimed4 8,i had hoped1 at least1 to be able to keep the report down to a few lines in the ,star4 ,but the ,record will have such a yellow story about it that ,i'll simply have to do something to counteract the effect40 8,yes10 assented ,craig4 8,but--wait4 ,let's see the ,record story first4 ,the office doesn't know you're up here4 ,you can hold up the ,star and give us time to look things over1 perhaps get in a beat on the real story and set things right4 ,anyhow1 the news is out4 ,that's certain4 ,we must work quickly4 ,tell me1 ,tom1 who are at the camp--anyone except relatives80 8,no10 he replied1 guardedly measuring his words4 8,uncle ,lewis had invited his brother ,james and his niece and nephew1 ,isabelle and ,james1 junior--we call him ,junior4 ,then there are ,grace and myself and a distant relative1 ,harrington ,brown1 and--oh1 of course1 uncle's physician1 ,doctor ,putnam40 8,who is ,harrington ,brown0 asked ,craig4 8,he's on the other side of the ,langley family1 on ,uncle ,lewis's mother's side4 ,i think1 or at least ,grace thinks1 that he is quite in love with ,isabelle4 ,harrington ,brown would be quite a catch4 ,of course he isn't wealthy1 but his family is mighty well connected4 ,oh1 ,craig10 sighed ,langley1 8,i wish he hadn't done it--,uncle ,lewis1 ,i mean4 ,why did he invite his brother up here now when he needed to recover from the swift pace of last winter in ,new ,york8 ,you know--or you don't know1 ,i suppose1 but you'll know it now--when he and ,uncle ,jim got together there was nothing to it but one drink after another4 ,doctor ,putnam was quite disgusted1 at least he professed to be1 but1 ,craig10 he lowered his voice to a whisper1 as if the very forest had ears1 8they're all alike--they've been just waiting for ,uncle ,lewis to drink himself to death4 ,oh10 he added bitterly1 8there's no love lost between me and the relatives on that score1 ,i can assure you40 8,how did you find him that morning80 asked ,kennedy1 as if to turn off this unlocking of family secrets to strangers4 8,that's the worst part of the whole affair10 replied ,tom1 and even in the dusk ,i could see the lines of his face tighten4 8,you know ,uncle ,lewis was a hard drinker1 but he never seemed to show it much4 ,we had been out on the lake in the motor-boat fishing all the afternoon and--well1 ,i must admit both my uncles had had frequent recourse to 'pocket pistols1' and ,i remember they referred to it each time as 'bait4' ,then after supper nothing would do but fizzes and rickeys4 ,i was disgusted1 and after reading a bit went to bed4 ,harrington and my uncles sat up with ,doctor ,putnam--according to ,uncle ,jim--for a couple of hours longer4 ,then ,harrington1 ,doctor ,putnam1 and ,uncle ,jim went to bed1 leaving ,uncle ,lewis still drinking4 ,i remember waking in the night1 and the house seemed saturated with a peculiar odour4 ,i never smelt anything like it in my life4 ,so ,i got up and slipped into my bathrobe4 ,i met ,grace in the hall4 ,she was sniffing4 8',don't you smell something burning8' she asked4 8,i said ,i did and started down-stairs to investigate4 ,everything was dark1 but that smell was all over the house4 ,i looked in each room down-stairs as ,i went1 but could see nothing4 ,the kitchen and dining-room were all right4 ,i glanced into the living-room1 but1 while the smell was more noticeable there1 ,i could see no evidence of a fire except the dying embers on the hearth4 ,it had been coolish that night1 and we had had a few logs blazing4 ,i didn't examine the room--there seemed no reason for it4 ,we went back to our rooms1 and in the morning they found the gruesome object ,i had missed in the darkness and shadows of the living-room40 ,kennedy was intently listening4 8,who found him80 he asked4 8,harrington10 replied ,tom4 8,he roused us4 ,harrington's theory is that uncle set himself on fire with a spark from his cigar--a charred cigar butt was found on the floor40 ,we found ,tom's relatives a saddened1 silent party in the face of the tragedy4 ,kennedy and ,i apologised very profusely for our intrusion1 but ,tom quickly interrupted1 as we had agreed1 by explaining that he had insisted on our coming1 as old friends on whom he felt he could rely1 especially to set the matter right in the newspapers4 ,i think ,craig noticed keenly the reticence of the family group in the mystery--,i might almost have called it suspicion4 ,they did not seem to know just whether to take it as an accident or as something worse1 and each seemed to entertain a reserve toward the rest which was very uncomfortable4 ,mr4 ,langley's attorney in ,new ,york had been notified1 but apparently was out of town1 for he had not been heard from4 ,they seemed rather anxious to get word from him4 ,dinner over1 the family group separated1 leaving ,tom an opportunity to take us into the gruesome living-room4 ,of course the remains had been removed1 but otherwise the room was exactly as it had been when ,harrington discovered the tragedy4 ,i did not see the body1 which was lying in an anteroom1 but ,kennedy did1 and spent some time in there4 ,after he rejoined us1 ,kennedy next examined the fireplace4 ,it was full of ashes from the logs which had been lighted on the fatal night4 ,he noted attentively the distance of ,lewis ,langley's chair from the fireplace1 and remarked that the varnish on the chair was not even blistered4 ,before the chair1 on the floor where the body had been found1 he pointed out to us the peculiar ash-marks for some space around1 but it really seemed to me as if something else interested him more than these ash-marks4 ,we had been engaged perhaps half an hour in viewing the room4 ,at last ,craig suddenly stopped4 8,tom10 he said1 8,i think ,i'll wait till daylight before ,i go any further4 ,i can't tell with certainty under these lights1 though perhaps they show me some things the sunlight wouldn't show4 ,we'd better leave everything just as it is until morning40 ,so we locked the room again and went into a sort of library across the hall4 ,we were sitting in silence1 each occupied with his own thoughts on the mystery1 when the telephone rang4 ,it proved to be a long-distance call from ,new ,york for ,tom himself4 ,his uncle's attorney had received the news at his home out on ,long ,island and had hurried to the city to take charge of the estate4 ,but that was not the news that caused the grave look on ,tom's face as he nervously rejoined us4 8,that was uncle's lawyer1 ,mr4 ,clark1 of ,clark ,burdick10 he said4 8,he has opened uncle's personal safe in the offices of the ,langley estate--you remember them1 ,craig--where all the property of the ,langley heirs is administered by the trustees4 ,he says he can't find the will1 though he knows there was a will and that it was placed in that safe some time ago4 ,there is no duplicate40 ,the full purport of this information at once flashed on me1 and ,i was on the point of blurting out my sympathy1 when ,i saw by the look which ,craig and ,tom exchanged that they had already realised it and understood each other4 ,without the will the blood-relatives would inherit all of ,lewis ,langley's interest in the old ,langley estate4 ,tom and his sister would be penniless4 ,it was late1 yet we sat for nearly an hour longer1 and ,i don't think we exchanged a half-dozen sentences in all that time4 ,craig seemed absorbed in thought4 ,at length1 as the great hall-clock sounded midnight1 we rose as if by common consent4 8,tom10 said ,craig1 and ,i could feel the sympathy that welled up in his voice1 8,tom1 old man1 ,i'll get at the bottom of this mystery if human intelligence can do it40 8,i know you will1 ,craig10 responded ,tom1 grasping each of us by the hand4 8,that's why ,i so much wanted you fellows to come up here40 ,early in the morning ,kennedy aroused me4 8,now1 ,walter1 ,i'm going to ask you to come down into the living-room with me1 and we'll take a look at it in the daytime40 ,i hurried into my clothes1 and together we quietly went down4 ,starting with the exact spot where the unfortunate man had been discovered1 ,kennedy began a minute examination of the floor1 using his pocket lens4 ,every few moments he would stop to examine a spot on the rug or on the hardwood floor more intently4 ,several times ,i saw him scrape up something with the blade of his knife and carefully preserve the scrapings1 each in a separate piece of paper4 ,sitting idly by1 ,i could not for the life of me see just what good it did for me to be there1 and ,i said as much4 ,kennedy laughed quietly4 8,you're a material witness1 ,walter10 he replied4 8,perhaps ,i shall need you some day to testify that ,i actually found these spots in this room40 ,just then ,tom stuck his head in4 8,can ,i help80 he asked4 8,why didn't you tell me you were going at it so early80 8,no1 thanks10 answered ,craig1 rising from the floor4 8,i was just making a careful examination of the room before anyone was up so that nobody would think ,i was too interested4 ,i've finished4 ,but you can help me1 after all4 ,do you think you could describe exactly how everyone was dressed that night80 8,why1 ,i can try4 ,let me see4 ,to begin with1 uncle had on a shooting-jacket--that was pretty well burnt1 as you know4 ,why1 in fact1 we all had our shooting-jackets on4 ,the ladies were in white40 ,craig pondered a little1 but did not seem disposed to pursue the subject further1 until ,tom volunteered the information that since the tragedy none of them had been wearing their shooting jackets4 8,we've all been wearing city clothes10 he remarked4 8,could you get your ,uncle ,james and your ,cousin ,junior to go with you for an hour or two this morning on the lake1 or on a tramp in the woods80 asked ,craig after a moment's thought4 8,really1 ,craig10 responded ,tom doubtfully1 8,i ought to go to ,saranac to complete the arrangements for taking ,uncle ,lewis's body to ,new ,york40 8,very well1 persuade them to go with you4 ,anything1 so long as you keep me from interruption for an hour or two40 ,they agreed on doing that1 and as by that time most of the family were up1 we went in to breakfast1 another silent and suspicious meal4 ,after breakfast ,kennedy tactfully withdrew from the family1 and ,i did the same4 ,we wandered off in the direction of the stables and there fell to admiring some of the horses4 ,the groom1 who seemed to be a sensible and pleasant sort of fellow1 was quite ready to talk1 and soon he and ,craig were deep in discussing the game of the north country4 8,many rabbits about here80 asked ,kennedy at length1 when they had exhausted the larger game4 8,oh1 yes4 ,i saw one this morning1 sir10 replied the groom4 8,indeed80 said ,kennedy4 8,do you suppose you could catch a couple for me80 8,guess ,i could1 sir--alive1 you mean80 8,oh1 yes1 alive--,i don't want you to violate the game laws4 ,this is the closed season1 isn't it80 8,yes1 sir1 but then it's all right1 sir1 here on the estate40 8,bring them to me this afternoon1 or--no1 keep them here in the stable in a cage and let me know when you have them4 ,if anybody asks you about them1 say they belong to ,mr4 ,tom40 ,craig handed a small treasury note to the groom1 who took it with a grin and touched his hat4 8,thanks10 he said4 8,i'll let you know when ,i have the bunnies40 ,as we walked slowly back from the stables we caught sight of ,tom down at the boat-house just putting off in the motor-boat with his uncle and cousin4 ,craig waved to him1 and he walked up to meet us4 8,while you're in ,saranac10 said ,craig1 8buy me a dozen or so test-tubes4 ,only1 don't let anyone here at the house know you are buying them4 ,they might ask questions40 ,while they were gone ,kennedy stole into ,james ,langley's room and after a few minutes returned to our room with the hunting-jacket4 ,he carefully examined it with his pocket lens4 ,then he filled a drinking-glass with warm boiled water and added a few pinches of table salt4 ,with a piece of sterilised gauze from ,doctor ,putnam's medicine-chest1 he carefully washed off a few portions of the coat and set the glass and the gauze soaking in it aside4 ,then he returned the coat to the closet where he had found it4 ,next1 as silently1 he stole into ,junior's room and repeated the process with his hunting-jacket1 using another glass and piece of gauze4 8,while ,i am out of the room1 ,walter10 he said1 8,i want you to take these two glasses1 cover them1 and number them and on a slip of paper which you must retain1 place the names of the owners of the respective coats4 ,i don't like this part of it--,i hate to play spy and would much rather come out in the open1 but there is nothing else to do1 and it is much better for all concerned that ,i should play the game secretly just now4 ,there may be no cause for suspicion at all4 ,in that case ,i'd never forgive myself for starting a family row4 ,and then again but we shall see40 ,after ,i had numbered and recorded the glasses ,kennedy returned1 and we went down-stairs again4 8,curious about the will1 isn't it80 ,i remarked as we stood on the wide verandah a moment4 8,yes10 he replied4 8,it may be necessary to go back to ,new ,york to delve into that part of it before we get through1 but ,i hope not4 ,we'll wait40 ,at this point the groom interrupted us to say that he had caught the rabbits4 ,kennedy at once hurried to the stable4 ,there he rolled up his sleeves1 pricked a vein in his arm1 and injected a small quantity of his own blood into one of the rabbits4 ,the other he did not touch4 ,it was late in the afternoon when ,tom returned from town with his uncle and cousin4 ,he seemed even more agitated than usual4 ,without a word he hurried up from the landing and sought us out4 8,what do you think of that80 he cried1 opening a copy of the ,record1 and laying it flat on the library table4 ,there on the front page was ,lewis ,langley's picture with a huge scare-head3 ,,mysterious ,,case ,,of ,,spontaneous ,,combustion 8,it's all out10 groaned ,tom1 as we bent over to read the account4 8,and such a story60 ,under the date of the day previous1 a ,saranac despatch ran3 ,lewis ,langley1 well known as sporting man and club member in ,new ,york1 and eldest son of the late ,lewis ,langley1 the banker1 was discovered dead under the most mysterious circumstances this morning at ,camp ,hangout1 twelve miles from this town4 ,the ,death of 8,old ,krook0 in ,dickens's 8,bleak ,house0 or of the victim in one of ,marryat's most thrilling tales was not more gruesome than this actual fact4 ,it is without doubt a case of spontaneous human combustion1 such as is recorded beyond dispute in medical and medico-legal text-books of the past two centuries4 ,scientists in this city consulted for the ,record agree that1 while rare1 spontaneous human combustion is an established fact and that everything in this curious case goes to show that another has been added to the already well-authenticated list of cases recorded in ,america and ,europe4 ,the family refuse to be interviewed1 which seems to indicate that the rumours in medical circles in ,saranac have a solid basis of fact4 ,then followed a circumstantial account of the life of ,langley and the events leading up to the discovery of the body--fairly accurate in itself1 but highly coloured4 8,the ,record man must have made good use of his time here10 ,i commented1 as ,i finished reading the despatch4 8,and--well1 they must have done some hard work in ,new ,york to get this story up so completely--see1 after the despatch follow a lot of interviews1 and here is a short article on spontaneous combustion itself40 ,harrington and the rest of the family had just come in4 8,what's this we hear about the ,record having an article80 ,harrington asked4 8,read it aloud1 ,professor1 so we can all hear it40 8',spontaneous human combustion1 or catacausis ebriosus1'0 began ,craig1 8'is one of the baffling human scientific mysteries4 ,indeed1 there can be no doubt but that individuals have in some strange and inexplicable manner caught fire and been partially or almost wholly consumed4 8',some have attributed it to gases in the body1 such as carbureted hydrogen4 ,once it was noted at the ,hotel ,dieu in ,paris that a body on being dissected gave forth a gas which was inflammable and burned with a bluish flame4 ,others have attributed the combustion to alcohol4 ,a toper several years ago in ,brooklyn and ,new ,york used to make money by blowing his breath through a wire gauze and lighting it4 ,whatever the cause1 medical literature records seventy-six cases of catacausis in two hundred years4 8',the combustion seems to be sudden and is apparently confined to the cavities1 the abdomen1 chest1 and head4 ,victims of ordinary fire accidents rush hither and thither frantically1 succumb from exhaustion1 their limbs are burned1 and their clothing is all destroyed4 ,but in catacausis they are stricken down without warning1 the limbs are rarely burned1 and only the clothing in contact with the head and chest is consumed4 ,the residue is like a distillation of animal tissue1 grey and dark1 with an overpoweringly fetid odour4 ,they are said to burn with a flickering stifled blue flame1 and water1 far from arresting the combustion1 seems to add to it4 ,gin is particularly rich in inflammable1 empyreumatic oils1 as they are called1 and in most cases it is recorded that the catacausis took place among gin-drinkers1 old and obese4 8',within the past few years cases are on record which seem to establish catacausis beyond doubt4 ,in one case the heat was so great as to explode a pistol in the pocket of the victim4 ,in another1 a woman1 the victim's husband was asphyxiated by the smoke4 ,the woman weighed1 one hundred and eighty pounds in life1 but the ashes weighed only twelve pounds3 ,in all these cases the proof of spontaneous combustion seems conclusive4'0 ,as ,craig finished reading1 we looked blankly1 horrified1 at one another4 ,it was too dreadful to realise4 8,what do you think of it1 ,professor0 asked ,james ,langley1 at length4 8,i've read somewhere of such cases1 but to think of its actually happening--and to my own brother4 ,do you really think ,lewis could have met his death in this terrible manner80 ,kennedy made no reply4 ,harrington seemed absorbed in thought4 ,a shudder passed over us as we thought about it4 ,but1 gruesome as it was1 it was evident that the publication of the story in the ,record had relieved the feelings of the family group in one respect--it at least seemed to offer an explanation4 ,it was noticeable that the suspicious air with which everyone had regarded everyone else was considerably dispelled4 ,tom said nothing until the others had withdrawn4 8,kennedy10 he burst out1 then1 8do you believe that such combustion is absolutely spontaneous8 ,don't you believe that something else is necessary to start it80 8,i'd rather not express an opinion just yet1 ,tom10 answered ,craig carefully4 8,now1 if you can get ,harrington and ,doctor ,putnam away from the house for a short time1 as you did with your uncle and cousin this morning1 ,i may be able to tell you something about this case soon40 ,again ,kennedy stole into another bedroom1 and returned to our room with a hunting-jacket4 ,just as he had done before1 he carefully washed it off with the gauze soaked in the salt solution and quickly returned the coat1 repeating the process with ,doctor ,putnam's coat and1 last1 that of ,tom himself4 ,finally he turned his back while ,i sealed the glasses and marked and recorded them on my slip4 ,the next day was spent mainly in preparations for the journey to ,new ,york with the body of ,lewis ,langley4 ,kennedy was very busy on what seemed to me to be preparations for some mysterious chemical experiments4 ,i found myself fully occupied in keeping special correspondents from all over the country at bay4 ,that evening after dinner we were all sitting in the open summer house over the boat-house4 ,smudges of green pine were burning and smoking on little artificial islands of stone near the lake shore1 lighting up the trees on every side with a red glare4 ,tom and his sister were seated with ,kennedy and myself on one side1 while some distance from us ,harrington was engaged in earnest conversation with ,isabelle4 ,the other members of the family were further removed4 ,that seemed typical to me of the way the family group split up4 8,mr4 ,kennedy10 remarked ,grace in a thoughtful1 low tone1 8what do you make of that ,record article80 8,very clever1 no doubt10 replied ,craig4 8,but don't you think it strange about the will80 8,hush10 whispered ,tom1 for ,isabelle and ,harrington had ceased talking and might perhaps be listening4 ,just then one of the servants came up with a telegram4 ,tom hastily opened it and read the message eagerly in the corner of the summer house nearest one of the glowing smudges4 ,i felt instinctively that it was from his lawyer4 ,he turned and beckoned to ,kennedy and myself4 8,what do you think of that80 he whispered hoarsely4 ,we bent over and in the flickering light read the message3 ,new ,york papers full of spontaneous combustion story4 ,record had exclusive story yesterday1 but all papers to-day feature even more4 ,is it true8 ,please wire additional details at once4 ,also immediate instructions regarding loss of will4 ,has been abstracted from safe4 ,could ,lewis ,langley have taken it himself8 ,unless new facts soon must make loss public or issue statement ,lewis ,langley intestate4 ,,daniel ,,clark ,tom looked blankly at ,kennedy1 and then at his sister1 who was sitting alone4 ,i thought ,i could read what was passing in his mind4 ,with all his faults ,lewis ,langley had been a good foster-parent to his adopted children4 ,but it was all over now if the will was lost4 8,what can ,i do80 asked ,tom hopelessly4 8,i have nothing to reply to him40 8,but ,i have10 quietly returned ,kennedy1 deliberately folding up the message and handing it back4 8,tell them all to be in the library in fifteen minutes4 ,this message hurries me a bit1 but ,i am prepared4 ,you will have something to wire ,mr4 ,clark after that40 ,then he strode off toward the house1 leaving us to gather the group together in considerable bewilderment4 ,a quarter of an hour later we had all assembled in the library1 across the hall from the room in which ,lewis ,langley had been found4 ,as usual ,kennedy began by leaping straight into the middle of his subject4 8,early in the eighteenth century20 he commenced slowly1 8a woman was found burned to death4 ,there were no clues1 and the scientists of that time suggested spontaneous combustion4 ,this explanation was accepted4 ,the theory always has been that the process of respiration by which the tissues of the body are used up and got rid of gives the body a temperature1 and it has seemed that it may be possible1 by preventing the escape of this heat1 to set fire to the body40 ,we were leaning forward expectantly1 horrified by the thought that perhaps1 after all1 the ,record was correct4 8,now10 resumed ,kennedy1 his tone changing1 8suppose we try a little experiment--one that was tried very convincingly by the immortal ,liebig4 ,here is a sponge4 ,i am going to soak it in gin from this bottle1 the same that ,mr4 ,langley was drinking from on the night of the--er--the tragedy40 ,kennedy took the saturated sponge and placed it in an agate-iron pan from the kitchen4 ,then he lighted it4 ,the bluish flame shot upward1 and in tense silence we watched it burn lower and lower1 till all the alcohol was consumed4 ,then he picked up the sponge and passed it around4 ,it was dry1 but the sponge itself had not been singed4 8,we now know10 he continued1 8that from the nature of combustion it is impossible for the human body to undergo spontaneous ignition or combustion in the way the scientific experts of the past century believed4 ,swathe the body in the thickest of non-conductors of heat1 and what happens8 ,a profuse perspiration exudes1 and before such an ignition could possibly take place all the moisture of the body would have to be evaporated4 ,as seventy-five per cent or more of the body is water1 it is evident that enormous heat would be necessary--moisture is the great safeguard4 ,the experiment which ,i have shown you could be duplicated with specimens of human organs preserved for years in alcohol in museums4 ,they would burn just as this sponge--the specimen itself would be very nearly uninjured by the burning of the alcohol40 8,then1 ,professor ,kennedy1 you maintain that my brother did not meet his death by such an accident0 asked ,james ,langley4 8,exactly that1 sir10 replied ,craig4 8,one of the most important aspects of the historic faith in this phenomenon is that of its skilful employment in explaining away what would otherwise appear to be convincing circumstantial evidence in cases of accusations of murder40 8,then how do you explain ,mr4 ,langley's death80 demanded ,harrington4 8,my theory of a spark from a cigar may be true1 after all40 8,i am coming to that in a moment10 answered ,kennedy quietly4 8,my first suspicion was aroused by what not even ,doctor ,putnam seems to have noticed4 ,the skull of ,mr4 ,langley1 charred and consumed as it was1 seemed to show marks of violence4 ,it might have been from a fracture of the skull or it might have been an accident to his remains as they were being removed to the anteroom4 ,again1 his tongue seemed as though it was protruding4 ,that might have been natural suffocation1 or it might have been from forcible strangulation4 ,so far ,i had nothing but conjecture to work on4 ,but in looking over the living-room ,i found near the table1 on the hardwood floor1 a spot--just one little round spot4 ,now1 deductions from spots1 even if we know them to be blood1 must be made very carefully4 ,i did not know this to be a blood-spot1 and so was very careful at first4 8,let us assume it was a blood-spot1 however4 ,what did it show8 ,it was just a little regular round spot1 quite thick4 ,now1 drops of blood falling only a few inches usually make a round spot with a smooth border4 ,still the surface on which the drop falls is quite as much a factor as the height from which it falls4 ,if the surface is rough the border may be irregular4 ,but this was a smooth surface and not absorbent4 ,the thickness of a dried blood-spot on a non-absorbent surface is less the greater the height from which it has fallen4 ,this was a thick spot4 ,now if it had fallen1 say1 six feet1 the height of ,mr4 ,langley1 the spot would have been thin--some secondary spatters might have been seen1 or at least an irregular edge around the spot4 ,therefore1 if it was a blood-spot1 it had fallen only one or two feet4 ,i ascertained next that the lower part of the body showed no wounds or bruises whatever4 8,tracks of blood such as are left by dragging a bleeding body differ very greatly from tracks of arterial blood which are left when the victim has strength to move himself4 ,continuing my speculations1 supposing it to be a blood-spot1 what did it indicate8 ,clearly that ,mr4 ,langley was struck by somebody on the head with a heavy instrument1 perhaps in another part of the room1 that he was choked1 that as the drops of blood oozed from the wound on his head1 he was dragged across the floor1 in the direction of the fireplace--0 8,but1 ,professor ,kennedy10 interrupted ,doctor ,putnam1 8have you proved that the spot was a blood-spot8 ,might it not have been a paint-spot or something of that sort80 ,kennedy had apparently been waiting for just such a question4 8,ordinarily1 water has no effect on paint10 he answered4 8,i found that the spot could be washed off with water4 ,that is not all4 ,i have a test for blood that is so delicately sensitive that the blood of an ,egyptian mummy thousands of years old will respond to it4 ,it was discovered by a ,german scientist1 ,doctor ,uhlenhuth1 and was no longer ago than last winter applied in ,england in connection with the ,clapham murder4 ,the suspected murderer declared that stains on his clothes were only spatters of paint1 but the test proved them to be spatters of blood4 ,walter1 bring in the cage with the rabbits40 ,i opened the door and took the cage from the groom1 who had brought it up from the stable and stood waiting with it some distance away4 8,this test is very simple1 ,doctor ,putnam10 continued ,craig1 as ,i placed the cage on the table and ,kennedy unwrapped the sterilised test-tubes4 8,a rabbit is inoculated with human blood1 and after a time the serum that is taken from the rabbit supplies the material for the test4 8,i will insert this needle in one of these rabbits which has been so inoculated and will draw off some of the serum1 which ,i place in this test-tube to the right4 ,the other rabbit has not been inoculated4 ,i draw off some of its serum and place that tube here on the left--we will call that our 'control tube4' ,it will check the results of our tests4 8,wrapped up in this paper ,i have the scrapings of the spot which ,i found on the floor--just a few grains of dark1 dried powder4 ,to show how sensitive the test is1 ,i will take only one of the smallest of these minute scrapings4 ,i dissolve it in this third tube with distilled water4 ,i will even divide it in half1 and place the other half in this fourth tube4 8,next ,i add some of the serum of the uninoculated rabbit to the half in this tube4 ,you observe1 nothing happens4 ,i add a little of the serum of the inoculated rabbit to the other half in this other tube4 ,observe how delicate the test is--0 ,kennedy was leaning forward1 almost oblivious of the rest of us in the room1 talking almost as if to himself4 ,we1 too1 had riveted our eyes on the tubes4 ,as he added the serum from the inoculated rabbit1 a cloudy milky ring formed almost immediately in the hitherto colourless1 very dilute blood-solution4 8,that10 concluded ,craig1 triumphantly holding the tube aloft1 8that conclusively proves that the little round spot on the hardwood floor was not paint1 was not anything in this wide world but blood40 ,no one in the room said a word1 but ,i knew there must have been someone there who thought volumes in the few minutes that elapsed4 8,having found one blood-spot1 ,i began to look about for more1 but was able to find only two or three traces where spots seemed to have been4 ,the fact is that the blood spots had been apparently carefully wiped up4 ,that is an easy matter4 ,hot water and salt1 or hot water alone1 or even cold water1 will make quite short work of fresh blood-spots--at least to all outward appearances4 ,but nothing but a most thorough cleaning can conceal them from the ,uhlenhuth test1 even when they are apparently wiped out4 ,it is a case of ,lady ,macbeth over again1 crying in the face of modern science1 ',out1 out1 damned spot4' 8,i was able with sufficient definiteness to trace roughly a course of blood-spots from the fireplace to a point near the door of the living-room4 ,but beyond the door1 in the hall1 nothing40 8,still10 interrupted ,harrington1 8to get back to the facts in the case4 ,they are perfectly in accord either with my theory of the cigar or the ,record's of spontaneous combustion4 ,how do you account for the facts80 8,i suppose you refer to the charred head1 the burned neck1 the upper chest cavity1 while the arms and legs were untouched80 8,yes1 and then the body was found in the midst of combustible furniture that was not touched4 ,it seems to me that even the spontaneous-combustion theory has considerable support in spite of this very interesting circumstantial evidence about blood-spots4 ,next to my own theory1 the combustion theory seems most in harmony with the facts40 8,if you will go over in your mind all the points proved to have been discovered--not the added points in the ,record story--,i think you will agree with me that mine is a more logical interpretation than spontaneous combustion10 reasoned ,craig4 8,hear me out and you will see that the facts are more in harmony with my less fanciful explanation4 ,no1 someone struck ,lewis ,langley down either in passion or in cold blood1 and then1 seeing what he had done1 made a desperate effort to destroy the evidence of violence4 ,consider my next discovery40 ,kennedy placed the five glasses which ,i had carefully sealed and labelled on the table before us4 8,the next step10 he said1 8was to find out whether any articles of clothing in the house showed marks that might be suspected of being blood-spots4 ,and here ,i must beg the pardon of all in the room for intruding in their private wardrobes4 ,but in this crisis it was absolutely necessary1 and under such circumstances ,i never let ceremony stand before justice4 8,in these five glasses on the table ,i have the washings of spots from the clothing worn by ,tom1 ,mr4 ,james ,langley1 ,junior1 ,harrington ,brown1 and ,doctor ,putnam4 ,i am not going to tell you which is which--indeed ,i merely have them marked1 and ,i do not know them myself4 ,but ,mr4 ,jameson has the marks with the names opposite on a piece of paper in his pocket4 ,i am simply going to proceed with the tests to see if any of the stains on the coats were of blood40 ,just then ,doctor ,putnam interposed4 8,one question1 ,professor ,kennedy4 ,it is a comparatively easy thing to recognise a blood-stain1 but it is difficult1 usually impossible1 to tell whether the blood is that of a man or of an animal4 ,i recall that we were all in our hunting-jackets that day1 had been all day4 ,now1 in the morning there had been an operation on one of the horses at the stable1 and ,i assisted the veterinary from town4 ,i may have got a spot or two of blood on my coat from that operation4 ,do ,i understand that this test would show that80 8,no10 replied ,craig1 8this test would not show that4 ,other tests would1 but not this4 ,but if the spot of human blood were less than the size of a pin-head1 it would show--it would show if the spot contained even so little as one twenty-thousandth of a gram of albumin4 ,blood from a horse1 a deer1 a sheep1 a pig1 a dog1 could be obtained1 but when the test was applied the liquid in which they were diluted would remain clear4 ,no white precipitin1 as it is called1 would form4 ,but let human blood1 ever so diluted1 be added to the serum of the inoculated rabbit1 and the test is absolute40 ,a death-like silence seemed to pervade the room4 ,kennedy slowly and deliberately began to test the contents of the glasses4 ,dropping into each1 as he broke the seal1 some of the serum of the rabbit1 he waited a moment to see if any change occurred4 ,it was thrilling4 ,i think no one could have gone through that fifteen minutes without having it indelibly impressed on his memory4 ,i recall thinking as ,kennedy took each glass1 8,which is it to be1 guilt or innocence1 life or death80 ,could it be possible that a man's life might hang on such a slender thread8 ,i knew ,kennedy was too accurate and serious to deceive us4 ,it was not only possible1 it was actually a fact4 ,the first glass showed no reaction4 ,someone had been vindicated4 ,the second was neutral likewise--another person in the room had been proved innocent4 ,the third--no change4 ,science had released a third4 ,the fourth-- ,almost it seemed as if the record in my pocket burned--spontaneously--so intense was my feeling4 ,there in the glass was that fatal1 telltale white precipitate4 8,my ,god1 it's the milk ring60 whispered ,tom close to my ear4 ,hastily ,kennedy dropped the serum into the fifth4 ,it remained as clear as crystal4 ,my hand trembled as it touched the envelope containing my record of the names4 8,the person who wore the coat with that blood-stain on it10 declared ,kennedy solemnly1 8was the person who struck ,lewis ,langley down1 who choked him and then dragged his scarcely dead body across the floor and obliterated the marks of violence in the blazing log fire4 ,jameson1 whose name is opposite the sign on this glass80 ,i could scarcely tear the seal to look at the paper in the envelope4 ,at last ,i unfolded it1 and my eye fell on the name opposite the fatal sign4 ,but my mouth was dry1 and my tongue refused to move4 ,it was too much like reading a death-sentence4 ,with my finger on the name ,i faltered an instant4 ,tom leaned over my shoulder and read it to himself4 8,for ,heaven's sake1 ,jameson10 he cried1 8let the ladies retire before you read the name40 8,it's not necessary10 said a thick voice4 8,we quarrelled over the estate4 ,my share's mortgaged up to the limit1 and ,lewis refused to lend me more even until ,i could get ,isabelle happily married4 ,now ,lewis's goes to an outsider--,harrington1 boy1 take care of ,isabelle1 fortune or no fortune4 ,good--0 ,someone seized ,james ,langley's arm as he pressed an automatic revolver to his temple4 ,he reeled like a drunken man and dropped the gun on the floor with an oath4 8,beaten again10 he muttered4 8,forgot to move the ratchet from 'safety' to 'fire4'0 ,like a madman he wrenched himself loose from us1 sprang through the door1 and darted upstairs4 8,i'll show you some combustion60 he shouted back fiercely4 ,kennedy was after him like a flash4 8,the will60 he cried4 ,we literally tore the door off its hinges and burst into ,james ,langley's room4 ,he was bending eagerly over the fireplace4 ,kennedy made a flying leap at him4 ,just enough of the will was left unburned to be admitted to probate4 ,,ix4 ,the ,terror ,in ,the ,air 8,there's something queer about these aeroplane accidents at ,belmore ,park10 mused ,kennedy1 one evening1 as his eye caught a big headline in the last edition of the ,star1 which ,i had brought uptown with me4 8,queer80 ,i echoed4 8,unfortunate1 terrible1 but hardly queer4 ,why1 it is a common saying among the aeronauts that if they keep at it long enough they will all lose their lives40 8,yes1 ,i know that10 rejoined ,kennedy2 8but1 ,walter1 have you noticed that all these accidents have happened to ,norton's new gyroscope machines80 8,well1 what of that0 ,i replied4 8,isn't it just barely possible that ,norton is on the wrong track in applying the gyroscope to an aeroplane8 ,i can't say ,i know much about either the gyroscope or the aeroplane1 but from what ,i hear the fellows at the office say it would seem to me that the gyroscope is a pretty good thing to keep off an aeroplane1 not to put on it40 8,why80 asked ,kennedy blandly4 8,well1 it seems to me1 from what the experts say1 that anything which tends to keep your machine in one position is just what you don't want in an aeroplane4 ,what surprises them1 they say1 is that the thing seems to work so well up to a certain point--that the accidents don't happen sooner4 ,why1 our man on the aviation field tells me that when that poor fellow ,browne was killed he had all but succeeded in bringing his machine to a dead stop in the air4 ,in other words1 he would have won the ,brooks ,prize for perfect motionlessness in one place4 ,and then ,herrick1 the day before1 was going about seventy miles an hour when he collapsed4 ,they said it was heart failure4 ,but to-night another expert says in the ,star--here1 ,i'll read it3 ',the real cause was carbonic-acid-gas poisoning due to the pressure on the mouth from driving fast through the air1 and the consequent inability to expel the poisoned air which had been breathed4 ,air once breathed is practically carbonic-acid-gas4 ,when one is passing rapidly through the air this carbonic-acid-gas is pushed back into the lungs1 and only a little can get away because of the rush of air pressure into the mouth4 ,so it is rebreathed1 and the result is gradual carbonic-acid-gas poisoning1 which produces a kind of narcotic sleep4'0 8,then it wasn't the gyroscope in that case80 said ,kennedy with a rising inflection4 8,no10 ,i admitted reluctantly1 8perhaps not40 ,i could see that ,i had been rash in talking so long4 ,kennedy had only been sounding me to see what the newspapers thought of it4 ,his next remark was characteristic4 8,norton has asked me to look into the thing10 he said quietly4 8,if his invention is a failure1 he is a ruined man4 ,all his money is in it1 he is suing a man for infringing on his patent1 and he is liable for damages to the heirs1 according to his agreement with ,browne and ,herrick4 ,i have known ,norton some time2 in fact1 he worked out his ideas at the university physical laboratory4 ,i have flown in his machine1 and it is the most marvellous biplane ,i ever saw4 ,walter1 ,i want you to get a ,belmore ,park assignment from the ,star and go out to the aviation meet with me to-morrow4 ,i'll take you on the field1 around the machines--you can get enough local colour to do a dozen ,star specials later on4 ,i may add that devising a flying-machine capable of remaining stationary in the air means a revolution that will relegate all other machines to the scrap-heap4 ,from a military point of view it is the one thing necessary to make the aeroplane the superior in every respect to the dirigible40 ,the regular contests did not begin until the afternoon1 but ,kennedy and ,i decided to make a day of it1 and early the next morning we were speeding out to the park where the flights were being held4 ,we found ,charles ,norton1 the inventor1 anxiously at work with his mechanicians in the big temporary shed that had been accorded him1 and was dignified with the name of hangar4 8,i knew you would come1 ,professor10 he exclaimed1 running forward to meet us4 8,of course10 echoed ,kennedy4 8,i'm too much interested in this invention of yours not to help you1 ,norton4 ,you know what ,i've always thought of it--,i've told you often that it is the most important advance since the original discovery by the ,wrights that the aeroplane could be balanced by warping the planes40 8,i'm just fixing up my third machine10 said ,norton4 8,if anything happens to it1 ,i shall lose the prize1 at least as far as this meet is concerned1 for ,i don't believe ,i shall get my fourth and newest model from the makers in time4 ,anyhow1 if ,i did ,i couldn't pay for it--,i am ruined1 if ,i don't win that twenty-five-thousand-dollar ,brooks ,prize4 ,and1 besides1 a couple of army men are coming to inspect my aeroplane and report to the ,war ,department on it4 ,i'd have stood a good chance of selling it1 ,i think1 if my flights here had been like the trials you saw4 ,but1 ,kennedy10 he added1 and his face was drawn and tragic1 8,i'd drop the whole thing if ,i didn't know ,i was right4 ,two men dead--think of it4 ,why1 even the newspapers are beginning to call me a cold1 heartless1 scientific crank1 to keep on4 ,but ,i'll show them--this afternoon ,i'm going to fly myself4 ,i'm not afraid to go anywhere ,i send my men4 ,i'll die before ,i'll admit ,i'm beaten40 ,it was easy to see why ,kennedy was fascinated by a man of ,norton's type4 ,anyone would have been4 ,it was not foolhardiness4 ,it was dogged determination1 faith in himself and in his own ability to triumph over every obstacle4 ,we now slowly entered the shed where two men were working over ,norton's biplane4 ,one of the men was a ,frenchman1 ,jaurette1 who had worked with ,farman1 a silent1 dark-browed1 weatherbeaten fellow with a sort of sullen politeness4 ,the other man was an ,american1 ,roy ,sinclair1 a tall1 lithe1 wiry chap with a seamed and furrowed face and a loose-jointed but very deft manner which marked him a born bird-man4 ,norton's third aviator1 ,humphreys1 who was not to fly that day1 much to his relief1 was reading a paper in the back of the shed4 ,we were introduced to him1 and be seemed to be a very companionable sort of fellow1 though not given to talking4 8,mr4 ,norton10 he said1 after the introduction1 8there's quite an account of your injunction against ,delanne in this paper4 ,it doesn't seem to be very friendly10 he added1 indicating the article4 ,norton read it and frowned4 8,humph6 ,i'll show them yet that my application of the gyroscope is patentable4 ,delanne will put me into 'interference' in the patent office1 as the lawyers call it1 will he8 ,well1 ,i filed a 'caveat' over a year and a half ago4 ,if ,i'm wrong1 he's wrong1 and all gyroscope patents are wrong1 and if ,i'm right1 by ,george1 ,i'm first in the field4 ,that's so1 isn't it80 he appealed to ,kennedy4 ,kennedy shrugged his shoulders non-committally1 as if he had never heard of the patent office or the gyroscope in his life4 ,the men were listening1 whether or not from loyalty ,i could not tell4 8,let us see your gyroplane1 ,i mean aeroscope--whatever it is you call it10 asked ,kennedy4 ,norton took the cue4 8,now you newspaper men are the first that ,i've allowed in here10 he said4 8,can ,i trust your word of honour not to publish a line except such as ,i ,o4,k4 after you write it80 ,we promised4 ,as ,norton directed1 the mechanicians wheeled the aeroplane out on the field in front of the shed4 ,no one was about4 8,now this is the gyroscope10 began ,norton1 pointing out a thing encased in an aluminum sheath1 which weighed1 all told1 perhaps fourteen or fifteen pounds4 8,you see1 the gyroscope is really a flywheel mounted on gimbals and can turn on any of its angles so that it can assume any angle in space4 ,when it's at rest like this you can turn it easily4 ,but when set revolving it tends to persist always in the plane in which it was started rotating40 ,i took hold of it1 and it did turn readily in any direction4 ,i could feel the heavy little flywheel inside4 8,there is a pretty high vacuum in that aluminum case10 went on ,norton4 8,there's very little friction on that account4 ,the power to rotate the flywheel is obtained from this little dynamo here1 run by the gas-engine which also turns the propellers of the aeroplane40 8,but suppose the engine stops1 how about the gyroscope80 ,i asked sceptically4 8,it will go right on for several minutes4 ,you know1 the ,brennan monorail car will stand up some time after the power is shut off4 ,and ,i carry a small storage-battery that will run it for some time1 too4 ,that's all been guarded against40 ,jaurette cranked the engine1 a seven-cylindered affair1 with the cylinders sticking out like the spokes of a wheel without a rim4 ,the propellers turned so fast that ,i could not see the blades--turned with that strong1 steady1 fierce droning buzz that can be heard a long distance and which is a thrilling sound to hear4 ,norton reached over and attached the little dynamo1 at the same time setting the gyroscope at its proper angle and starting it4 8,this is the mechanical brain of my new flier10 he remarked1 patting the aluminum case lovingly4 8,you can look in through this little window in the case and see the flywheel inside revolving--ten thousand revolutions a minute4 ,press down on the gyroscope10 he shouted to me4 ,as ,i placed both hands on the case of the apparently frail little instrument1 he added1 8,you remember how easily you moved it just a moment ago40 ,i pressed down with all my might4 ,then ,i literally raised myself off my feet1 and my whole weight was on the gyroscope4 ,that uncanny little instrument seemed to resent--yes1 that's the word1 resent--my touch4 ,it was almost human in the resentment1 too4 ,far from yielding to me1 it actually rose on the side ,i was pressing down6 ,the men who were watching me laughed at the puzzled look on my face4 ,i took my hands off1 and the gyroscope leisurely and nonchalantly went back to its original position4 8,that's the property we use1 applied to the rudder and the ailerons--those flat planes between the large main planes4 ,that gives automatic stability to the machine10 continued ,norton4 8,i'm not going to explain how it is done--it is in the combination of the various parts that ,i have discovered the basic principle1 and ,i'm not going to talk about it till the thing is settled by the courts4 ,but it is there1 and the court will see it1 and ,i'll prove that ,delanne is a fraud--a fraud when he says that my combination isn't patentable and isn't practicable even at that4 ,the truth is that his device as it stands isn't practicable1 and1 besides1 if he makes it so it infringes on mine4 ,would you like to take a flight with me80 ,i looked at ,kennedy1 and a vision of the wreckage of the two previous accidents1 as the ,star photographer had snapped them1 flashed across my mind4 ,but ,kennedy was too quick for me4 8,yes10 he answered4 8,a short flight4 ,no stunts40 ,we took our seats by ,norton1 ,i1 at least1 with some misgiving4 ,gently the machine rose into the air4 ,the sensation was delightful4 ,the fresh air of the morning came with a stinging rush to my face4 ,below ,i could see the earth sweeping past as if it were a moving-picture film4 ,above the continuous roar of the engine and propeller ,norton indicated to ,kennedy the automatic balancing of the gyroscope as it bent the ailerons4 8,could you fly in this machine without the gyroscope at all80 yelled ,kennedy4 ,the noise was deafening1 conversation almost impossible4 ,though sitting side by side he had to repeat his remark twice to ,norton4 8,yes10 called back ,norton4 ,reaching back of him1 he pointed out the way to detach the gyroscope and put a sort of brake on it that stopped its revolutions almost instantly4 8,it's a ticklish job to change in the air10 he shouted4 8,it can be done1 but it's safer to land and do it40 ,the flight was soon over1 and we stood admiring the machine while ,norton expatiated on the compactness of his little dynamo4 8,what have you done with the wrecks of the other machines80 inquired ,kennedy at length4 8,they are stored in a shed down near the railroad station4 ,they are just a mass of junk1 though there are some parts that ,i can use1 so ,i'll ship them back to the factory40 8,might ,i have a look at them80 8,surely4 ,i'll give you the key4 ,sorry ,i can't go myself1 but ,i want to be sure everything is all right for my flight this afternoon40 ,it was a long walk over to the shed near the station1 and1 together with our examination of the wrecked machines1 it took us the rest of the morning4 ,craig carefully turned over the wreckage4 ,it seemed a hopeless quest to me1 but ,i fancied that to him it merely presented new problems for his deductive and scientific mind4 8,these gyroscopes are out of business for good10 he remarked as he glanced at the dented and battered aluminum cases4 8,but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them except what would naturally happen in such accidents40 ,for my part ,i felt a sort of awe at the mass of wreckage in which ,browne and ,herrick had been killed4 ,it was to me more than a tangled mass of wires and splinters4 ,two human lives had been snuffed out in it4 8,the engines are a mass of scrap2 see how the cylinders are bent and twisted10 remarked ,kennedy with great interest4 8,the gasoline-tank is intact1 but dented out of shape4 ,no explosion there4 ,and look at this dynamo4 ,why1 the wires in it are actually fused together4 ,the insulation has been completely burned off4 ,i wonder what could have caused that80 ,kennedy continued to regard the tangled mass thoughtfully for some time1 then locked the door1 and we strolled back to the grand stand on our side of the field4 ,already the crowd had begun to collect4 ,across the field we could see the various machines in front of their hangars with the men working on them4 ,the buzz of the engines was wafted across by the light summer breeze as if a thousand cicadas had broken loose to predict warm weather4 ,two machines were already in flight1 a little yellow ,demoiselle1 scurrying around close to the earth like a frightened hen1 and a ,bleriot1 high overhead1 making slow and graceful turns like a huge bird4 ,kennedy and ,i stopped before the little wireless telegraph station of the signal corps in front of the grand stand and watched the operator working over his instruments4 8,there it is again10 muttered the operator angrily4 8,what's the matter80 asked ,kennedy4 8,amateurs interfering with you80 ,the man nodded a reply1 shaking his head with the telephone-like receiver1 viciously4 ,he continued to adjust his apparatus4 8,confound it60 he exclaimed4 8,yes1 that fellow has been jamming me for the past two days off and on1 every time ,i get ready to send or receive a message4 ,williams is going up with a ,wright machine equipped with wireless apparatus in a minute1 and this fellow won't get out of the way4 ,by ,jove1 though1 those are powerful impulses of his4 ,hear that crackling8 ,i've never been interfered with so in my experience4 ,touch that screen door with your knife40 ,kennedy did so1 and elicited large sparks with quite a tingle of a shock4 8,yesterday and the day before it was so bad we had to give up attempting to communicate with ,williams10 continued the operator4 8,it was worse than trying to work in a thunder-shower4 ,that's the time we get our troubles1 when the air is overcharged with electricity1 as it is now40 8,that's interesting10 remarked ,kennedy4 8,interesting80 flashed back the operator1 angrily noting the condition in his 8log book40 8,maybe it is1 but ,i call it darned mean4 ,it's almost like trying to work in a power station40 8,indeed80 queried ,kennedy4 8,i beg your pardon--,i was only looking at it from the purely scientific point of view4 ,who is it1 do you suppose80 8,how do ,i know8 ,some amateur1 ,i guess4 ,no professional would butt in this way40 ,kennedy took a leaf out of his note-book and wrote a short message which he gave to a boy to deliver to ,norton4 8,detach your gyroscope and dynamo10 it read4 8,leave them in the hangar4 ,fly without them this afternoon1 and see what happens4 ,no use to try for the prize to-day4 ,kennedy40 ,we sauntered out on the open part of the field1 back of the fence and to the side of the stands1 and watched the fliers for a few moments4 ,three were in the air now1 and ,i could see ,norton and his men getting ready4 ,the boy with the message was going rapidly across the field4 ,kennedy was impatiently watching him4 ,it was too far off to see just what they were doing1 but as ,norton seemed to get down out of his seat in the aeroplane when the boy arrived1 and it was wheeled back into the shed1 ,i gathered that he was detaching the gyroscope and was going to make the flight without it1 as ,kennedy had requested4 ,in a few minutes it was again wheeled out4 ,the crowd1 which had been waiting especially to see ,norton1 applauded4 8,come1 ,walter10 exclaimed ,kennedy1 8let's go up there on the roof of the stand where we can see better4 ,there's a platform and railing1 ,i see40 ,his pass allowed him to go anywhere on the field1 so in a few moments we were up on the roof4 ,it was a fascinating vantage-point1 and ,i was so deeply engrossed between watching the crowd below1 the bird-men in the air1 and the machines waiting across the field that ,i totally neglected to notice what ,kennedy was doing4 ,when ,i did1 ,i saw that he had deliberately turned his back on the aviation field1 and was anxiously1 scanning the country back of us4 8,what are you looking for80 ,i asked4 8,turn around4 ,i think ,norton is just about to fly40 8,watch him then10 answered ,craig4 8,tell me when he gets in the air40 ,just then ,norton's aeroplane rose gently from the field4 ,a wild shout of applause came from the people below us1 at the heroism of the man who dared to fly this new and apparently fated machine4 ,it was succeeded by a breathless1 deathly calm1 as if after the first burst of enthusiasm the crowd had suddenly realised the danger of the intrepid aviator4 ,would ,norton add a third to the fatalities of the meet8 ,suddenly ,kennedy jerked my arm4 8,walter1 look over there across the road back of us--at the old weatherbeaten barn4 ,i mean the one next to that yellow house4 ,what do you see80 8,nothing1 except that on the peak of the roof there is a pole that looks like the short stub of a small wireless mast4 ,i should say there was a boy connected with that barn1 a boy who has read a book on wireless for beginners40 8,maybe10 said ,kennedy4 8,but is that all you see8 ,look up in the little window of the gable1 the one with the closed shutter40 ,i looked carefully4 8,it seems to me that ,i saw a gleam of something bright at the top of the shutter1 ,craig10 ,i ventured4 8,a spark or a flash40 8,it must be a bright spark1 for the sun is shining brightly10 mused ,craig4 8,oh1 maybe it's the small boy with a looking-glass4 ,i can remember when ,i used to get behind such a window and shine a glass into the darkened room of my neighbours across the street40 ,i had really said that half in raillery1 for ,i was at a loss to account in any other way for the light1 but ,i was surprised to see how eagerly ,craig accepted it4 8,perhaps you are right1 in a way10 he assented4 8,i guess it isn't a spark1 after all4 ,yes1 it must be the reflection of the sun on a piece of glass--the angles are just about right for it4 ,anyhow it caught my eye4 ,still1 ,i believe that barn will bear watching40 ,whatever his suspicions1 ,craig kept them to himself1 and descended4 ,at the same time ,norton gently dropped back to earth in front of his hangar1 not ten feet from the spot where he started4 ,the applause was deafening1 as the machine was again wheeled into the shed safely4 ,kennedy and ,i pushed through the crowd to the wireless operator4 8,how's she working80 inquired ,craig4 8,rotten10 replied the operator sullenly4 8,it was worse than ever about five minutes ago4 ,it's much better now1 almost normal again40 ,just then the messenger-boy1 who had been hunting through the crowd for us1 handed ,kennedy a note4 ,it was merely a scrawl from ,norton3 8,everything seems fine4 ,am going to try her next with the gyroscope4 ,,norton40 8,boy10 exclaimed ,craig1 8has ,cdr4 ,norton a telephone80 8,no1 sir1 only that hangar at the end has a telephone40 8,well1 you run across that field as fast as your legs can carry you and tell him if he values his life not to do it40 8,not to do what1 sir80 8,don't stand there1 youngster4 ,run6 ,tell him not to fly with that gyroscope4 ,there's a five-spot in it if you get over there before he starts40 ,even as he spoke the ,norton aeroplane was wheeled out again4 ,in a minute ,norton had climbed up into his seat and was testing the levers4 ,would the boy reach him in time8 ,he was half across the field1 waving his arms like mad4 ,but apparently ,norton and his men were too engrossed in their machine to pay attention4 8,good heavens60 exclaimed ,craig4 8,he's going to try it4 ,run1 boy1 run60 he cried1 although the boy was now far out of hearing4 ,across the field we could hear now the quick staccato chug-chug of the engine4 ,slowly ,norton's aeroplane1 this time really equipped with the gyroscope1 rose from the field and circled over toward us4 ,craig frantically signalled to him to come down1 but of course ,norton could not have seen him in the crowd4 ,as for the crowd1 they looked askance at ,kennedy1 as if he had taken leave of his senses4 ,i heard the wireless operator cursing the way his receiver was acting4 ,higher and higher ,norton went in one spiral after another1 those spirals which his gyroscope had already made famous4 ,the man with the megaphone in front of the judge's stand announced in hollow tones that ,mr4 ,norton had given notice that he would try for the ,brooks ,prize for stationary equilibrium4 ,kennedy and ,i stood speechless1 helpless1 appalled4 ,slower and slower went the aeroplane4 ,it seemed to hover just like the big mechanical bird that it was4 ,kennedy was anxiously watching the judges with one eye and ,norton with the other4 ,a few in the crowd could no longer restrain their applause4 ,i remember that the wireless back of us was spluttering and crackling like mad4 ,all of a sudden a groan swept over the crowd4 ,something was wrong with ,norton4 ,his aeroplane was swooping downward at a terrific rate4 ,would he be able to control it8 ,i held my breath and gripped ,kennedy by the arm4 ,down1 down came ,norton1 frantically fighting by main strength1 it seemed to me1 to warp the planes so that their surface might catch the air and check his descent4 8,he's trying to detach the gyroscope10 whispered ,craig hoarsely4 ,the football helmet which ,norton wore blew off and fell more rapidly than the plane4 ,i shut my eyes4 ,but ,kennedy's next exclamation caused me quickly to open them again4 8,he'll make it1 after all60 ,somehow ,norton had regained partial control of his machine1 but it was still swooping down at a tremendous pace toward the level centre of the field4 ,there was a crash as it struck the ground in a cloud of dust4 ,with a leap ,kennedy had cleared the fence and was running toward ,norton4 ,two men from the judge's stand were ahead of us1 but except for them we were the first to reach him4 ,the men were tearing frantically at the tangled framework1 trying to lift it off ,norton1 who lay pale and motionless1 pinned under it4 ,the machine was not so badly damaged1 after all1 but that together we could lift it bodily off him4 ,a doctor ran out from the crowd and hastily put his ear to ,norton's chest4 ,no one spoke1 but we all scanned the doctor's face anxiously4 8,just stunned--he'll be all right in a moment4 ,get some water10 he said4 ,kennedy pulled my arm4 8,look at the gyroscope dynamo10 he whispered4 ,i looked4 ,like the other two which we had seen1 it also was a wreck4 ,the insulation was burned off the wires1 the wires were fused together1 and the storage-battery looked as if it had been burned out4 ,a flicker of the eyelid and ,norton seemed to regain some degree of consciousness4 ,he was living over again the ages that had passed during the seconds of his terrible fall4 8,will they never stop8 ,oh1 those sparks1 those sparks6 ,i can't disconnect it4 ,sparks1 more sparks--will they never--0 ,so he rambled on4 ,it was fearsome to hear him4 ,but ,kennedy was now sure that ,norton was safe and in good hands1 and he hurried back in the direction of the grand stand4 ,i followed4 ,flying was over for that day1 and the people were filing slowly out toward the railroad station where the special trains were waiting4 ,we stopped at the wireless station for a moment4 8,is it true that ,norton will recover80 inquired the operator4 8,yes4 ,he was only stunned1 thank ,heaven6 ,did you keep a record of the antics of your receiver since ,i saw you last80 8,yes1 sir4 ,and ,i made a copy for you4 ,by the way1 it's working all right now when ,i don't want it4 ,if ,williams was only in the air now ,i'd give you a good demonstration of communicating with an aeroplane10 continued the operator as he prepared to leave4 ,kennedy thanked him for the record and carefully folded it4 ,joining the crowd1 we pushed our way out1 but instead of going down to the station with them1 ,kennedy turned toward the barn and the yellow house4 ,for some time we waited about casually1 but nothing occurred4 ,at length ,kennedy walked up to the shed4 ,the door was closed and double padlocked4 ,he knocked1 but there was no answer4 ,just then a man appeared on the porch of the yellow house4 ,seeing us1 he beckoned4 ,as we approached he shouted1 8,he's gone for the day60 8,has he a city address--any place ,i could reach him to-night80 asked ,craig4 8,i don't know4 ,he hired the barn from me for two weeks and paid in advance4 ,he told me if ,i wanted to address him the best way was ',dr4 ,k4 ,lamar1 ,general ,delivery1 ,new ,york ,city4'0 8,ah1 then ,i suppose ,i had better write to him10 said ,kennedy1 apparently much gratified to learn the name4 8,i presume he'll be taking away his apparatus soon80 8,can't say4 ,there's enough of it4 ,cy ,smith--he's in the electric light company up to the village--says the doctor has used a powerful lot of current4 ,he's good pay1 though he's awful closemouthed4 ,flying's over for to-day1 ain't it8 ,was that feller much hurt80 8,no1 he'll be all right to-morrow4 ,i think he'll fly again4 ,the machine's in pretty good condition4 ,he's bound to win that prize4 ,good-bye40 ,as he walked away ,i remarked1 8,how do you know ,norton will fly again80 8,i don't10 answered ,kennedy1 8but ,i think that either he or ,humphreys will4 ,i wanted to see that this ,lamar believes it anyhow4 ,by the way1 ,walter1 do you think you could grab a wire here and 'phone in a story to the ,star that ,norton isn't much hurt and will probably be able to fly to-morrow8 ,try to get the ,city ,news ,association1 too1 so that all the papers will have it4 ,i don't care about risking the general delivery--perhaps ,lamar won't call for any mail1 but he certainly will read the papers4 ,put it in the form of an interview with ,norton--,i'll see that it is all right and that there is no come-back4 ,norton will stand for it when ,i tell him my scheme40 ,i caught the ,star just in time for the last edition1 and some of the other papers that had later editions also had the story4 ,of course all the morning papers had it4 ,norton spent the night in the ,mineola ,hospital4 ,he didn't really need to stay1 but the doctor said it would be best in case some internal injury had been overlooked4 ,meanwhile ,kennedy took charge of the hangar where the injured machine was4 ,the men had been in a sort of panic2 ,humphrey could not be found1 and the only reason1 ,i think1 why the two mechanicians stayed was because something was due them on their pay4 ,kennedy wrote them out personal checks for their respective amounts1 but dated them two days ahead to insure their staying4 ,he threw off all disguise now and with authority from ,norton directed the repairing of the machine4 ,fortunately it was in pretty good condition4 ,the broken part was the skids1 not the essential parts of the machine4 ,as for the gyroscope1 there were plenty of them and another dynamo1 and it was a very simple thing to replace the old one that had been destroyed4 ,sinclair worked with a will1 far past his regular hours4 ,jaurette also worked1 though one could hardly say with a will4 ,in fact1 most of the work was done by ,sinclair and ,kennedy1 with ,jaurette sullenly grumbling1 mostly in ,french under his breath4 ,i did not like the fellow and was suspicious of him4 ,i thought ,i noticed that ,kennedy did not allow him to do much of the work1 either1 though that may have been for the reason that ,kennedy never asked anyone to help him who seemed unwilling4 8,there10 exclaimed ,craig about ten o'clock4 8,if we want to get back to the city in any kind of time to-night we had better quit4 ,sinclair1 ,i think you can finish repairing these skids in the morning40 ,we locked up the hangar and hurried across to the station4 ,it was late when we arrived in ,new ,york1 but ,kennedy insisted on posting off up to his laboratory1 leaving me to run down to the ,star office to make sure that our story was all right for the morning papers4 ,i did not see him until morning1 when a large touring-car drove up4 ,kennedy routed me out of bed4 ,in the tonneau of the car was a huge package carefully wrapped up4 8,something ,i worked on for a couple of hours last night10 explained ,craig1 patting it4 8,if this doesn't solve the problem then ,i'll give it up40 ,i was burning with curiosity1 but somehow1 by a perverse association of ideas1 ,i merely reproached ,kennedy for not taking enough rest4 8,oh10 he smiled4 8,if ,i hadn't been working last night1 ,walter1 ,i couldn't have rested at all for thinking about it40 ,when we arrived at the field ,norton was already there with his head bandaged4 ,i thought him a little pale1 but otherwise all right4 ,jaurette was sulking1 but ,sinclair had finished the repairs and was busily engaged in going over every bolt and wire4 ,humphreys had sent word that he had another offer and had not shown up4 8,we must find him10 exclaimed ,kennedy4 8,i want him to make a flight to-day4 ,his contract calls for it40 8,i can do it1 ,kennedy10 asserted ,norton4 8,see1 ,i'm all right40 ,he picked up two pieces of wire and held them at arm's length1 bringing them together1 tip to tip1 in front of him just to show us how he could control his nerves4 8,and ,i'll be better yet by this afternoon10 he added4 8,i can do that stunt with the points of pins then40 ,kennedy shook his head gravely1 but ,norton insisted1 and finally ,kennedy agreed to give up wasting time trying to locate ,humphreys4 ,after that he and ,norton had a long whispered conference in which ,kennedy seemed to be unfolding a scheme4 8,i understand10 said ,norton at length1 8you want me to put this sheet-lead cover over the dynamo and battery first4 ,then you want me to take the cover off1 and also to detach the gyroscope1 and to fly without using it4 ,is that it80 8,yes10 assented ,craig4 8,i will be on the roof of the grand stand4 ,the signal will be three waves of my hat repeated till ,i see you get it40 ,after a quick luncheon we went up to our vantage-point4 ,on the way ,kennedy had spoken to the head of the ,pinkertons engaged by the management for the meet1 and had also dropped in to see the wireless operator to ask him to send up a messenger if he saw the same phenomena as he had observed the day before4 ,on the roof ,kennedy took from his pocket a little instrument with a needle which trembled back and forth over a dial4 ,it was nearing the time for the start of the day's flying1 and the aeroplanes were getting ready4 ,kennedy was calmly biting a cigar1 casting occasional glances at the needle as it oscillated4 ,suddenly1 as ,williams rose in the ,wright machine1 the needle swung quickly and pointed straight at the aviation field1 vibrating through a small area1 back and forth4 8,the operator is getting his apparatus ready to signal to ,williams10 remarked ,craig4 8,this is an apparatus called an ondometer4 ,it tells you the direction and something of the magnitude of the ,hertzian waves used in wireless40 ,five or ten minutes passed4 ,norton was getting ready to fly4 ,i could see through my field glass that he was putting something over his gyroscope and over the dynamo1 but could not quite make out what it was4 ,his machine seemed to leap up in the air as if eager to redeem itself4 ,norton with his white-bandaged head was the hero of the hour4 ,no sooner had his aeroplane got up over the level of the trees than ,i heard a quick exclamation from ,craig4 8,look at the needle1 ,walter60 he cried4 8,as soon as ,norton got into the air it shot around directly opposite to the wireless station1 and now it is pointing--0 ,we raised our eyes in the direction which it indicated4 ,it was precisely in line with the weather-beaten barn4 ,i gasped4 ,what did it mean8 ,did it mean in some way another accident to ,norton--perhaps fatal this time8 ,why had ,kennedy allowed him to try it to-day when there was even a suspicion that some nameless terror was abroad in the air8 ,quickly ,i turned to see if ,norton was all right4 ,yes1 there he was1 circling above us in a series of wide spirals1 climbing up1 up4 ,now he seemed almost to stop1 to hover motionless4 ,he was motionless4 ,his engine had been cut out1 and ,i could see his propeller stopped4 ,he was riding as a ship rides on the ocean4 ,a boy ran up the ladder to the roof4 ,kennedy unfolded the note and shoved it into my hands4 ,it was from the operator4 8,wireless out of business again4 ,curse that fellow who is butting in4 ,am keeping record10 was all it said4 ,i shot a glance of inquiry at ,kennedy1 but he was paying no attention now to anything but ,norton4 ,he held his watch in his hand4 8,walter10 he ejaculated as he snapped it shut1 8it has now been seven minutes and a half since he stopped his propeller4 ,the ,brooks ,prize calls for five minutes only4 ,norton has exceeded it fifty per cent4 ,here goes40 ,with his hat in his hand he waved three times and stopped4 ,then he repeated the process4 ,at the third time the aeroplane seemed to give a start4 ,the propeller began to revolve1 ,norton starting it on the compression successfully4 ,slowly he circled down again4 ,toward the end of the descent he stopped the engine and volplaned1 or coasted1 to the ground1 landing gently in front of his hangar4 ,a wild cheer rose into the air from the crowd below us4 ,all eyes were riveted on the activity about ,norton's biplane4 ,they were doing something to it4 ,whatever it was1 it was finished in a minute and the men were standing again at a respectful distance from the propellers4 ,again ,norton was in the air4 ,as he rose above the field ,kennedy gave a last glance at his ondometer and sprang down the ladder4 ,i followed closely4 ,back of the crowd he hurried1 down the walk to the entrance near the railroad station4 ,the man in charge of the ,pinkertons was at the gate with two other men1 apparently waiting4 8,come on60 shouted ,craig4 ,we four followed him as fast as we could4 ,he turned in at the lane running up to the yellow house1 so as to approach the barn from the rear1 unobserved4 8,quietly1 now10 he cautioned4 ,we were now at the door of the barn4 ,a curious crackling1 snapping noise issued4 ,craig gently tried the door4 ,it was bolted on the inside4 ,as many of us as could threw ourselves like a human catapult against it4 ,it yielded4 ,inside ,i saw a sheet of flame fifteen or twenty feet long--it was a veritable artificial bolt of lightning4 ,a man with a telescope had been peering out of the window1 but now was facing us in surprise4 8,lamar10 shouted ,kennedy1 drawing a pistol1 8one motion of your hand and you are a dead man4 ,stand still where you are4 ,you are caught red-handed40 ,the rest of us shrank back in momentary fear of the gigantic forces of nature which seemed let loose in the room4 ,the thought1 in my mind at least1 was3 ,suppose this arch-fiend should turn his deadly power on us8 ,kennedy saw us from the corner of his eye4 8,don't be afraid10 he said with just a curl to his lip4 8,i've seen all this before4 ,it won't hurt you4 ,it's a high frequency current4 ,the man has simply appropriated the invention of ,mr4 ,nikola ,tesla4 ,seize him4 ,he won't struggle4 ,i've got him covered40 ,two burly ,pinkertons leaped forward gingerly into the midst of the electrical apparatus1 and in less time than it takes to write it ,lamar was hustled out to the doorway1 each arm pinioned back of him4 ,as we stood1 half dazed by the suddenness of the turn of events1 ,kennedy hastily explained3 8,tesla's theory is that under certain conditions the atmosphere1 which is normally a high insulator2 assumes conducting properties and so becomes capable of conveying any amount of electrical energy4 ,i myself have seen electrical oscillations such as these in this room of such intensity that while they could be circulated with impunity through one's arms and chest they would melt wires farther along in the circuit4 ,yet the person through whom such a current is passing feels no inconvenience4 ,i have seen a loop of heavy copper wire energised by such oscillations and a mass of metal within the loop heated to the fusing point1 and yet into the space in which this destructive aerial turmoil was going on ,i have repeatedly thrust my hand and even my head1 without feeling anything or experiencing any injurious after-effect4 ,in this form all the energy of all the dynamos of ,niagara could pass through one's body and yet produce no injury4 ,but1 diabolically directed1 this vast energy has been used by this man to melt the wires in the little dynamo that runs ,norton's gyroscope4 ,that is all4 ,now to the aviation field4 ,i have something more to show you40 ,we hurried as fast as we could up the street and straight out on the field1 across toward the ,norton hangar1 the crowd gaping in wonderment4 ,kennedy waved frantically for ,norton to come down1 and ,norton1 who was only a few hundred feet in the air1 seemed to see and understand4 ,as we stood waiting before the hangar ,kennedy could no longer restrain his impatience4 8,i suspected some wireless-power trick when ,i found that the field wireless telegraph failed to work every time ,norton's aeroplane was in the air10 he said1 approaching close to ,lamar4 8,i just happened to catch sight of that peculiar wireless mast of yours4 ,a little flash of light first attracted my attention to it4 ,i thought it was an electric spark1 but you are too clever for that1 ,lamar4 ,still1 you forgot a much simpler thing4 ,it was the glint of the sun on the lens of your telescope as you were watching ,norton that betrayed you40 ,lamar said nothing4 8,i'm glad to say you had no confederate in the hangar here10 continued ,craig4 8,at first ,i suspected it4 ,anyhow1 you succeeded pretty well single handed1 two lives lost and two machines wrecked4 ,norton flew all right yesterday when he left his gyroscope and dynamo behind1 but when he took them along you were able to fuse the wires in the dynamo--you pretty nearly succeeded in adding his name to those of ,browne and ,herrick40 ,the whir of ,norton's machine told us he was approaching4 ,we scattered to give him space enough to choose the spot where he would alight4 ,as the men caught his machine to steady it1 he jumped lightly to the ground4 8,where's ,kennedy80 he asked1 and then1 without waiting for a reply1 he exclaimed3 8,queerest thing ,i ever saw up there4 ,the dynamo wasn't protected by the sheet-lead shield in this flight as in the first to-day4 ,i hadn't risen a hundred feet before ,i happened to hear the darndest sputtering in the dynamo4 ,look1 boys1 the insulation is completely burned off the wires1 and the wires are nearly all fused together40 8,so it was in the other two wrecked machines10 added ,kennedy1 coming coolly forward4 8,if you hadn't had everything protected by those shields ,i gave you in your first flight to-day you would have simply repeated your fall of yesterday--perhaps fatally4 ,this fellow has been directing the full strength of his wireless high-tension electricity straight at you all the time40 8,what fellow80 demanded ,norton4 ,the two ,pinkertons shoved ,lamar forward4 ,norton gave a contemptuous look at him4 8,delanne10 he said1 8,i knew you were a crook when you tried to infringe on my patent1 but ,i didn't think you were coward enough to resort to--to murder40 ,lamar1 or rather ,delanne1 shrank back as if even the protection of his captors was safety compared to the threatening advance of ,norton toward him4 8,pouff60 exclaimed ,norton1 turning suddenly on his heel4 8,what a fool ,i am6 ,the law will take care of such scoundrels as you4 ,what's the grand stand cheering for now80 he asked1 looking across the field in an effort to regain his self-control4 ,a boy from one of the hangars down the line spoke up from the back of the crowd in a shrill1 piping voice4 8,you have been awarded the ,brooks ,prize1 sir10 he said4 ,x4 ,the ,black ,hand ,kennedy and ,i had been dining rather late one evening at ,luigi's1 a little ,italian restaurant on the lower ,west ,side4 ,we had known the place well in our student days1 and had made a point of visiting it once a month since1 in order to keep in practice in the fine art of gracefully handling long shreds of spaghetti4 ,therefore we did not think it strange when the proprietor himself stopped a moment at our table to greet us4 ,glancing furtively around at the other diners1 mostly ,italians1 he suddenly leaned over and whispered to ,kennedy3 8,i have heard of your wonderful detective work1 ,professor4 ,could you give a little advice in the case of a friend of mine80 8,surely1 ,luigi4 ,what is the case80 asked ,craig1 leaning back in his chair4 ,luigi glanced around again apprehensively and lowered his voice4 8,not so loud1 sir4 ,when you pay your check1 go out1 walk around ,washington ,square1 and come in at the private entrance4 ,i'll be waiting in the hall4 ,my friend is dining privately upstairs40 ,we lingered a while over our ,chianti1 then quietly paid the check and departed4 ,true to his word1 ,luigi was waiting for us in the dark hall4 ,with a motion that indicated silence1 he led us up the stairs to the second floor1 and quickly opened a door into what seemed to be a fair-sized private dining-room4 ,a man was pacing the floor nervously4 ,on a table was some food1 untouched4 ,as the door opened ,i thought he started as if in fear1 and ,i am sure his dark face blanched1 if only for an instant4 ,imagine our surprise at seeing ,gennaro1 the great tenor1 with whom merely to have a speaking acquaintance was to argue oneself famous4 8,oh1 it is you1 ,luigi10 he exclaimed in perfect ,english1 rich and mellow4 8,and who are these gentlemen80 ,luigi merely replied1 8,friends10 in ,english also1 and then dropped off into a voluble1 low-toned explanation in ,italian4 ,i could see1 as we waited1 that the same idea had flashed over ,kennedy's mind as over my own4 ,it was now three or four days since the papers had reported the strange kidnapping of ,gennaro's five-year-old daughter ,adelina1 his only child1 and the sending of a demand for ten thousand dollars ransom1 signed1 as usual1 with the mystic ,black ,hand--a name to conjure with in blackmail and extortion4 ,as ,signor ,gennaro advanced toward us1 after his short talk with ,luigi1 almost before the introductions were over1 ,kennedy anticipated him by saying3 8,i understand1 ,signor1 before you ask me4 ,i have read all about it in the papers4 ,you want someone to help you catch the criminals who are holding your little girl40 8,no1 no60 exclaimed ,gennaro excitedly4 8,not that4 ,i want to get my daughter first4 ,after that1 catch them if you can--yes1 ,i should like to have someone do it4 ,but read this first and tell me what you think of it4 ,how should ,i act to get my little ,adelina back without harming a hair of her head80 ,the famous singer drew from a capacious pocketbook a dirty1 crumpled1 letter1 scrawled on cheap paper4 ,kennedy translated it quickly4 ,it read3 ,honourable sir3 ,your daughter is in safe hands4 ,but1 by the saints1 if you give this letter to the police as you did the other1 not only she but your family also1 someone near to you1 will suffer4 ,we will not fail as we did ,wednesday4 ,if you want your daughter back1 go yourself1 alone and without telling a soul1 to ,enrico ,albano's ,saturday night at the twelfth hour4 ,you must provide yourself with #aj1jjj in bills hidden in ,saturday's ,il ,progresso ,italiano4 ,in the back room you will see a man sitting alone at a table4 ,he will have a red flower on his coat4 ,you are to say1 8,a fine opera is ',i ,pagliacci4'0 ,if he answers1 8,not without ,gennaro10 lay the newspaper down on the table4 ,he will pick it up1 leaving his own1 the ,bolletino4 ,on the third page you will find written the place where your daughter has been left waiting for you4 ,go immediately and get her4 ,but1 by the ,god1 if you have so much as the shadow of the police near ,enrico's your daughter will be sent to you in a box that night4 ,do not fear to come4 ,we pledge our word to deal fairly if you deal fairly4 ,this is a last warning4 ,lest you shall forget we will show one other sign of our power to-morrow4 ,la ,,mano ,,nera4 ,the end of this ominous letter was gruesomely decorated with a skull and cross-bones1 a rough drawing of a dagger thrust through a bleeding heart1 a coffin1 and1 under all1 a huge black hand4 ,there was no doubt about the type of letter that it was4 ,it was such as have of late years become increasingly common in all our large cities1 baffling the best detectives4 8,you have not showed this to the police1 ,i presume80 asked ,kennedy4 8,naturally not40 8,are you going ,saturday night80 8,i am afraid to go and afraid to stay away10 was the reply1 and the voice of the fifty-thousand-dollars-a-season tenor was as human as that of a five-dollar-a-week father1 for at bottom all men1 high or low1 are one4 8',we will not fail as we did ,wednesday1'0 reread ,craig4 8,what does that mean80 ,gennaro fumbled in his pocketbook again1 and at last drew forth a typewritten letter bearing the letter-head of the ,leslie ,laboratories1 ,incorporated4 8,after ,i received the first threat10 explained ,gennaro1 8my wife and ,i went from our apartments at the hotel to her father's1 the banker ,cesare1 you know1 who lives on ,fifth ,avenue4 ,i gave the letter to the ,italian ,squad of the police4 ,the next morning my father-in-law's butler noticed something peculiar about the milk4 ,he barely touched some of it to his tongue1 and he has been violently ill ever since4 ,i at once sent the milk to the laboratory of my friend ,doctor ,leslie to have it analysed4 ,this letter shows what the household escaped40 8,my dear ,gennaro10 read ,kennedy4 8,the milk submitted to us for examination on the #ajth inst4 has been carefully analysed1 and ,i beg to hand you herewith the result3 ,specific gravity #a4jcf at #ae degrees ,cent4 ,water4444444444444444444444444444444 #hd4fj per cent ,casein444444444444444444444444444444 #c4di 8 0 ,albumin44444444444444444444444444444 4#ef 8 0 ,globulin4444444444444444444444444444 4#cb 8 0 ,lactose44444444444444444444444444444 #e4jh 8 0 ,ash444444444444444444444444444444444 4#gb 8 0 ,fat444444444444444444444444444444444 #c4db 8 0 ,ricin4444444444444444444444444444444 #a4ai 8 0 8,ricin is a new and little-known poison derived from the shell of the castor-oil bean4 ,professor ,ehrlich states that one gram of the pure poison will kill #a1ejj1jjj guinea pigs4 ,ricin was lately isolated by ,professor ,robert1 of ,rostock1 but is seldom found except in an impure state1 though still very deadly4 ,it surpasses strychnine1 prussic acid1 and other commonly known drugs4 ,i congratulate you and yours on escaping and shall of course respect your wishes absolutely regarding keeping secret this attempt on your life4 ,believe me1 8,very sincerely yours1 8,c4 ,w4 ,,leslie40 ,as ,kennedy handed the letter back1 he remarked significantly3 8,i can see very readily why you don't care to have the police figure in your case4 ,it has got quite beyond ordinary police methods40 8,and to-morrow1 too1 they are going to give another sign of their power10 groaned ,gennaro1 sinking into the chair before his untasted food4 8,you say you have left your hotel80 inquired ,kennedy4 8,yes4 ,my wife insisted that we would be more safely guarded at the residence of her father1 the banker4 ,but we are afraid even there since the poison attempt4 ,so ,i have come here secretly to ,luigi1 my old friend ,luigi1 who is preparing food for us1 and in a few minutes one of ,cesare's automobiles will be here1 and ,i will take the food up to her--sparing no expense or trouble4 ,she is heart-broken4 ,it will kill her1 ,professor ,kennedy1 if anything happens to our little ,adelina4 8,ah1 sir1 ,i am not poor myself4 ,a month's salary at the opera-house1 that is what they ask of me4 ,gladly would ,i give it1 ten thousand dollars--all1 if they asked it1 of my contract with ,herr ,schleppencour1 the director4 ,but the police--bah6--they are all for catching the villains4 ,what good will it do me if they catch them and my little ,adelina is returned to me dead8 ,it is all very well for the ,anglo-,saxon to talk of justice and the law1 but ,i am--what you call it8--an emotional ,latin4 ,i want my little daughter--and at any cost4 ,catch the villains afterward--yes4 ,i will pay double then to catch them so that they cannot blackmail me again4 ,only first ,i want my daughter back40 8,and your father-in-law80 8,my father-in-law1 he has been among you long enough to be one of you4 ,he has fought them4 ,he has put up a sign in his banking-house1 ',no money paid on threats4' ,but ,i say it is foolish4 ,i do not know ,america as well as he1 but ,i know this3 the police never succeed--the ransom is paid without their knowledge1 and they very often take the credit4 ,i say1 pay first1 then ,i will swear a righteous vendetta--,i will bring the dogs to justice with the money yet on them4 ,only show me how1 show me how40 8,first of all10 replied ,kennedy1 8,i want you to answer one question1 truthfully1 without reservation1 as to a friend4 ,i am your friend1 believe me4 ,is there any person1 a relative or acquaintance of yourself or your wife or your father-in-law1 whom you even have reason to suspect of being capable of extorting money from you in this way8 ,i needn't say that that is the experience of the district attorney's office in the large majority of cases of this so-called ,black ,hand40 8,no10 replied the tenor without hesitation3 8,i know that1 and ,i have thought about it4 ,no1 ,i can think of no one4 ,i know you ,americans often speak of the ,black ,hand as a myth coined originally by a newspaper writer4 ,perhaps it has no organisation4 ,but1 ,professor ,kennedy1 to me it is no myth4 ,what if the real ,black ,hand is any gang of criminals who choose to use that convenient name to extort money8 ,is it the less real8 ,my daughter is gone60 8,exactly10 agreed ,kennedy4 8,it is not a theory that confronts you4 ,it is a hard1 cold fact4 ,i understand that perfectly4 ,what is the address of this ,albano's80 ,luigi mentioned a number on ,mulberry ,street1 and ,kennedy made a note of it4 8,it is a gambling saloon10 explained ,luigi4 8,albano is a ,neapolitan1 a ,camorrista1 one of my countrymen of whom ,i am thoroughly ashamed1 ,professor ,kennedy40 8,do you think this ,albano had anything to do with the letter80 ,luigi shrugged his shoulders4 ,just then a big limousine was heard outside4 ,luigi picked up a huge hamper that was placed in a corner of the room and1 followed closely by ,signor ,gennaro1 hurried down to it4 ,as the tenor left us he grasped our hands in each of his4 8,i have an idea in my mind10 said ,craig simply4 8,i will try to think it out in detail to-night4 ,where can ,i find you to-morrow80 8,come to me at the opera-house in the afternoon1 or if you want me sooner at ,mr4 ,cesare's residence4 ,good night1 and a thousand thanks to you1 ,professor ,kennedy1 and to you1 also1 ,mr4 ,jameson4 ,i trust you absolutely because ,luigi trusts you40 ,we sat in the little dining-room until we heard the door of the limousine bang shut and the car shoot off with the rattle of the changing gears4 8,one more question1 ,luigi10 said ,craig as the door opened again4 8,i have never been on that block in ,mulberry ,street where this ,albano's is4 ,do you happen to know any of the shopkeepers on it or near it80 8,i have a cousin who has a drug-store on the corner below ,albano's1 on the same side of the street40 8,good6 ,do you think he would let me use his store for a few minutes ,saturday night--of course without any risk to himself60 8,i think ,i could arrange it40 8,very well4 ,then to-morrow1 say at nine in the morning1 ,i will stop here1 and we will all go over to see him4 ,good night1 ,luigi1 and many1 thanks for thinking of me in connection with this case4 ,i've enjoyed ,signor ,gennaro's singing often enough at the opera to want to render him this service1 and ,i'm only too glad to be able to be of service to all honest ,italians2 that is1 if ,i succeed in carrying out a plan ,i have in mind40 ,a little before nine the following day ,kennedy and ,i dropped into ,luigi's again4 ,kennedy was carrying a suit-case which he had taken over from his laboratory to our rooms the night before4 ,luigi was waiting for us1 and without losing a minute we sallied forth4 ,by means of the tortuous twists of streets in old ,greenwich village we came out at last on ,bleecker ,street and began walking east amid the hurly-burly of races of lower ,new ,york4 ,we had not quite reached ,mulberry ,street when our attention was attracted by a large crowd on one of the busy corners1 held back by a cordon of police who were endeavouring to keep the people moving with that burly good nature which the six-foot ,irish policeman displays toward the five-foot burden-bearers of southern and eastern ,europe who throng ,new ,york4 ,apparently1 we saw1 as we edged up into the front of the crowd1 here was a building whose whole front had literally been torn off and wrecked4 ,the thick plate-glass of the windows was smashed to a mass of greenish splinters on the sidewalk1 while the windows of the upper floors and for several houses down the block in either street were likewise broken4 ,some thick iron bars which had formerly protected the windows were now bent and twisted4 ,a huge hole yawned in the floor inside the doorway1 and peering in we could see the desks and chairs a tangled mass of kindling4 8,what's the matter80 ,i inquired of an officer near me1 displaying my reporter's fire-line badge1 more for its moral effect than in the hope of getting any real information in these days of enforced silence toward the press4 8,black ,hand bomb10 was the laconic reply4 8,whew60 ,i whistled4 8,anyone hurt80 8,they don't usually kill anyone1 do they80 asked the officer by way of reply to test my acquaintance with such things4 8,no10 ,i admitted4 8,they destroy more property than lives4 ,but did they get anyone this time8 ,this must have been a thoroughly overloaded bomb1 ,i should judge by the looks of things40 8,came pretty close to it4 ,the bank hadn't any more than opened when1 bang6 went this gaspipe-and-dynamite thing4 ,crowd collected before the smoke had fairly cleared4 ,man who owns the bank was hurt1 but not badly4 ,now come1 beat it down to headquarters if you want to find out any more4--,you'll find it printed on the pink slips--the 'squeal book'--by this time4 ',gainst the rules for me to talk10 he added with a good-natured grin1 then to the crowd3 8,g'wan1 now4 ,you're blockin' traffic4 ,keep movin'40 ,i turned to ,craig and ,luigi4 ,their eyes were riveted on the big gilt sign1 half broken1 and all askew overhead4 ,it read3 ,,ciro ,,di ,,cesare ,co4 ,,bankers ,,new ,,york1 ,,genoa1 ,,naples1 ,,rome1 ,,palermo 8,this is the reminder so that ,gennaro and his father-in-law will not forget10 ,i gasped4 8,yes10 added ,craig1 pulling us away1 8and ,cesare himself is wounded1 too4 ,perhaps that was for putting up the notice refusing to pay4 ,perhaps not4 ,it's a queer case--they usually set the bombs off at night when no one is around4 ,there must be more back of this than merely to scare ,gennaro4 ,it looks to me as if they were after ,casare1 too1 first by poison1 then by dynamite40 ,we shouldered our way out through the crowd and went on until we came to ,mulberry ,street1 pulsing with life4 ,down we went past the little shops1 dodging the children1 and making way for women with huge bundles of sweatshop clothing accurately balanced on their heads or hugged up under their capacious capes4 ,here was just one little colony of the hundreds of thousands of ,italians--a population larger than the ,italian population of ,rome--of whose life the rest of ,new ,york knew and cared nothing4 ,at last we came to ,albano's little wine-shop1 a dark1 evil1 malodorous place on the street level of a five-story1 alleged 8new-law0 tenement4 ,without hesitation ,kennedy entered1 and we followed1 acting the part of a slumming party4 ,there were a few customers at this early hour1 men out of employment and an inoffensive-looking lot1 though of course they eyed us sharply4 ,albano himself proved to be a greasy1 low-browed fellow who had a sort of cunning look4 ,i could well imagine such a fellow spreading terror in the hearts of simple folk by merely pressing both temples with his thumbs and drawing his long bony fore-finger under his throat--the so-called ,black ,hand sign that has shut up many a witness in the middle of his testimony even in open court4 ,we pushed through to the low-ceilinged back room1 which was empty1 and sat down at a table4 ,over a bottle of ,albano's famous ,california 8red ink0 we sat silently4 ,kennedy was making a mental note of the place4 ,in the middle of the ceiling was a single gas-burner with a big reflector over1 it4 ,in the back wall of the room was a horizontal oblong window1 barred1 and with a sash that opened like a transom4 ,the tables were dirty and the chairs rickety4 ,the walls were bare and unfinished1 with beams innocent of decoration4 ,altogether it was as unprepossessing a place as ,i had ever seen4 ,apparently satisfied with his scrutiny1 ,kennedy got up to go1 complimenting the proprietor on his wine4 ,i could see that ,kennedy had made up his mind as to his course of action4 8,how sordid crime really is10 he remarked as we walked on down the street4 8,look at that place of ,albano's4 ,i defy even the police news reporter on the ,star to find any glamour in that40 ,our next stop was at the corner at the little store kept by the cousin of ,luigi1 who conducted us back of the partition where prescriptions were compounded1 and found us chairs4 ,a hurried explanation from ,luigi brought a cloud to the open face of the druggist1 as if he hesitated to lay himself and his little fortune open to the blackmailers4 ,kennedy saw it and interrupted4 8,all that ,i wish to do10 he said1 8is to put in a little instrument here and use it to-night for a few minutes4 ,indeed1 there will be no risk to you1 ,vincenzo4 ,secrecy is what ,i desire1 and no one will ever know about it40 ,vincenzo was at length convinced1 and ,craig opened his suit-case4 ,there was little in it except several coils of insulated wire2 some tools1 a couple of packages wrapped up1 and a couple of pairs of overalls4 ,in a moment ,kennedy had donned overalls and was smearing dirt and grease over his face and hands4 ,under his direction ,i did the same4 ,taking the bag of tools1 the wire1 and one of the small packages1 we went out on the street and then up through the dark and ill-ventilated hall of the tenement4 ,half-way up a woman stopped us suspiciously4 8,telephone company10 said ,craig curtly4 8,here's permission from the owner of the house to string wires across the roof40 ,he pulled an old letter out of his pocket1 but as it was too dark to read even if the woman had cared to do so1 we went on up as he had expected1 unmolested4 ,at last we came to the roof1 where there were some children at play a couple of houses down from us4 ,kennedy began by dropping two strands of wire down to the ground in the back yard behind ,vincenzo's shop4 ,then he proceeded to lay two wires along the edge of the roof4 ,we had worked only a little while when the children began to collect4 ,however1 ,kennedy kept right on until we reached the tenement next to that in which ,albano's shop was4 8,walter10 he whispered1 8just get the children away for a minute now40 8,look here1 you kids10 ,i yelled1 8some of you will fall off if you get so close to the edge of the roof4 ,keep back40 ,it had no effect4 ,apparently they looked not a bit frightened at the dizzy mass of clothes-lines below us4 8,say1 is there a candy-store on this block80 ,i asked in desperation4 8,yes1 sir10 came the chorus4 8,who'll go down and get me a bottle of ginger ale80 ,i asked4 ,a chorus of voices and glittering eyes was the answer4 ,they all would4 ,i took a half-dollar from my pocket and gave it to the oldest4 8,all right now1 hustle along1 and divide the change40 ,with the scamper of many feet they were gone1 and we were alone4 ,kennedy had now reached ,albano's1 and as soon as the last head had disappeared below the scuttle of the roof he dropped two long strands down into the back yard1 as he had done at ,vincenzo's4 ,i started to go back1 but he stopped me4 8,oh1 that will never do10 he said4 8,the kids will see that the wires end here4 ,i must carry them on several houses farther as a blind and trust to luck that they don't see the wires leading down below40 ,we were several houses down1 still putting up wires when the crowd came shouting back1 sticky with cheap trust-made candy and black with ,east ,side chocolate4 ,we opened the ginger ale and forced ourselves to drink it so as to excite no suspicion1 then a few minutes later descended the stairs of the tenement1 coming out just above ,albano's4 ,i was wondering how ,kennedy was going to get into ,albano's again without exciting suspicion4 ,he solved it neatly4 8,now1 ,walter1 do you think you could stand another dip into that red ink of ,albano's60 ,i said ,i might in the interests of science and justice--not otherwise4 8,well1 your face is sufficiently dirty10 he commented1 8so that with the overalls you don't look very much as you did the first time you went in4 ,i don't think they will recognise you4 ,do ,i look pretty good80 8,you look like a coal-heaver out of a job10 ,i said4 8,i can scarcely restrain my admiration40 8,all right4 ,then take this little glass bottle4 ,go into the back room and order something cheap1 in keeping with your looks4 ,then when you are all alone break the bottle4 ,it is full of gas drippings4 ,your nose will dictate what to do next4 ,just tell the proprietor you saw the gas company's wagon on the next block and come up here and tell me40 ,i entered4 ,there was a sinister-looking man1 with a sort of unscrupulous intelligence1 writing at a table4 ,as he wrote and puffed at his cigar1 ,i noticed a scar on his face1 a deep furrow running from the lobe of his ear to his mouth4 ,that1 ,i knew1 was a brand set upon him by the ,camorra4 ,i sat and smoked and sipped slowly for several minutes1 cursing him inwardly more for his presence than for his evident look of the 8mala vita40 ,at last he went out to ask the barkeeper for a stamp4 ,quickly ,i tiptoed over to another corner of the room and ground the little bottle under my heel4 ,then ,i resumed my seat4 ,the odour that pervaded the room was sickening4 ,the sinister-looking man with the scar came in again and sniffed4 ,i sniffed4 ,then the proprietor came in and sniffed4 8,say10 ,i said in the toughest voice ,i could assume1 8you got a leak4 ,wait4 ,i seen the gas company wagon on the next block when ,i came in4 ,i'll get the man40 ,i dashed out and hurried up the street to the place where ,kennedy was waiting impatiently4 ,rattling his tools1 he followed me with apparent reluctance4 ,as he entered the wine-shop he snorted1 after the manner of gas-men1 8,where's de leak80 8,you find-a da leak10 grunted ,albano4 8,what-a you get-a you pay for8 ,you want-a me do your work80 8,well1 half a dozen o' you wops get out o' here1 that's all4 ,d'youse all wanter be blown ter pieces wid dem pipes and cigarettes8 ,clear out10 growled ,kennedy4 ,they retreated precipitately1 and ,craig hastily opened his bag of tools4 8,quick1 ,walter1 shut the door and hold it10 exclaimed ,craig1 working rapidly4 ,he unwrapped a little package and took out a round1 flat disc-like thing of black vulcanised rubber4 ,jumping up on a table1 he fixed it to the top of the reflector over the gas-jet4 8,can you see that from the floor1 ,walter80 he asked under his breath4 8,no10 ,i replied1 8not even when ,i know it is there40 ,then he attached a couple of wires to it and led them across the ceiling toward the window1 concealing them carefully by sticking them in the shadow of a beam4 ,at the window he quickly attached the wires to the two that were dangling down from the roof and shoved them around out of sight4 8,we'll have to trust that no one sees them10 he said4 8,that's the best ,i can do at such short notice4 ,i never saw a room so bare as this1 anyway4 ,there isn't another place ,i could put that thing without its being seen40 ,we gathered up the broken glass of the gas drippings bottle1 and ,i opened the door4 8,it's all right1 now10 said ,craig1 sauntering out before the bar4 8,only de next time you has anyt'ing de matter call de company up4 ,i ain't supposed to do dis wit'out orders1 see80 ,a moment later ,i followed1 glad to get out of the oppressive atmosphere1 and joined him in the back of ,vincenzo's drug-store1 where he was again at work4 ,as there was no back window there1 it was quite a job to lead the wires around the outside from the back yard and in at a side window4 ,it was at last done1 however1 without exciting suspicion1 and ,kennedy attached them to an oblong box of weathered oak and a pair of specially constructed dry batteries4 8,now10 said ,craig1 as we washed off the stains of work and stowed the overalls back in the suitcase1 8that is done to my satisfaction4 ,i can tell ,gennaro to go ahead safely now and meet the ,black-,handers40 ,from ,vincenzo's we walked over toward ,centre ,street1 where ,kennedy and ,i left ,luigi to return to his restaurant1 with instructions to be at ,vincenzo's at half-past eleven that night4 ,we turned into the new police headquarters and went down the long corridor to the ,italian ,bureau4 ,kennedy sent in his card to ,lieutenant ,giuseppe in charge1 and we were quickly admitted4 ,the lieutenant was a short1 fullfaced1 fleshy ,italian1 with lightish hair and eyes that were apparently dull1 until you suddenly discovered that that was merely a cover to their really restless way of taking in everything and fixing the impressions on his mind1 as if on a sensitive plate4 8,i want to talk about the ,gennaro case10 began ,craig4 8,i may add that ,i have been rather closely associated with ,inspector ,o',connor of the ,central ,office on a number of cases1 so that ,i think we can trust each other4 ,would you mind telling me what you know about it if ,i promise you that ,i1 too1 have something to reveal80 ,the lieutenant leaned back and watched ,kennedy closely without seeming to do so4 8,when ,i was in ,italy last year10 he replied at length1 8,i did a good deal of work in tracing up some ,camorra suspects4 ,i had a tip about some of them to look up their records--,i needn't say where it came from1 but it was a good one4 ,much of the evidence against some of those fellows who are being tried at ,viterbo was gathered by the ,carabinieri as a result of hints that ,i was able to give them--clues that were furnished to me here in ,america from the source ,i speak of4 ,i suppose there is really no need to conceal it1 though4 ,the original tip came from a certain banker here in ,new ,york40 8,i can guess who it was10 nodded ,craig4 8,then1 as you know1 this banker is a fighter4 ,he is the man who organised the ,white ,hand--an organisation which is trying to rid the ,italian population of the ,black ,hand4 ,his society had a lot of evidence regarding former members of both the ,camorra in ,naples and the ,mafia in ,sicily1 as well as the ,black ,hand gangs in ,new ,york1 ,chicago1 and other cities4 ,well1 ,cesare1 as you know1 is ,gennaro's father-in-law4 8,while ,i was in ,naples looking up the record of a certain criminal ,i heard of a peculiar murder committed some years ago4 ,there was an honest old music master who apparently lived the quietest and most harmless of lives4 ,but it became known that he was supported by ,cesare and had received handsome presents of money from him4 ,the old man was1 as you may have guessed1 the first music teacher of ,gennaro1 the man who discovered him4 ,one might have been at a loss to see how he could have an enemy1 but there was one who coveted his small fortune4 ,one day he was stabbed and robbed4 ,his murderer ran out into the street1 crying out that the poor man had been killed4 ,naturally a crowd rushed up in a moment1 for it was in the middle of the day4 ,before the injured man could make it understood who had struck him the assassin was down the street and lost in the maze of old ,naples where he well knew the houses of his friends who would hide him4 ,the man who is known to have committed that crime--,francesco ,paoli--escaped to ,new ,york4 ,we are looking for him to-day4 ,he is a clever man1 far above the average--son of a doctor in a town a few miles from ,naples1 went to the university1 was expelled for some mad prank--in short1 he was the black sheep of the family4 ,of course over here he is too high-born to work with his hands on a railroad or in a trench1 and not educated enough to work at anything else4 ,so he has been preying on his more industrious countrymen--a typical case of a man living by his wits with no visible means of support4 8,now ,i don't mind telling you in strict confidence10 continued the lieutenant1 8that it's my theory that old ,cesare has seen ,paoli here1 knew he was wanted for that murder of the old music master1 and gave me the tip to look up his record4 ,at any rate ,paoli disappeared right after ,i returned from ,italy1 and we haven't been able to locate him since4 ,he must have found out in some way that the tip to look him up had been given by the ,white ,hand4 ,he had been a ,camorrista1 in ,italy1 and had many ways of getting information here in ,america40 ,he paused1 and balanced a piece of cardboard in his hand4 8,it is my theory of this case that if we could locate this ,paoli we could solve the kidnapping of little ,adelina ,gennaro very quickly4 ,that's his picture40 ,kennedy and ,i bent over to look at it1 and ,i started in surprise4 ,it was my evil-looking friend with the scar on his cheek4 8,well10 said ,craig1 quietly handing back the card1 8whether or not he is the man1 ,i know where we can catch the kidnappers to-night1 ,lieutenant40 ,it was ,giuseppe's turn to show surprise now4 8,with your assistance ,i'll get this man and the whole gang to-night10 explained ,craig1 rapidly sketching over his plan and concealing just enough to make sure that no matter how anxious the lieutenant was to get the credit he could not spoil the affair by premature interference4 ,the final arrangement was that four of the best men of the squad were to hide in a vacant store across from ,vincenzo's early in the evening1 long before anyone was watching4 ,the signal for them to appear was to be the extinguishing of the lights behind the coloured bottles in the druggist's window4 ,a taxicab was to be kept waiting at headquarters at the same time with three other good men ready to start for a given address the moment the alarm was given over the telephone4 ,we found ,gennaro awaiting us with the greatest anxiety at the opera-house4 ,the bomb at ,cesare's had been the last straw4 ,gennaro had already drawn from his bank ten crisp one-thousand-dollar bills1 and already had a copy of ,il ,progresso in which he had hidden the money between the sheets4 8,mr4 ,kennedy10 he said1 8,i am going to meet them to-night4 ,they may kill me4 ,see1 ,i have provided myself with a pistol--,i shall fight1 too1 if necessary for my little ,adelina4 ,but if it is only money they want1 they shall have it40 8,one thing ,i want to say10 began ,kennedy4 8,no1 no1 no60 cried the tenor4 8,i will go--you shall not stop me40 8,i don't wish to stop you10 ,craig reassured him4 8,but one thing--do exactly as ,i tell you1 and ,i swear not a hair of the child's head will be injured and we will get the blackmailers1 too40 8,how80 eagerly asked ,gennaro4 8,what do you want me to do80 8,all ,i want you to do is to go to ,albano's at the appointed time4 ,sit down in the back room4 ,get into conversation with them1 and1 above all1 ,signor1 as soon as you get the copy of the ,bolletino turn to the third page1 pretend not to be able to read the address4 ,ask the man to read it4 ,then repeat it after him4 ,pretend to be overjoyed4 ,offer to set up wine for the whole crowd4 ,just a few minutes1 that is all ,i ask1 and ,i will guarantee that you will be the happiest man in ,new ,york to-morrow40 ,gennaro's eyes filled with tears as he grasped ,kennedy's hand4 8,that is better than having the whole police force back of me10 he said4 8,i shall never forget1 never forget40 ,as we went out ,kennedy remarked3 8,you can't blame them for keeping their troubles to themselves4 ,here we send a police officer over to ,italy to look up the records of some of the worst suspects4 ,he loses his life4 ,another takes his place4 ,then after he gets back he is set to work on the mere clerical routine of translating them4 ,one of his associates is reduced in rank4 ,and so what does it come to8 ,hundreds of records have become useless because the three years within which the criminals could be deported have elapsed with nothing done4 ,intelligent1 isn't it8 ,i believe it has been established that all but about fifty of seven hundred known ,italian suspects are still at large1 mostly in this city4 ,and the rest of the ,italian population is guarded from them by a squad of police in number scarcely one-thirtieth of the number of known criminals4 ,no1 it's our fault if the ,black ,hand thrives40 ,we had been standing on the corner of ,broadway1 waiting for a car4 8,now1 ,walter1 don't forget4 ,meet me at the ,bleecker ,street station of the subway at eleven-thirty4 ,i'm off to the university4 ,i have some very important experiments with phosphorescent salts that ,i want to finish to-day40 8,what has that to do with the case80 ,i asked1 mystified4 8,nothing10 replied ,craig4 8,i didn't say it had4 ,at eleven-thirty1 don't forget4 ,by ,george1 though1 that ,paoli must be a clever one--think of his knowing about ricin4 ,i only heard of it myself recently4 ,well1 here's my car4 ,good-bye40 ,craig swung aboard an ,amsterdam ,avenue car1 leaving me to kill eight nervous hours of my weekly day of rest from the ,star4 ,they passed at length1 and at precisely the appointed time ,kennedy and ,i met4 ,with suppressed excitement1 at least on my part1 we walked over to ,vincenzo's4 ,at night this section of the city was indeed a black enigma4 ,the lights in the shops where olive oil1 fruit1 and other things were sold1 were winking out one by one2 here and there strains of music floated out of wine-shops1 and little groups lingered on corners conversing in animated sentences4 ,we passed ,albano's on the other side of the street1 being careful not to look at it too closely1 for several men were hanging idly about--pickets1 apparently1 with some secret code that would instantly have spread far and wide the news of any alarming action4 ,at the corner we crossed and looked in ,vincenzo's window a moment1 casting a furtive glance across the street at the dark empty store where the police must be hiding4 ,then we went in and casually sauntered back of the partition4 ,luigi was there already4 ,there were several customers still in the store1 however1 and therefore we had to sit in silence while ,vincenzo quickly finished a prescription and waited on the last one4 ,at last the doors were locked and the lights lowered1 all except those in the windows which were to serve as signals4 8,ten minutes to twelve10 said ,kennedy1 placing the oblong box on the table4 8,gennaro will be going in soon4 ,let us try this machine now and see if it works4 ,if the wires have been cut since we put them up this morning ,gennaro will have to take his chances alone40 ,kennedy reached over and with a light movement of his forefinger touched a switch4 ,instantly a babel of voices filled the store1 all talking at once1 rapidly and loudly4 ,here and there we could distinguish a snatch of conversation1 a word1 a phrase1 now and then even a whole sentence above the rest4 ,there was the clink of glasses4 ,i could hear the rattle of dice on a bare table1 and an oath4 ,a cork popped4 ,somebody scratched a match4 ,we sat bewildered1 looking at ,kennedy for an explanation4 8,imagine that you are sitting at a table in ,albano's back room10 was all he said4 8,this is what you would be hearing4 ,this is my 'electric ear'--in other words the dictograph1 used1 ,i am told1 by the ,secret ,service of the ,united ,states4 ,wait1 in a moment you will hear ,gennaro come in4 ,luigi and ,vincenzo1 translate what you hear4 ,my knowledge of ,italian is pretty rusty40 8,can they hear us80 whispered ,luigi in an awe-struck whisper4 ,craig laughed4 8,no1 not yet4 ,but ,i have only to touch this other switch1 and ,i could produce an effect in that room that would rival the famous writing on ,belshazzar's wall--only it would be a voice from the wall instead of writing40 8,they seem to be waiting for someone10 said ,vincenzo4 8,i heard somebody say3 ',he will be here in a few minutes4 ,now get out4'0 ,the babel of voices seemed to calm down as men withdrew from the room4 ,only one or two were left4 8,one of them says the child is all right4 ,she has been left in the back yard10 translated ,luigi4 8,what yard8 ,did he say80 asked ,kennedy4 8,no2 they just speak of it as the 'yard1'0 replied ,luigi4 8,jameson1 go outside in the store to the telephone booth and call up headquarters4 ,ask them if the automobile is ready1 with the men in it40 ,i rang up1 and after a moment the police central answered that everything was right4 8,then tell central to hold the line clear--we mustn't lose a moment4 ,jameson1 you stay in the booth4 ,vincenzo1 you pretend to be working around your window1 but not in such a way as to attract attention1 for they have men watching the street very carefully4 ,what is it1 ,luigi80 8,gennaro is coming4 ,i just heard one of them say1 ',here he comes4'0 ,even from the booth ,i could hear the dictograph repeating the conversation in the dingy1 little back room of ,albano's1 down the street4 8,he's ordering a bottle of red wine10 murmured ,luigi1 dancing up and down with excitement4 ,vincenzo was so nervous that he knocked a bottle down in the window1 and ,i believe that my heartbeats were almost audible over the telephone which ,i was holding1 for the police operator called me down for asking so many times if all was ready4 8,there it is--the signal10 cried ,craig4 8',a fine opera is 8,i ,pagliacci40' ,now listen for the answer40 ,a moment elapsed1 then1 8,not without ,gennaro10 came a gruff voice in ,italian from the dictograph4 ,a silence ensued4 ,it was tense4 8,wait1 wait10 said a voice which ,i recognised instantly as ,gennaro's4 8,i cannot read this4 ,what is this1 #bc ,prince ,street80 8,no4 #cc4 ,she has been left in the backyard10 answered the voice4 8,jameson10 called ,craig1 8tell them to drive straight to #cc ,prince ,street4 ,they will find the girl in the back yard--quick1 before the ,black-,handers have a chance to go back on their word40 ,i fairly shouted my orders to the police headquarters4 8,they're off10 came back the answer1 and ,i hung up the receiver4 8,what was that80 ,craig was asking of ,luigi4 8,i didn't catch it4 ,what did they say80 8,that other voice said to ,gennaro1 ',sit down while ,i count this4'0 8,sh6 he's talking again40 8,if it is a penny less than ten thousand or ,i find a mark on the bills ,i'll call to ,enrico1 and your daughter will be spirited away again10 translated ,luigi4 8,now1 ,gennaro is talking10 said ,craig4 8,good--he is gaining time4 ,he is a trump4 ,i can distinguish that all right4 ,he's asking the gruff voiced fellow if he will have another bottle of wine4 ,he says he will4 ,good4 ,they must be at ,prince ,street now we'll give them a few minutes more1 not too much1 for word will be back to ,albano's like wildfire1 and they will get ,gennaro after all4 ,ah1 they are drinking again4 ,what was that1 ,luigi8 ,the money is all right1 he says8 ,now1 ,vincenzo1 out with the lights60 ,a door banged open across the street1 and four huge dark figures darted out in the direction of ,albano's4 ,with his finger ,kennedy pulled down the other switch and shouted3 8,gennaro1 this is ,kennedy6 ,to the street6 ,polizia6 ,polizia60 ,a scuffle and a cry of surprise followed4 ,a second voice1 apparently from the bar1 shouted1 8,out with the lights1 out with the lights60 ,bang6 went a pistol1 and another4 ,the dictograph1 which had been all sound a moment before1 was as mute as a cigar-box4 8,what's the matter80 ,i asked ,kennedy1 as he rushed past me4 8,they have shot out the lights4 ,my receiving instrument is destroyed4 ,come on1 ,jameson2 ,vincenzo1 stay back1 if you don't want to appear in this40 ,a short figure rushed by me1 faster even than ,i could go4 ,it was the faithful1 ,luigi4 ,in front of ,albano's an exciting fight was going on4 ,shots were being fired wildly in the darkness1 and heads were popping out of tenement windows on all sides4 ,as ,kennedy and ,i flung ourselves into the crowd we caught a glimpse of ,gennaro1 with blood streaming from a cut on his shoulder1 struggling with a policeman while ,luigi vainly was trying to interpose himself between them4 ,a man1 held by another policeman1 was urging the first officer on4 8,that's the man10 he was crying4 8,that's the kidnapper4 ,i caught him40 ,in a moment ,kennedy was behind him4 8,paoli1 you lie4 ,you are the kidnapper4 ,seize him--he has the money on him4 ,that other is ,gennaro himself40 ,the policeman released the tenor1 and both of them seized ,paoli4 ,the others were beating at the door1 which was being frantically barricaded inside4 ,just then a taxicab came swinging up they street4 ,three men jumped out and added their strength to those who were battering down ,albano's barricade4 ,gennaro1 with a cry1 leaped into the taxicab4 ,over his shoulder ,i could see a tangled mass of dark brown curls1 and a childish voice lisped 8,why didn't you come for me1 papa8 ,the bad man told me if ,i waited in the yard you would come for me4 ,but if ,i cried he said he would shoot me4 ,and ,i waited1 and waited--0 8,there1 there1 ,una2 papa's going to take you straight home to mother40 ,a crash followed as the door yielded1 and the famous ,paoli gang was in the hands of the law4 ,,xi4 ,the ,artificial ,paradise ,it was1 ,i recall1 at that period of the late unpleasantness in the little ,central ,american republic of ,vespuccia1 when things looked darkest for ,american investors1 that ,i hurried home one evening to ,kennedy1 bursting with news4 ,by way of explanation1 ,i may add that during the rubber boom ,kennedy had invested in stock of a rubber company in ,vespuccia1 and that its value had been shrinking for some time with that elasticity which a rubber band shows when one party suddenly lets go his end4 ,kennedy had been in danger of being snapped rather hard by the recoil1 and ,i knew he had put in an order with his broker to sell and take his loss when a certain figure was reached4 ,my news was a first ray of light in an otherwise dark situation1 and ,i wanted to advise him to cancel the selling order and stick for a rise4 ,accordingly ,i hurried unceremoniously into our apartment with the words on my lips before ,i had fairly closed the door4 8,what do you think1 ,craig0 ,i shouted4 8,it is rumoured that the revolutionists have captured half a million dollars from the government and are sending it to--0 ,i stopped short4 ,i had no idea that ,kennedy had a client1 and a girl1 too4 ,with a hastily mumbled apology ,i checked myself and backed out toward my own room4 ,i may as well confess that ,i did not retreat very fast1 however4 ,kennedy's client was not only a girl1 but a very pretty one1 ,i found1 as she turned her head quickly at my sudden entrance and betray a lively interest at the mention of the revolution4 ,she was a ,latin-,american1 and the ,latin-,american type of feminine beauty is fascinating at least to me4 ,i did not retreat very fast4 ,as ,i hoped1 ,kennedy rose to the occasion4 8,miss ,guerrero10 he said1 8let me introduce ,mr4 ,jameson1 who has helped me very much in solving some of my most difficult cases4 ,miss ,guerrero's father1 ,walter1 is the owner of a plantation which sells its product to the company ,i am interested in40 ,she bowed graciously1 but there was a moment of embarrassment until ,kennedy came to the rescue4 8,i shall need ,mr4 ,jameson in handling your case1 ,miss ,guerrero10 he explained4 8,would it be presuming to ask you to repeat to him briefly what you have already told me about the mysterious disappearance of your father8 ,perhaps some additional details will occur to you1 things that you may consider trivial1 but which1 ,i assure you1 may be of the utmost importance40 ,she assented1 and in a low1 tremulous1 musical voice bravely went through her story4 8,we come10 she began1 8my father and ,i--for my mother died when ,i was a little girl--we come from the northern part of ,vespuccia1 where foreign capitalists are much interested in the introduction of a new rubber plant4 ,i am an only child and have been the constant companion of my father for years1 ever since ,i could ride a pony1 going with him about our hacienda and on business trips to ,europe and the ,states4 8,i may as well say at the start1 ,mr4 ,jameson1 that although my father is a large land-owner1 he has very liberal political views and is deeply in sympathy with the revolution that is now going on in ,vespuccia4 ,in fact1 we were forced to flee very early in the trouble1 and as there seemed to be more need of his services here in ,new ,york than in any of the neighbouring countries1 we came here4 ,so you see that if the revolution is not successful his estate will probably be confiscated and we shall be penniless4 ,he is the agent--the head of the junta1 ,i suppose you would call it--here in ,new ,york40 8,engaged in purchasing arms and ammunition10 put in ,kennedy1 as she paused1 8and seeing that they are shipped safely to ,new ,orleans as agricultural machinery1 where another agent receives them and attends to their safe transit across the ,gulf40 ,she nodded and after a moment resumed 8,there is quite a little colony of ,vespuccians here in ,new ,york1 both revolutionists and government supporters4 ,i suppose that neither of you has any idea of the intriguing that is going on under the peaceful surface right here in your own city4 ,but there is much of it1 more than even ,i know or can tell you4 ,well1 my father lately has been acting very queerly4 ,there is a group who meet frequently at the home of a ,senora ,mendez--an insurrecto group1 of course4 ,i do not go1 for they are all much older people than ,i4 ,i know the senora well1 but ,i prefer a different kind of person4 ,my friends are younger and perhaps more radical1 more in earnest about the future of ,vespuccia4 8,for some weeks it has seemed to me that this ,senora ,mendez has had too much influence over my father4 ,he does not seem like the same man he used to be4 ,indeed1 some of the junta who do not frequent the house of the senora have remarked it4 ,he seems moody1 works by starts1 then will neglect his work entirely4 ,often ,i see him with his eyes closed1 apparently sitting quietly1 oblivious to the progress of the cause--the only cause now which can restore us our estate4 8,the other day we lost an entire shipment of arms--the ,secret ,service captured them on the way from the warehouse on ,south ,street to the steamer which was to take them to ,new ,orleans4 ,only once before had it happened1 when my father did not understand all the things to conceal4 ,then he was frantic for a week4 ,but this time he seems not to care4 ,ah1 senores10 she said1 dropping her voice1 8,i fear there was some treachery there40 8,treachery80 ,i asked4 8,and have you any suspicions who might have played informer80 ,she hesitated4 8,i may as well tell you just what ,i suspect4 ,i fear that the hold of ,senora ,mendez is somehow or other concerned with it all4 ,i even have suspected that somehow she may be working in the pay of the government that she is a vampire1 living on the secrets of the group who so trust her4 ,i suspect anything1 everybody--that she is poisoning his mind1 perhaps even whispering into his ear some siren proposal of amnesty and his estate again1 if he will but do what she asks4 ,my poor father--,i must save him from himself if it is necessary4 ,argument has no effect with him4 ,he merely answers that the senora is a talented and accomplished woman1 and laughs a vacant laugh when ,i hint to him to beware4 ,i hate her40 ,the fiery animosity of her dark eyes boded ill1 ,i felt1 for the senora4 ,but it flashed over me that perhaps1 after all1 the senora was not a traitress1 but had simply been scheming to win the heart and hence the hacienda of the great land-owner1 when he came into possession of his estate if the revolution proved successful4 8,and finally10 she concluded1 keeping back the tears by an heroic effort1 8last night he left our apartment1 promising to return early in the evening4 ,it is now twenty-four hours1 and ,i have heard not a word from him4 ,it is the first time in my life that we have ever been separated so long40 8,and you have no idea where he could have gone80 asked ,craig4 8,only what ,i have learned from ,senor ,torreon1 another member of the junta4 ,senor ,torreon said this morning that he left the home of ,senora ,mendez last night about ten o'clock in company with my father4 ,he says they parted at the subway1 as they lived on different branches of the road4 ,professor ,kennedy10 she added1 springing up and clasping her hands tightly in an appeal that was irresistible1 8you know what steps to take to find him4 ,i trust all to you--even the calling on the police1 though ,i think it would be best if we could get along without them4 ,find my father1 senores1 and when we come into our own again you shall not regret that you befriended a lonely girl in a strange city1 surrounded by intrigue and danger40 ,there were tears in her eyes as she stood swaying before us4 ,the tenseness of the appeal was broken by the sharp ringing of the telephone bell4 ,kennedy quickly took down the receiver4 8,your maid wishes to speak to you10 he said1 handing the telephone to her4 ,her face brightened with that nervous hope that springs in the human breast even in the blackest moments4 8,i told her if any message came for me she might find me here10 explained ,miss ,guerrero4 8,yes1 ,juanita1 what is it--a message for me80 ,my ,spanish was not quite good enough to catch more than a word here and there in the low conversation1 but ,i could guess from the haggard look which overspread her delicate face that the news was not encouraging4 8,oh60 she cried1 8this is terrible--terrible6 ,what shall ,i do8 ,why did ,i come here8 ,i don't believe it4 ,i don't believe it40 8,don't believe what1 ,miss ,guerrero80 asked ,kennedy reassuringly4 8,trust me40 8,that he stole the money--oh1 what am ,i saying8 ,you must not look for him--you must forget that ,i have been here4 ,no1 ,i don't believe it40 8,what money80 asked ,kennedy1 disregarding her appeal to drop the case4 8,remember1 it may be better that we should know it now than the police later4 ,we will respect your confidence40 8,the junta had been notified a few days ago1 they say1 that a large sum--five hundred thousand silver dollars--had been captured from the government and was on its way to ,new ,york to be melted up as bullion at the sub-treasury10 she answered1 repeating what she had heard over the telephone as if in a dream4 8,mr4 ,jameson referred to the rumour when he came in4 ,i was interested1 for ,i did not know the public had heard of it yet4 ,the junta has just announced that the money is missing4 ,as soon as the ship docked in ,brooklyn this morning an agent appeared with the proper credentials from my father and a guard1 and they took the money away4 ,it has not been heard of since--and they have no word from my father40 ,her face was blanched as she realised what the situation was4 ,here she was1 setting people to run down her own father1 if the suspicions of the other members of the junta were to be credited4 8,you--you do not think my father--stole the money80 she faltered pitifully4 8,say you do not think so40 8,i think nothing yet10 replied ,kennedy in an even voice4 8,the first thing to do is to find him--before the detectives of the junta do so40 ,i felt a tinge--,i must confess it--of jealousy as ,kennedy stood beside her1 clasping her hand in both of his and gazing earnestly down into the rich flush that now spread over her olive cheeks4 8,miss ,guerrero10 he said1 8you may trust me implicitly4 ,if your father is alive ,i will do all that a man can do to find him4 ,let me act--for the best4 ,and10 he added1 wheeling quickly toward me1 8,i know ,mr4 ,jameson will do likewise40 ,i was pulled two ways at once4 ,i believed in ,miss ,guerrero1 and yet the flight of her father and the removal of the bullion swallowed up1 as it were1 instantly1 without so much as a trace in ,new ,york--looked very black for him4 ,and yet1 as she placed her small hand tremblingly in mine to say good-bye1 she won another knight to go forth and fight her battle for her1 nor do ,i think that ,i am more than ordinarily susceptible1 either4 ,when she had gone1 ,i looked hopelessly at ,kennedy4 ,how could we find a missing man in a city of four million people1 find him without the aid of the police--perhaps before the police could themselves find him8 ,kennedy seemed to appreciate my perplexity as though he read my thoughts4 8,the first thing to do is to locate this ,senor ,torreon from whom the first information came10 he remarked as we left the apartment4 8,miss ,guerrero told me that he might possibly be found in an obscure boarding-house in the ,bronx where several members of the junta live4 ,let us try1 anyway40 ,fortune favoured us to the extent that we did find ,torreon at the address given4 ,he made no effort to evade us1 though ,i noted that he was an unprepossessing looking man--undersized and a trifle over-stout1 with an eye that never met yours as you talked with him4 ,whether it was that he was concealing something1 or whether he was merely fearful that we might after all be ,united ,states ,secret ,service men1 or whether it was simply a lack of command of ,english1 he was uncommonly uncommunicative at first4 ,he repeated sullenly the details of the disappearance of ,guerrero1 just as we had already heard them4 8,and you simply bade him good-bye as you got on a subway train and that is the last you ever saw of him80 repeated ,kennedy4 8,yes10 he replied4 8,did he seem to be worried1 to have anything on his mind1 to act queerly in any way80 asked ,kennedy keenly4 8,no10 came the monosyllabic reply1 and there was just that shade of hesitation about it that made me wish we had the apparatus we used in the ,bond case for registering association time4 ,kennedy noticed it1 and purposely dropped the line of inquiry in order not to excite ,torreon's suspicion4 8,i understand no word has been received from him at the headquarters on ,south ,street to-day40 8,none10 replied ,torreon sharply4 8,and you have no idea where he could have gone after you left him last night80 8,no1 senor1 none40 ,this answer was given1 ,i thought1 with suspicious quickness4 8,you do not think that he could be concealed by ,senora ,mendez1 then80 asked ,kennedy quietly4 ,the little man jumped forward with his eyes flashing4 8,no10 he hissed1 checking this show of feeling as quickly as he could4 8,well1 then10 observed ,kennedy1 rising slowly1 8,i see nothing to do but to notify the police and have a general alarm sent out40 ,the fire died in the eyes of ,torreon4 8,do not do that1 ,senor10 he exclaimed4 8,wait at least one day more4 ,perhaps he will appear4 ,perhaps he has only gone up to ,bridgeport to see about some arms and cartridges--who can tell8 ,no1 sir1 do not call in the police1 ,i beg you--not yet4 ,i myself will search for him4 ,it may be ,i can get some word1 some clue4 ,if ,i can ,i will notify ,miss ,guerrero immediately40 ,kennedy turned suddenly4 8,torreon10 he flashed quickly1 8what do you suspect about that shipment of half a million silver dollars8 ,where did it go after it left the wharf80 ,torreon kept his composure admirably4 ,an enigma of a smile flitted over his mobile features as he shrugged his shoulders4 8,ah10 he said simply1 8then you have heard that the money is missing8 ,perhaps ,guerrero has not gone to ,bridgeport1 after all60 8,on condition that ,i do not notify the police yet--will you take us to visit ,senora ,mendez1 and let us learn from her what she knows of this strange case80 ,torreon was plainly cornered4 ,he sat for a moment biting his nails nervously and fidgeting in his chair4 8,it shall be as you wish10 he assented at length4 8,we are to go10 continued ,kennedy1 8merely as friends of yours1 you understand8 ,i want to ask questions in my own way1 and you are not to--0 8,yes1 yes10 he agreed4 8,wait4 ,i will tell her we are coming10 and he reached for the telephone4 8,no10 interrupted ,kennedy4 8,i prefer to go with you unexpected4 ,put down the telephone4 ,otherwise1 ,i may as well notify my friend ,inspector ,o',connor of the ,central ,office and go up with him40 ,torreon let the receiver fall back in its socket1 and ,i caught just a glimpse of the look of hate and suspicion which crossed his face as he turned toward ,kennedy4 ,when he spoke it was as suavely as if he himself were the one who had planned this little excursion4 8,it shall be as you wish10 he said1 leading the way out to the cross-town surface cars4 ,senora ,mendez received us politely1 and we were ushered into a large music-room in her apartment4 ,there were several people there already4 ,they were seated in easy chairs about the room4 ,one of the ladies was playing on the piano as we entered4 ,it was a curious composition--very rhythmic1 with a peculiar thread of monotonous melody running through it4 ,the playing ceased1 and all eyes were fixed on us4 ,kennedy kept very close to ,torreon1 apparently for the purpose of frustrating any attempt at a whispered conversation with the senora4 ,the guests rose and with courtly politeness bowed as ,senora ,mendez presented two friends of ,senor ,torreon1 ,senor ,kennedy and ,senor ,jameson4 ,we were introduced in turn to ,senor and ,senora ,alvardo1 ,senor ,gonzales1 ,senorita ,reyes1 and the player1 ,senora ,barrios4 ,it was a peculiar situation1 and for want of something better to say ,i commented on the curious character of the music we had overheard as we entered4 ,the senora smiled1 and was about to speak when a servant entered1 bearing a tray full of little cups with a steaming liquid1 and in a silver dish some curious1 round1 brown1 disc-like buttons1 about an inch in diameter and perhaps a quarter of an inch thick4 ,torreon motioned frantically to the servant to withdraw1 but ,kennedy was too quick for him4 ,interposing himself between ,torreon and the servant1 he made way for her to enter4 8,you were speaking of the music10 replied ,senora ,mendez to me in rich1 full tones4 8,yes1 it is very curious4 ,it is a song of the ,kiowa ,indians of ,new ,mexico which ,senora ,barrios has endeavoured to set to music so that it can be rendered on the piano4 ,senora ,barrios and myself fled from ,vespuccia to ,mexico at the start of our revolution1 and when the ,mexican government ordered us to leave on account of our political activity we merely crossed the line to the ,united ,states1 in ,new ,mexico4 ,it was there that we ran across this very curious discovery4 ,the monotonous beat of that melody you heard is supposed to represent the beating of the tom-toms of the ,indians during their mescal rites4 ,we are having a mescal evening here1 whiling away the hours of exile from our native ,vespuccia40 8,mescal80 ,i repeated blankly at first1 then feeling a nudge from ,kennedy1 ,i added hastily3 8,oh1 yes1 to be sure4 ,i think ,i have heard of it4 ,it's a ,mexican drink1 is it not8 ,i have never had the pleasure of tasting it or of tasting that other drink1 pulque--poolkay--did ,i get the accent right80 ,i felt another1 sharper nudge from ,kennedy1 and knew that ,i had only made matters worse4 8,mr4 ,jameson10 he hastened to remark1 8confounds this mescal of the ,indians with the drink of the same name that is common in ,mexico40 8,oh10 she laughed1 to my great relief1 8but this mescal is something quite different4 ,the ,mexican drink mescal is made from the maguey-plant and is a frightfully horrid thing that sends the peon out of his senses and makes him violent4 ,mescal as ,i mean it is a little shrub1 a god1 a cult1 a religion40 8,yes10 assented ,kennedy2 8discovered by those same ,kiowa ,indians1 was it not80 8,perhaps10 she admitted1 raising her beautiful shoulders in polite deprecation4 8,the mescal religion1 we found1 has spread very largely in ,new ,mexico and ,arizona among the ,indians1 and with the removal of the ,kiowas to the ,indian reservation it has been adopted by other tribes even1 ,i have heard1 as far north as the ,canadian border40 8,is that so80 asked ,kennedy4 8,i understood that the ,united ,states government had forbidden the importation of the mescal plant and its sale to the ,indians under severe penalties40 8,it has1 sir10 interposed ,alvardo1 who had joined us1 8but still the mescal cult grows secretly4 ,for my part1 ,i think it might be more wise for your authorities to look to the whiskey and beer that unscrupulous persons are selling4 ,senor ,jameson10 he added1 turning to me1 8will you join us in a little cup of this artificial paradise1 as one of your ,english writers--,havelock ,ellis1 ,i think--has appropriately called it80 ,i glanced dubiously at ,kennedy as ,senora ,mendez took one of the little buttons out of the silver tray4 ,carefully paring the fuzzy tuft of hairs off the top of it--it looked to me very much like the tip of a cactus plant1 which1 indeed1 it was--she rolled it into a little pellet and placed it in her mouth1 chewing it slowly like a piece of chicle4 8,watch me2 do just as ,i do10 whispered ,kennedy to me at a moment when no one was looking4 ,the servant advanced towards us with the tray4 8,the mescal plant10 explained ,alvardo1 pointing at the little discs1 8grows precisely like these little buttons which you see here4 ,it is a species of cactus which rises only half an inch or so from the ground4 ,the stem is surrounded by a clump of blunt leaves which give it its button shape1 and on the top you will see still the tuft of filaments1 like a cactus4 ,it grows in the rocky soil in many places in the state of ,jalisco1 though only recently has it become known to science4 ,the ,indians1 when they go out to gather it1 simply lop off these little ends as they peep above the earth1 dry them1 keep what they wish for their own use1 and sell the rest for what is to them a fabulous sum4 ,some people chew the buttons1 while a few have lately tried making an infusion or tea out of them4 ,perhaps to a beginner ,i had better recommend the infusion40 ,i had scarcely swallowed the bitter1 almost nauseous decoction than ,i began to feel my heart action slowing up and my pulse beating fuller and stronger4 ,the pupils of my eyes expanded as with a dose of belladonna2 at least1 ,i could see that ,kennedy's did1 and so mine must have done the same4 ,i seemed to feel an elated sense of superiority--really ,i almost began to feel that it was ,i1 not ,kennedy1 who counted most in this investigation4 ,i have since learned that this is the common experience of mescal-users1 this sense of elation2 but the feeling of physical energy and intellectual power soon wore off1 and ,i found myself glad to recline in my easy chair1 as the rest did1 in silent indolence4 ,still1 the display that followed for an enchanted hour or so was such as ,i find it hopeless to describe in language which shall convey to others the beauty and splendour of what ,i saw4 ,i picked up a book lying on the table before me4 ,a pale blue-violet shadow floated across the page before me1 leaving an after-image of pure colour that was indescribable4 ,i laid down the book and closed my eyes4 ,a confused riot of images and colours like a kaleidoscope crowded before me1 at first indistinct1 but1 as ,i gazed with closed yes1 more and more definite4 ,golden and red and green jewels seemed to riot before me4 ,i bathed my hands in inconceivable riches of beauty such as no art-glass worker has ever produced4 ,all discomfort ceased4 ,i had no desire to sleep--in fact1 was hyper-sensitive4 ,but it was a real effort to open my eyes2 to tear myself away from the fascinating visions of shapes and colours4 ,at last ,i did open my eyes to gaze at the gasjets of the chandelier as they flickered4 ,they seemed to send out waves1 expanding and contracting1 waves of colour4 ,the shadows of the room were highly coloured and constantly changing as the light changed4 ,senora ,barrios began lightly to play on the piano the transposed ,kiowa song1 emphasising the notes that represented the drum-beats4 ,strange as it may seem1 the music translated itself into pure colour--and the rhythmic beating of the time seemed to aid the process4 ,i thought of the untutored ,indians as they sat in groups about the flickering camp-fire while others beat the tom-toms and droned the curious melody4 ,what were the visions of the red man1 ,i wondered1 as he chewed his mescal button and the medicine man prayed to ,hikori1 the cactus god1 to grant a 8beautiful intoxication80 ,under the gas-lights of the chandelier hung a cluster of electric light bulbs which added to the flood of golden effulgence that bathed the room and all things in it4 ,i gazed next intently at the electric lights4 ,they became the sun itself in their steadiness1 until ,i had to turn away my head and close my eyes4 ,even then the image persisted--,i saw the golden sands of ,newport1 only they were blazing with glory as if they were veritable diamond dust3 ,i saw the waves1 of incomparable blue1 rolling up on the shore4 ,a vague perfume was wafted on the air4 ,i was in an orgy of vision4 ,yet there was no stage of maudlin emotion4 ,it was at least elevating4 ,kennedy's experiences as he related them to me afterwards were similar1 though sufficiently varied to be interesting4 ,his visions took the forms of animals--a ,cheshire cat1 like that in 8,alice in ,wonderland10 with merely a grin that faded away1 changing into a lynx which in turn disappeared1 followed by an unknown creature with short nose and pointed ears1 then tortoises and guinea-pigs1 a perfectly unrelated succession of beasts4 ,when the playing began a beautiful panorama unfolded before him--the regular notes in the music enhancing the beauty1 and changes in the scenes1 which he described as a most wonderful kinetoscopic display4 ,in fact1 only ,de ,quincey or ,bayard ,taylor or ,poe could have done justice to the thrilling effects of the drug1 and not even they unless an amanuensis had been seated by them to take down what they dictated1 for ,i defy anyone to remember anything but a fraction of the rapid march of changes under its influence4 ,indeed1 in observing its action ,i almost forgot for the time being the purpose of our visit1 so fascinated was ,i4 ,the music ceased1 but not the visions4 ,senora ,mendez advanced toward us4 ,the spangles on her net dress seemed to give her a fairy-like appearance2 she seemed to float over the carpet like a glowing1 fleecy1 white cloud over a rainbow-tinted sky4 ,kennedy1 however1 had not for an instant forgotten what we were there for1 and his attention recalled mine4 ,i was surprised to see that when ,i made the effort ,i could talk and think quite as rationally as ever1 though the wildest pranks were going on in my mind and vision4 ,kennedy did not beat about in putting his question1 evidently counting on the surprise to extract the truth4 8,what time did ,senor ,guerrero leave last night80 ,the question came so suddenly that she had no time to think of a reply that would conceal anything she might otherwise have wished to conceal4 8,about ten o'clock10 she answered1 then instantly was on her guard1 for ,torreon had caught her eye4 8,and you have no idea where he went80 asked ,kennedy4 8,none1 unless he went home10 she replied guardedly4 ,i did not at the time notice the significance of her prompt response to ,torreon's warning4 ,i did not notice1 as did ,kennedy1 the smile that spread over ,torreon's features4 ,the music had started again1 and ,i was oblivious to all but the riot of colour4 ,again the servant entered4 ,she seemed clothed in a halo of light and colour1 every fold of her dress radiating the most delicate tones4 ,yet there was nothing voluptuous or sensual about it4 ,i was raised above earthly things4 ,men and women were no longer men and women--they were brilliant creatures of whom ,i was one4 ,it was sensuous1 but not sensual4 ,i looked at my own clothes4 ,my everyday suit was idealised4 ,my hands were surrounded by a glow of red fire that made me feel that they must be the hands of a divinity4 ,i noticed them as ,i reached forward toward the tray of little cups4 ,there swam into my line of vision another such hand4 ,it laid itself on my arm4 ,a voice sang in my ear softly3 8,no1 ,walter1 we have had enough4 ,come1 let us go4 ,this is not like any other known drug--not even the famous ,cannabis indica1 hasheesh4 ,let us go as soon as we politely can4 ,i have found out what ,i wanted to know4 ,guerrero is not here40 ,we rose shortly and excused ourselves and1 with general regrets in which all but ,torreon joined1 were bowed out with the same courtly politeness with which we had been received4 ,as we left the house1 the return to the world was quick4 ,it was like coming out from the matinee and seeing the crowds on the street4 ,they1 not the matinee1 were unreal for the moment4 ,but1 strange to say1 ,i found one felt no depression as a result of the mescal intoxication4 8,what is it about mescal that produces such results80 ,i asked4 8,the alkaloids10 replied ,kennedy as we walked slowly along4 8,mescal was first brought to the attention of scientists by explorers employed by our bureau of ethnology4 ,dr4 ,weir ,mitchell and ,dr4 ,harvey ,wiley and several ,german scientists have investigated it since then4 ,it is well known that it contains half a dozen alkaloids and resins of curious and little-investigated nature4 ,i can't recall even the names of them offhand1 but ,i have them in my laboratory40 ,as the effect of the mescal began to wear off in the fresh air1 ,i found myself in a peculiar questioning state4 ,what had we gained by our visit8 ,looking calmly at it1 ,i could not help but ask myself why both ,torreon and ,senora ,mendez had acted as if they were concealing something about the whereabouts of ,guerrero4 ,was she a spy8 ,did she know anything about the loss of the half-million dollars8 ,of one thing ,i was certain4 ,torreon was an ardent admirer of the beautiful senora1 equally ardent with ,guerrero4 ,was he simply a jealous suitor1 angry at his rival1 and now glad that he was out of the way8 ,where had ,guerrero gone ,the question was still unanswered4 ,absorbed in these reveries1 ,i did not notice particularly where ,kennedy was hurrying me4 ,in fact1 finding no plausible answer to my speculations and knowing that it was useless to question ,kennedy at this stage of his inquiry1 ,i did not for the moment care where we went but allowed him to take the lead4 ,we entered one of the fine apartments on the drive and rode up in the elevator4 ,a door opened and1 with a start1 ,i found myself in the presence of ,miss ,guerrero again4 ,the questioning look on her face recalled the object of our search1 and its ill success so far4 ,why had ,kennedy come back with so little to report8 8,have you heard anything80 she asked eagerly4 8,not directly10 replied ,kennedy4 8,but ,i have a clue1 at least4 ,i believe that ,torreon knows where your father is and will let you know any moment now4 ,it is to his interest to clear himself before this scandal about the money becomes generally known4 ,would you allow me to search through your father's desk80 ,for some moments ,kennedy rummaged through the drawers and pigeonholes1 silently4 8,where does the junta keep its arms stored--not in the meeting-place on ,south ,street does it80 asked ,kennedy at length4 8,not exactly2 that would be a little too risky10 she replied4 8,i believe they have a loft above the office1 hired in someone else's name and not connected with the place down-stairs at all4 ,my father and ,senor ,torreon are the only ones who have the keys4 ,why do you ask80 8,i ask10 replied ,craig1 8because ,i was wondering whether there might not be something that would take him down to ,south ,street last night4 ,it is the only place ,i can think of his going to at such a late hour1 unless he has gone out of town4 ,if we do not hear from ,torreon soon ,i think ,i will try what4 ,i can find down there4 ,ah1 what is this80 ,kennedy drew forth a little silver box and opened it4 ,inside reposed a dozen mescal buttons4 ,we both looked quickly at ,miss ,guerrero1 but it was quite evident that she was unacquainted with them4 ,she was about to ask what ,kennedy had found when the telephone rang and the maid announced that ,miss ,guerrero was wanted by ,senor ,torreon4 ,a smile of gratification flitted over ,kennedy's face as he leaned over to me and whispered3 8,it is evident that ,torreon is anxious to clear himself4 ,i'll wager he has done some rapid hustling since we left him40 8,perhaps this is some word about my father at last10 murmured ,miss ,guerrero as she nervously hurried to the telephone1 and answered1 8,yes1 this is ,senorita ,guerrero1 ,senor ,torreon4 ,you are at the office of the junta8 ,yes1 yes1 you have word from my father--you went down there to-night expecting some guns to be delivered8--and you found him there--up-stairs in the loft--ill1 did you say8--unconscious80 ,in an instant her face was drawn and pale1 and the receiver fell clattering to the hard-wood floor from her nerveless fingers4 8,he is dead60 she gasped as she swayed backward and ,i caught her4 ,with ,kennedy's help ,i carried her1 limp and unconscious1 across the room1 and placed her in a deep armchair4 ,i stood at her side1 but for the moment could only look on helplessly1 blankly at the now stony beauty of her face4 8,some water1 ,juanita1 quick60 ,i cried as soon as ,i had recovered from the shock4 8,have you any smelling-salts or anything of that sort8 ,perhaps you can find a little brandy4 ,hurry40 ,while we were making her comfortable the telephone continued to tinkle4 8,this is ,kennedy10 ,i heard ,craig say1 as ,juanita came hurrying in with water1 smelling-salts1 and brandy4 8,you fool4 ,she fainted4 ,why couldn't you break it to her gently8 ,what's that address on ,south ,street8 ,you found him over the junta meeting-place in a loft8 ,yes1 ,i understand4 ,what were you doing down there8 ,you went down expecting a shipment of arms and saw a light overhead ,i see--and suspecting something you entered with a policeman4 ,you heard him move across the floor above and fall heavily8 ,all right4 ,someone will be down directly4 ,ambulance surgeon has tried everything1 you say8 ,no heart action1 no breathing8 ,sure4 ,very well4 ,let the body remain just where it is until ,i get down4 ,oh1 wait4 ,how long ago did it happen8 ,fifteen minutes8 ,all right4 ,good-bye40 ,such restoratives as we had found we applied faithfully4 ,at last we were rewarded by the first flutter of an eyelid4 ,then ,miss ,guerrero gazed wildly about4 8,he is dead10 she moaned4 8,they have killed him4 ,i know it4 ,my father is dead40 ,over and over she repeated3 8,he is dead4 ,i shall never see him again40 ,vainly ,i tried to soothe her4 ,what was there to say8 ,there could be no doubt about it4 ,torreon must have gone down directly after we left ,senora ,mendez4 ,he had seen a light in the loft1 had entered with a policeman--as a witness1 he had told ,craig over the telephone--had heard ,guerrero fall1 and had sent for the ambulance4 ,how long ,guerrero had been there he did not know1 for while members of the junta had been coming and going all day in the office below none had gone up into the locked loft4 ,kennedy with rare skill calmed ,miss ,guerrero's dry-eyed hysteria into a gentle rain of tears1 which relieved her overwrought feelings4 ,we silently withdrew1 leaving the two women1 mistress and servant1 weeping4 8,craig10 ,i asked when we had gained the street1 8what do you make of it8 ,we must lose no time4 ,arrest this ,mendez woman before she has a chance to escape40 8,not so fast1 ,walter10 he cautioned as we spun along in a taxicab4 8,our case isn't very complete against anybody yet40 8,but it looks black for ,guerrero10 ,i admitted4 8,dead men tell no tales even to clear themselves40 8,it all depends on speed now10 he answered laconically4 ,we had reached the university1 which was only a few blocks away1 and ,craig dashed into his laboratory while ,i settled with the driver4 ,he reappeared almost instantly with some bulky apparatus under his arm1 and we more than ran from the building to the near-by subway station4 ,fortunately there was an express just pulling in1 as we tumbled down the steps4 ,to one who knows ,south ,street as merely a river-front street whose glory of other days has long since departed1 where an antiquated horsecar now ambles slowly uptown1 and trucks and carts all day long are in a perpetual jam1 it is peculiarly uninteresting by day1 and peculiarly deserted and vicious by night4 ,but there is another fascination about ,south ,street4 ,perhaps there has never been a revolution in ,latin ,america which has not in some way or other been connected with this street1 whence hundreds of filibustering expeditions have started4 ,whenever a dictator is to be overthrown1 or half a dozen chocolate-skinned generals in the ,caribbean become dissatisfied with their portions of gold lace1 the arms- and ammunition-dealers of ,south ,street can give1 if they choose1 an advance scenario of the whole tragedy or comic opera1 as the case may be4 ,real war or opera-bouffe1 it is all grist for the mills of these close-mouthed individuals4 ,our quest took us to a ramshackle building reminiscent of the days when the street bristled with bowsprits of ships from all over the world1 an age when the ,american merchantman flew our flag on the uttermost of the seven-seas4 ,on the ground floor was an apparently innocent junk dealer's shop1 in reality the meeting-place of the junta4 ,by an outside stairway the lofts above were reached1 hiding their secrets behind windows opaque with decades of dust4 ,at the door we were met by ,torreon and the policeman4 ,both appeared to be shocked beyond measure4 ,torreon was profuse in explanations which did not explain4 ,out of the tangled mass of verbiage ,i did manage to extract1 however1 the impression that1 come what might to the other members of the junta1 ,torreon was determined to clear his own name at any cost4 ,he and the policeman had discovered ,senor ,guerrero only a short time before1 up-stairs4 ,for all he knew1 ,guerrero had been there some time1 perhaps all day1 while the others were meeting down-stairs4 ,except for the light he might have been there undiscovered still4 ,torreon swore he had heard ,guerrero fall2 the policeman was not quite so positive4 ,kennedy listened impatiently1 then sprang up the stairs1 only to call back to the policeman3 8,go call me a taxicab at the ferry1 an electric cab4 ,mind1 now1 not a gasoline-cab--electric40 ,we found the victim lying on a sort of bed of sailcloth in a loft apparently devoted to the peaceful purposes of the junk trade1 but really a perfect arsenal and magazine4 ,it was dusty and cobwebbed1 crammed with stands of arms1 tents1 uniforms in bales1 batteries of ,maxims and mountain-guns1 and all the paraphernalia for carrying on a real twentieth-century revolution4 ,the young ambulance surgeon was still there1 so quickly had we been able to get down-town4 ,he had his stomach-pump1 hypodermic syringe1 emetics1 and various tubes spread out on a piece of linen on a packing-case4 ,kennedy at once inquired just what he had done4 8,thought at first it was only a bad case of syncope10 he replied1 8but ,i guess he was dead some minutes before ,i got here4 ,tried rhythmic traction of the tongue1 artificial respiration1 stimulants1 chest and heart massage--everything1 but it was no use30 8,have you any idea what caused his death80 asked ,craig as he hastily adjusted his apparatus to an electric light socket--a rheostat1 an induction-coil of peculiar shape1 and an 8interrupter40 8,poison of some kind--an alkaloid4 ,they say they heard him fall as they came up-stairs1 and when they got to him he was blue4 ,his face was as blue as it is now when ,i arrived4 ,asphyxia1 failure of both heart and lungs1 that was what the alkaloid caused40 ,the gong of the electric cab sounded outside4 ,as ,craig heard it he rushed with two wires to the window1 threw them out1 and hurried downstairs1 attaching them to the batteries of the cab4 ,in an instant he was back again4 8,now1 ,doctor10 he said1 8,i'm going to perform a very delicate test on this man4 ,here ,i have the alternating city current and here a direct1 continuous current from the storage-batteries of the cab below4 ,doctor1 hold his mouth open4 ,so4 ,now1 have you a pair of forceps handy8 ,good4 ,can you catch hold of the tip of his tongue8 ,there4 ,do just as ,i tell you4 ,i apply this cathode to his skin in the dorsal region2 under the back of the neck1 and this anode in the lumbar region at the base of the spine--just pieces of cotton soaked in salt solution and covering the metal electrodes1 to give me a good contact with the body40 ,i was fascinated4 ,it was gruesome1 and yet ,i could not take my eyes off it4 ,torreon stood blankly1 in a daze4 ,craig was as calm as if his every-day work was experimenting on cadavers4 ,he applied the current1 moving the anode and the cathode slowly4 ,i had often seen the experiments on the nerves of a frog that had been freshly killed1 how the electric current will make the muscles twitch1 as discovered long ago by ,galvani4 ,but ,i was not prepared to see it on a human being4 ,torreon muttered something and crossed himself4 ,the arms seemed half to rise--then suddenly to fall1 flabby again4 ,there was a light hiss like an inspiration and expiration of air1 a ghastly sound4 8,lungs react10 muttered ,kennedy1 8but the heart doesn't4 ,i must increase the voltage40 ,again he applied the electrodes4 ,the face seemed a different shade of blue1 ,i thought4 8,good ,god1 ,kennedy10 ,i exclaimed1 8do you suppose the effect of that mescal on me hasn't worn off yet8 ,blue1 blue everything blue is playing pranks before my eyes4 ,tell me1 is the blue of that face--his face--is it changing8 ,do you see it1 or do ,i imagine it80 8,blood asphyxiated10 was the disjointed reply4 8,the oxygen is clearing it40 8,but1 ,kennedy10 ,i persisted2 8his face was dark blue1 black a minute ago4 ,the most astonishing change has taken place4 ,its colour is almost natural now4 ,do ,i imagine it or is it real80 ,kennedy was so absorbed in his work that he made no reply at all4 ,he heard nothing1 nothing save the slow1 forced inspiration and expiration of air as he deftly and quickly manipulated the electrodes4 8,doctor10 he cried at length1 8tell me what is going on in that heart40 ,the young surgeon bent his head and placed his ear on the cold breast4 ,as he raised his eyes and they chanced to rest on ,kennedy's hands1 holding the electrodes dangling idly in the air1 ,i think ,i never saw a greater look of astonishment on a human face4 8,it--is--almost--natural10 he gasped4 8,with great care and a milk diet for a few days ,guerrero will live10 said ,kennedy quietly4 8,it is natural40 8,my ,god1 man1 but he was dead60 exclaimed the surgeon4 8,i know it4 ,his heart was stopped and his lungs collapsed40 8,to all intents and purposes he was dead1 dead as ever a man was10 replied ,craig1 8and would be now1 if ,i hadn't happened to think of this special induction-coil loaned to me by a doctor who had studied deeply the process of electric resuscitation developed by ,professor ,leduc of the ,nantes ,ecole de ,medicin4 ,there is only one case ,i know of on record which compares with this--a case of a girl resuscitated in ,paris4 ,the girl was a chronic morphine-eater and was 'dead' forty minutes40 ,i stood like one frozen1 the thing was so incomprehensible1 after the many surprises of the evening that had preceded4 ,torreon1 in fact1 did not comprehend for the moment4 ,as ,kennedy and ,i bent over1 ,guerrero's eyes opened1 but he apparently saw nothing4 ,his hand moved a little1 and his lips parted4 ,kennedy quickly reached into the pockets of the man gasping for breath1 one after another4 ,from a vest pocket he drew a little silver case1 identical with that he had found in the desk up-town4 ,he opened it1 and one mescal button rolled out into the palm of his hand4 ,kennedy regarded it thoughtfully4 8,i suspect there is at least one devotee of the vision-breeding drug who will no longer cultivate its use1 as a result of this10 he added1 looking significantly at the man before us4 8,guerrero10 shouted ,kennedy1 placing his mouth close to the man's ear1 but muting his voice so that only ,i could distinguish what he said1 8,guerrero1 where is the money80 ,his lips moved trembling again1 but ,i could not make out that he said anything4 ,kennedy rose and quietly went over to detach his apparatus from the electric light socket behind ,torreon4 8,car-ramba60 ,i heard as ,i turned suddenly4 ,craig had ,torreon firmly pinioned from behind by both arms4 ,the policeman quickly interposed4 8,it's all right1--officer10 exclaimed ,craig4 8,walter1 reach into his inside pocket40 ,i pulled out a bunch of papers and turned them over4 8,what's that80 asked ,kennedy as ,i came to something neatly enclosed in an envelope4 ,i opened it4 ,it was a power of attorney from ,guerrero to ,torreon4 8,perhaps it is no crime to give a man mescal if he wants it--,i doubt if the penal code covers that10 ejaculated ,kennedy4 8,but it is conspiracy to give it to him and extract a power of attorney by which you can get control of trust funds consigned to him4 ,manuel ,torreon1 the game is up4 ,you and ,senora ,mendez have played your parts well4 ,but you have lost4 ,you waited until you thought ,guerrero was dead1 then you took a policeman along as a witness to clear yourself4 ,but the secret is not dead1 after all4 ,is there nothing else in those papers1 ,walter8 ,yes8 ,ah1 a bill of lading dated to-day8 ,ten cases of 'scrap iron' from ,new ,york to ,boston--a long chance for such valuable 'scrap1' senor1 but ,i suppose you had to get the money away from ,new ,york1 at any risk40 8,and ,senora ,mendez80 ,i asked as my mind involuntarily reverted to the brilliantly lighted room up-town4 8,what part did she have in the plot against ,guerrero80 ,torreon stood sullenly silent4 ,kennedy reached in another of ,torreon's pockets and drew out a third little silver box of mescal buttons4 ,holding all three of the boxes1 identically the same1 before us he remarked3 8,evidently ,torreon was not averse to having his victim under the influence of mescal as much as possible4 ,he must have forced it on him--all's fair in love and revolution1 ,i suppose4 ,i believe he brought him down here under the influence of mescal last night1 obtained the power of attorney1 and left him here to die of the mescal intoxication4 ,it was just a case of too strong a hold of the mescal--the artificial paradise was too alluring to ,guerrero1 and ,torreon knew it and tried to profit by it to the extent of half a million dollars40 ,it was more than ,i could grasp at the instant4 ,the impossible had happened4 ,i had seen the dead--literally--brought back to life and the secret which the criminal believed buried wrung from the grave4 ,kennedy must have noted the puzzled look on my face4 8,walter10 he said1 casually1 as he wrapped up his instruments1 8don't stand there gaping like ,billikin4 ,our part in this case is finished--at least mine is4 ,but ,i suspect from some of the glances ,i have seen you steal at various times that--well1 perhaps you would like a few moments in a real paradise4 ,i saw a telephone down-stairs4 ,go call up ,miss ,guerrero and tell her her father is alive--and innocent40 ,,xii4 ,the ,steel ,door ,it was what1 in college1 we used to call 8good football weather0--a crisp1 autumn afternoon that sent the blood tingling through brain and muscle4 ,kennedy and ,i were enjoying a stroll on the drive1 dividing our attention between the glowing red sunset across the ,hudson and the string of homeward-bound automobiles on the broad parkway4 ,suddenly a huge black touring car marked with big letters1 8,p4,d4,n4,y410 shot past4 8,joy-riding again in one of the city's cars10 ,i remarked4 8,i thought the last ,police ,department shake-up had put a stop to that40 8,perhaps it has10 returned ,kennedy4 8,did you see who was in the car80 8,no1 but ,i see it has turned and is coming back40 8,it was ,inspector--,i mean1 ,first ,deputy ,o',connor4 ,i thought he recognised us as he whizzed along1 and ,i guess he did1 too4 ,ah1 congratulations1 ,o',connor6 ,i haven't had a chance to tell you before how pleased ,i was to learn you had been appointed first deputy4 ,it ought to have been commissioner1 though10 added ,kennedy4 8,congratulations nothing10 rejoined ,o',connor4 8,just another new-deal-election coming on1 mayor must make a show of getting some reform done1 and all that sort of thing4 ,so he began with the ,police ,department1 and here ,i am1 first deputy4 ,but1 say1 ,kennedy10 he added1 dropping his voice1 8,i've a little job on my mind that ,i'd like to pull off in about as spectacular a fashion as ,i--as you know how4 ,i want to make good1 conspicuously good1 at the start--understand8 ,maybe ,i'll be 'broke' for it and sent to pounding the pavements of ,dismissalville1 but ,i don't care1 ,i'll take a chance4 ,on the level1 ,kennedy1 it's a big thing1 and it ought to be done4 ,will you help me put it across80 8,what is it80 asked ,kennedy with a twinkle in his eye at ,o',connor's estimate of the security of his tenure of office4 ,o',connor drew us away from the automobile toward the stone parapet overlooking the railroad and river far below1 and out of earshot of the department chauffeur4 8,i want to pull off a successful raid on the ,vesper ,club10 he whispered earnestly1 scanning our faces4 8,good heavens1 man10 ,i ejaculated1 8don't you know that ,senator ,danfield is interested in--0 8,jameson10 interrupted ,o',connor reproachfully1 8,i said 'on the level' a few moments ago1 and ,i meant it4 ,senator ,danfield he--well1 anyhow1 if ,i don't do it the district attorney will1 with the aid of the ,dowling law1 and ,i am going to beat him to it1 that's all4 ,there's too much money being lost at the ,vesper ,club1 anyhow4 ,it won't hurt ,danfield to be taught a lesson not to run such a phony game4 ,i may like to put up a quiet bet myself on the ponies now and then--,i won't say ,i don't1 but this thing of ,danfield's has got beyond all reason4 ,it's the crookedest gambling joint in the city1 at least judging by the stories they tell of losses there4 ,and so beastly aristocratic1 too4 ,read that40 ,o',connor shoved a letter into ,kennedy's hand1 a dainty perfumed and monogrammed little missive addressed in a feminine hand4 ,it was such a letter as comes by the thousand to the police in the course of a year2 though seldom from ladies of the smart set4 8,dear ,sir3 ,i notice in the newspapers this morning that you have just been appointed first deputy commissioner of police and that you have been ordered to suppress gambling in ,new ,york4 ,for the love that you must still bear toward your own mother1 listen to the story of a mother worn with anxiety for her only son1 and if there is any justice or righteousness in this great city close up a gambling hell that is sending to ruin scores of our finest young men4 ,no doubt you know or have heard of my family--the ,de,longs are not unknown in ,new ,york4 ,perhaps you have also heard of the losses of my son ,percival at the ,vesper ,club4 ,they are fast becoming the common talk of our set4 ,i am not rich1 ,mr4 ,commissioner1 in spite of our social position1 but ,i am human1 as human as a mother in any station of life1 and oh1 if there is any way1 close up that gilded society resort that is dissipating our small fortune1 ruining an only son1 and slowly bringing to the grave a gray-haired widow1 as worthy of protection as any mother of the poor whose plea has closed up a little poolroom or low policy shop40 ,sincerely1 7,mrs47 ,julia ,m4 ,de,long4 ,p4,s4--,please keep this confidential--at least from my son ,percival4 ,j4 ,m4 ,de,l4 8,well10 said ,kennedy1 as he handed back the letter1 8,o',connor1 if you do it1 ,i'll take back all the hard things ,i've ever said about the police system4 ,young ,de,long was in one of my classes at the university1 until he was expelled for that last mad prank of his4 ,there's more to that boy than most people think1 but he's the wildest scion of wealth ,i have ever come in contact with4 ,how are you going to pull off your raid--is it to be down through the skylight or up from the cellar80 8,kennedy10 replied ,o',connor in the same reproachful tone with which he had addressed me1 8talk sense4 ,i'm in earnest4 ,you know the ,vesper ,club is barred and barricaded like the ,national ,city ,bank4 ,it isn't one of those common gambling joints which depend for protection on what we call 'ice-box doors4' ,it's proof against all the old methods4 ,axes and sledge-hammers would make no impression there40 8,your predecessor had some success at opening doors with a hydraulic jack1 ,i believe1 in some very difficult raids10 put in ,kennedy4 8,a hydraulic jack wouldn't do for the ,vesper ,club1 ,i'm afraid10 remarked ,o',connor wearily4 8,why1 sir1 that place has been proved bomb-proof--bomb-proof1 sir4 ,you remember recently the so-called 'gamblers' war' in which some rivals exploded a bomb on the steps8 ,it did more damage to the house next door than to the club4 ,however1 ,i can get past the outer door1 ,i think1 even if it is strong4 ,but inside--you must have heard of it--is the famous steel door1 three inches thick1 made of armourplate4 ,it's no use to try it at all unless we can pass that door with reasonable quickness4 ,all the evidence we shall get will be of an innocent social club-room downstairs4 ,the gambling is all on the second floor1 beyond this door1 in a room without a window in it4 ,surely you've heard of that famous gambling-room1 with its perfect system of artificial ventilation and electric lighting that makes it rival noonday at midnight4 ,and don't tell me ,i've got to get on the other side of the door by strategy1 either4 ,it is strategy-proof4 ,the system of lookouts is perfect4 ,no1 force is necessary1 but it must not be destructive of life or property--or1 by heaven1 ,i'd drive up there and riddle the place with a fourteen-inch gun10 exclaimed ,o',connor4 8,h'm60 mused ,kennedy as he flicked the ashes off his cigar and meditatively watched a passing freight-train on the railroad below us4 8,there goes a car loaded with tons and tons of scrap iron4 ,you want me to scrap that three-inch steel door1 do you80 8,kennedy1 ,i'll buy that particular scrap from you at almost its weight in gold4 ,the fact is1 ,i have a secret fund at my disposal such as former commissioners have asked for in vain4 ,i can afford to pay you well1 as well as any private client1 and ,i hear you have had some good fees lately4 ,only deliver the goods40 8,no10 answered ,kennedy1 rather piqued1 8it isn't money that ,i am after4 ,i merely wanted to be sure that you are in earnest4 ,i can get you past that door as if it were made of green baize40 ,it was ,o',connor's turn to look incredulous1 but as ,kennedy apparently meant exactly what he said1 he simply asked1 8,and will you80 8,i will do it to-night if you say so10 replied ,kennedy quietly4 8,are you ready80 ,for answer ,o',connor simply grasped ,craig's hand1 as if to seal the compact4 8,all right1 then10 continued ,kennedy4 8,send a furniture-van1 one of those closed vans that the storage warehouses use1 up to my laboratory any time before seven o'clock4 ,how many men will you need in the raid8 ,twelve8 ,will a van hold that many comfortably8 ,i'll want to put some apparatus in it1 but that won't take much room40 8,why1 yes1 ,i think so10 answered ,o',connor4 8,i'll get a well-padded van so that they won't be badly jolted by the ride down-town4 ,by ,george6 ,kennedy1 ,i see you know more of that side of police strategy than ,i gave you credit for40 8,then have the men drop into my laboratory singly about the same time4 ,you can arrange that so that it will not look suspicious1 so far uptown4 ,it will be dark1 anyhow4 ,perhaps1 ,o',connor1 you can make up as the driver yourself--anyhow1 get one you can trust absolutely4 ,then have the van down near the corner of ,broadway below the club1 driving slowly along about the time the theatre crowd is out4 ,leave the rest to me4 ,i will give you or the driver orders when the time comes40 ,as ,o',connor thanked ,craig1 he remarked without a shade of insincerity1 8,kennedy1 talk about being commissioner1 you ought to be commissioner40 8,wait till ,i deliver the goods10 answered ,craig simply4 8,i may fall down and bring you nothing but a lawsuit for damages for unlawful entry or unjust persecution1 or whatever they call it40 8,i'll take a chance at that10 called back ,o',connor as he jumped into his car and directed1 8,headquarters1 quick40 ,as the car disappeared1 ,kennedy filled his lungs with air as if reluctant to leave the drive4 8,our constitutional10 he remarked1 8is abruptly at an end1 ,walter40 ,then he laughed1 as he looked about him4 8,what a place in which to plot a raid on ,danfield's ,vesper ,club6 ,why1 the nurse-maids have hardly got the children all in for supper and bed4 ,it's incongruous4 ,well1 ,i must go over to the laboratory and get some things ready to put in that van with the men4 ,meet me about half-past seven1 ,walter1 up in the room1 all togged up4 ,we'll dine at the ,cafe ,riviera to-night in style4 ,and1 by the way1 you're quite a man about town--you must know someone who can introduce us into the ,vesper ,club40 8,but1 ,craig10 ,i demurred1 8if there is any rough work as a result1 it might queer me with them4 ,they might object to being used--0 8,oh1 that will be all right4 ,i just want to look the place over and lose a few chips in a good cause4 ,no1 it won't queer any of your ,star connections4 ,we'll be on the outside when the time comes for anything to happen4 ,in fact ,i shouldn't wonder if your story would make you all the more solid with the sports4 ,i take all the responsibility2 you can have the glory4 ,you know they like to hear the inside gossip of such things1 after the event4 ,try it4 ,remember1 at seven-thirty4 ,we'll be a little late at dinner1 but never mind2 it will be early enough for the club40 ,left to my own devices ,i determined to do a little detective work on my own account1 and not only did ,i succeed in finding an acquaintance who agreed to introduce us at the ,vesper ,club that night about nine o'clock1 but ,i also learned that ,percival ,de,long was certain to be there that night1 too4 ,i was necessarily vague about ,kennedy1 for fear my friend might have heard of some of his exploits1 but fortunately he did not prove inquisitive4 ,i hurried back to our apartment and was in the process of transforming myself into a full-fledged boulevardier1 when ,kennedy arrived in an extremely cheerful frame of mind4 ,so far1 his preparations had progressed very favourably1 ,i guessed1 and ,i was quite elated when he complimented me on what ,i had accomplished in the meantime4 8,pretty tough for the fellows who are condemned to ride around in that van for four mortal hours1 though10 he said as he hurried into his evening clothes1 8but they won't be riding all the time4 ,the driver will make frequent stops40 ,i was so busy that ,i paid little attention to him until he had nearly completed his toilet4 ,i gave a gasp4 8,why1 whatever are you doing80 ,i exclaimed as ,i glanced into his room4 ,there stood ,kennedy arrayed in all the glory of a sharp-pointed moustache and a goatee4 ,he had put on evening clothes of decidedly ,parisian cut1 clothes which he had used abroad and had brought back with him1 but which ,i had never known him to wear since he came back4 ,on a chair reposed a chimney-pot hat that would have been pronounced faultless on the 8continong10 but was unknown1 except among impresarios1 on ,broadway4 ,kennedy shrugged his shoulders--he even had the shrug4 8,figure to yourself1 monsieur10 he said4 8,ze great ,kennedy1 ze detectif ,americain--to put it tersely in our own vernacular1 wouldn't it be a fool thing for me to appear at the ,vesper ,club where ,i should surely be recognised by someone if ,i went in my ordinary clothes and features8 ,un faux pas1 at the start8 ,jamais60 ,there was nothing to do but agree1 and ,i was glad that ,i had been discreetly reticent about my companion in talking with the friend who was to gain us entrance to the ,avernus beyond the steel door4 ,we met my friend at the ,riviera and dined sumptuously4 ,fortunately he seemed decidedly impressed with my friend ,monsieur ,kay--,i could do no better on the spur of the moment than take ,kennedy's initial1 which seemed to serve4 ,we progressed amicably from oysters and soup down to coffee1 cigars1 and liqueurs1 and ,i succeeded in swallowing ,kennedy's tales of ,monte ,carlo and ,ostend and ,ascot without even a smile4 ,he must have heard them somewhere1 and treasured them up for just such an occasion1 but he told them in a manner that was verisimilitude itself1 using perfect ,english with just the trace of an accent at the right places4 ,at last it was time to saunter around to the ,vesper ,club without seeming to be too indecently early4 ,the theatres were not yet out1 but my friend said play was just beginning at the club and would soon be in full swing4 ,i had a keen sense of wickedness as we mounted the steps in the yellow flare of the flaming arc-light on the ,broadway corner not far below us4 ,a heavy1 grated door swung open at the practised signal of my friend1 and an obsequious negro servant stood bowing and pronouncing his name in the sombre mahogany portal beyond1 with its green marble pillars and handsome decorations4 ,a short parley followed1 after which we entered1 my friend having apparently satisfied someone that we were all right4 ,we did not stop to examine the first floor1 which doubtless was innocent enough1 but turned quickly up a flight of steps4 ,at the foot of the broad staircase ,kennedy paused to examine some rich carvings1 and ,i felt him nudge me4 ,i turned4 ,it was an enclosed staircase1 with walls that looked to be of re-enforced concrete4 ,swung back on hinges concealed like those of a modern burglar-proof safe was the famous steel door4 ,we did not wish to appear to be too interested1 yet a certain amount of curiosity was only proper4 ,my friend paused on the steps1 turned1 and came back4 8,you're perfectly safe10 he smiled1 tapping the door with his cane with a sort of affectionate respect4 8,it would take the police ages to get past that barrier1 which would be swung shut and bolted the moment the lookout gave the alarm4 ,but there has never been any trouble4 ,the police know that it is so far1 no farther4 ,besides10 he added with a wink to me1 8you know1 ,senator ,danfield wouldn't like this pretty little door even scratched4 ,come up1 ,i think ,i hear ,de,long's voice up-stairs4 ,you've heard of him1 monsieur8 ,it's said his luck has changed ,i'm anxious to find out40 ,quickly he led the way up the handsome staircase and into a large1 lofty1 richly furnished room4 ,everywhere there were thick1 heavy carpets on the floors1 into which your feet sank with an air of satisfying luxury4 ,the room into which we entered was indeed absolutely windowless4 ,it was a room built within the original room of the old house4 ,thus the windows overlooking the street from the second floor in reality bore no relation to it4 ,for light it depended on a complete oval of lights overhead so arranged as to be themselves invisible1 but shining through richly stained glass and conveying the illusion of a slightly clouded noonday4 ,the absence of windows was made up for1 as ,i learned later1 by a ventilating device so perfect that1 although everyone was smoking1 a most fastidious person could scarcely have been offended by the odour of tobacco4 ,of course ,i did not notice all this at first4 ,what ,i did notice1 however1 was a faro-layout and a hazard-board1 but as no one was playing at either1 my eye quickly travelled to a roulette-table which stretched along the middle of the room4 ,some ten or a dozen men in evening clothes were gathered watching with intent faces the spinning wheel4 ,there was no money on the table1 nothing but piles of chips of various denominations4 ,another thing that surprised me as ,i looked was that the tense look on the faces of the players was anything but the feverish1 haggard gaze ,i had expected4 ,in fact1 they were sleek1 well-fed1 typical prosperous ,new-,yorkers rather inclined to the noticeable in dress and carrying their avoirdupois as if life was an easy game with them4 ,most of them evidently belonged to the financial and society classes4 ,there were no tragedies2 the tragedies were elsewhere--in their offices1 homes1 in the courts1 anywhere1 but not here at the club4 ,here all was life1 light1 and laughter4 ,for the benefit of those not acquainted with the roulette-wheel--and ,i may as well confess that most of my own knowledge was gained in that one crowded evening--,i may say that it consists1 briefly1 of a wooden disc very nicely balanced and turning in the centre of a cavity set into a table like a circular wash-basin1 with an outer rim turned slightly inward4 ,the 8croupier0 revolves the wheel to the right4 ,with a quick motion of his middle finger he flicks a marble1 usually of ivory1 to the left4 ,at the ,vesper ,club1 always up-to-date1 the ball was of platinum1 not of ivory4 ,the disc with its sloping sides is provided with a number of brass rods1 some perpendicular1 some horizontal4 ,as the ball and the wheel lose momentum the ball strikes against the rods and finally is deflected into one of the many little pockets or stalls facing the rim of the wheel4 ,there are thirty-eight of these pockets2 two are marked 8#j0 and 8#jj10 the others numbered from one to thirty-six in an irregular and confusing order and painted alternately red and black4 ,at each end of the table are thirty-six large squares correspondingly numbered and coloured4 ,the 8#j0 and 8#jj0 are of a neutral colour4 ,whenever the ball falls in the 8#j0 or 8#jj0 the bank takes the stakes1 or sweeps the the board4 ,the ,monte ,carlo wheel has only one 8#j10 while the typical ,american has two1 and the ,chinese has four4 ,to one like myself who had read of the ,continental gambling-houses with the clink of gold pieces on the table1 and the croupier with his wooden rake noisily raking in the winnings of the bank1 the comparative silence of the ,american game comes as a surprise4 ,as we advanced1 we heard only the rattle of the ball1 the click of the chips1 and the monotonous tone of the spinner3 8,twenty-three1 black4 ,eight1 red4 ,seventeen1 black40 ,it was almost like the boys in a broker's office calling off the quotations of the ticker and marking them up on the board4 ,leaning forward1 almost oblivious to the rest1 was ,percival ,de,long1 a tall1 lithe1 handsome young man1 whose boyish face ill comported with the marks of dissipation clearly outlined on it4 ,such a boy1 it flashed across my mind1 ought to be studying the possible plays of football of an evening in the field-house after his dinner at the training-table1 rather than the possible gyrations of the little platinum ball on the wheel4 8,curse the luck60 he exclaimed1 as 8#ag0 appeared again4 ,a ,hebrew banker staked a pile of chips on the 8#ag0 to come up a third time4 ,a murmur of applause at his nerve ran through the circle4 ,de,long hesitated1 as one who thought1 8,seventeen has come out twice--the odds against its coming again are too great1 even though the winnings would be fabulous1 for a good stake40 ,he placed his next bet on another number4 8,he's playing ,lord ,rosslyn's system1 to-night10 whispered my friend4 ,the wheel spun1 the ball rolled1 and the croupier called again1 8,seventeen1 black40 ,a tremor of excitement ran through the crowd4 ,it was almost unprecedented4 ,de,long1 with a stifled oath1 leaned back and scanned the faces about the table4 8,and '#ag' has precisely the same chance of turning up in the next spin as if it had not already had a run of three10 said a voice at my elbow4 ,it was ,kennedy4 ,the roulette-table needs no introduction when curious sequences are afoot4 ,all are friends4 8,that's the theory of ,sir ,hiram ,maxim20 commented my friend1 as he excused himself reluctantly for another appointment4 8,but no true gambler will believe it1 monsieur1 or at least act on it40 ,all eyes were turned on ,kennedy1 who made a gesture of polite deprecation1 as if the remark of my friend were true1 but he nonchalantly placed his chips on the 8#ag40 8,the odds against '#ag' appearing four consecutive times are some millions10 he went on1 8and yet1 having appeared three times1 it is just as likely to appear again as before4 ,it is the usual practice to avoid a number that has had a run1 on the theory that some other number is more likely to come up than it is4 ,that would be the case if it were drawing balls from a bag full of red and black balls--the more red ones drawn the smaller the chance of drawing another red one4 ,but if the balls are put back in the bag after being drawn the chances of drawing a red one after three have been drawn are exactly the same as ever4 ,if we toss a cent and heads appear twelve times1 that does not have the slightest effect on the thirteenth toss--there is still an even chance that it1 too1 will be heads4 ,so if '#ag' had come up five times to-night1 it would be just as likely to come the sixth as if the previous five had not occurred1 and that despite the fact that before it has appeared at all odds against a run of the same number six times in succession are about two billion1 four hundred and ninety-six million1 and some thousands4 ,most systems are based on the old persistent belief that occurrences of chance are affected in some way by occurrences immediately preceding1 but disconnected physically4 ,if we've had a run of black for twenty times1 system says play the red for the twenty-first4 ,but black is just as likely to turn up the twenty-first as if it were the first play of all4 ,the confusion arises because a run of twenty on the black should happen once in one million1 forty-eight thousand1 five hundred and seventy-six coups4 ,it would take ten years to make that many coups1 and the run of twenty might occur once or any number of times in it4 ,it is only when one deals with infinitely large numbers of coups that one can count on infinitely small variations in the mathematical results4 ,this game does not go on for infinity--therefore anything1 everything1 may happen4 ,systems are based on the infinite2 we play in the finite40 8,you talk like a professor ,i had at the university10 ejaculated ,de,long contemptuously as ,craig finished his disquisition on the practical fallibility of theoretically infallible systems4 ,again ,de,long carefully avoided the 8#ag10 as well as the black4 ,the wheel spun again2 the ball rolled4 ,the knot of spectators around the table watched with bated breath4 ,seventeen won6 ,as ,kennedy piled up his winnings superciliously1 without even the appearance of triumph1 a man behind me whispered1 8,a foreign nobleman with a system--watch him40 8,non1 monsieur10 said ,kennedy quickly1 having overheard the remark1 8no system1 sir4 ,there is only one system of which ,i know40 8,what80 asked ,de,long eagerly4 ,kennedy staked a large sum on the red to win4 ,the black came up1 and he lost4 ,he doubled the stake and played again1 and again lost4 ,with amazing calmness ,craig kept right on doubling4 8,the martingale10 ,i heard the man whisper behind me4 8,in other words1 double or quit40 ,kennedy was now in for some hundreds1 a sum that was sufficiently large for him1 but he doubled again1 still cheerfully playing the red1 and the red won4 ,as he gathered up his chips he rose4 8,that's the only system10 he said simply4 8,but1 go on1 go on10 came the chorus from about the table4 8,no10 said ,kennedy quietly1 8that is part of the system1 too--to quit when you have won back your stakes and a little more40 8,huh60 exclaimed ,de,long in disgust4 8,suppose you were in for some thousands--you wouldn't quit4 ,if you had real sporting blood you wouldn't quit1 anyhow60 ,kennedy calmly passed over the open insult1 letting it be understood that he ignored this beardless youth4 8,there is no way you can beat the game in the long run if you keep at it10 he answered simply4 8,it is mathematically impossible4 ,consider4 ,we are ,croesuses--we hire players to stake money for us on every possible number at every coup4 ,how do we come out8 ,if there are no '#j' or '#jj1' we come out after each coup precisely where we started--we are paying our own money back and forth among ourselves2 we have neither more nor less4 ,but with the '#j' and '#jj' the bank sweeps the board every so often4 ,it is only a question of time when1 after paying our money back and forth among ourselves1 it has all filtered through the '#j' and '#jj' into the bank4 ,it is not a game of chance for the bank--ah1 it is exact1 mathematical--c'est une question d' arithmetique1 seulement1 nest-ce pas1 messieurs80 8,perhaps10 admitted ,de,long1 8but it doesn't explain why ,i am losing to-night while everyone else is winning40 8,we are not winning10 persisted ,craig4 8,after ,i have had a bite to eat ,i will demonstrate how to lose--by keeping on playing40 ,he led the way to the cafe4 ,de,long was too intent on the game to leave1 even for refreshments4 ,now and then ,i saw him beckon to an attendant1 who brought him a stiff drink of whiskey4 ,for a moment his play seemed a little better1 then he would drop back into his hopeless losing4 ,for some reason or other his 8system0 failed absolutely4 8,you see1 he is hopeless10 mused ,kennedy over our light repast4 8,and yet of all gambling games roulette offers the player the best odds1 far better than horse-racing1 for instance4 ,our method has usually been to outlaw roulette and permit horse racing2 in other words1 suppress the more favourable and permit the less favourable4 ,however1 we're doing better now2 we're suppressing both4 ,of course what ,i say applies only to roulette when it is honestly played--,de,long would lose anyhow1 ,i fear40 ,i started at ,kennedy's tone and whispered hastily3 8,what do you mean8 ,do you think the wheel is crooked80 8,i haven't a doubt of it10 he replied in an undertone4 8,that run of '#ag' might happen--yes4 ,but it is improbable4 ,they let me win because ,i was a new player--new players always win at first4 ,it is proverbial1 but the man who is running this game has made it look like a platitude4 ,to satisfy myself on that point ,i am going to play again--until ,i have lost my winnings and am just square with the game4 ,when ,i reach the point that ,i am convinced that some crooked work is going on ,i am going to try a little experiment1 ,walter4 ,i want you to stand close to me so that no one can see what ,i am doing4 ,do just as ,i will indicate to you40 ,the gambling-room was now fast filling up with the first of the theatre crowd4 ,de,long's table was the centre of attraction1 owing to the high play4 ,a group of young men of his set were commiserating with him on his luck and discussing it with the finished air of roues of double their ages4 ,he was doggedly following his system4 ,kennedy and ,i approached4 8,ah1 here is the philosophical stranger again20 ,de,long exclaimed1 catching sight of ,kennedy4 8,perhaps he can enlighten us on how to win at roulette by playing his own system40 8,au contrarie1 monsieur1 let me demonstrate how to lose10 answered ,craig with a smile that showed a row of faultless teeth beneath his black moustache1 decidedly foreign4 ,kennedy played and lost1 and lost again2 then he won1 but in the main he lost4 ,after one particularly large loss ,i felt his arm on mine1 drawing me closely to him4 ,de,long had taken a sort of grim pleasure in the fact that ,kennedy1 too1 was losing4 ,i found that ,craig had paused in his play at a moment when ,de,long had staked a large sum that a number below 8#ah0 would turn up--for five plays the numbers had been between 8#ah0 and 8#cf40 ,curious to see what ,craig was doing1 ,i looked cautiously down between us4 ,all eyes were fixed on the wheel4 ,kennedy was holding an ordinary compass in the crooked-up palm of his hand4 ,the needle pointed at me1 as ,i happened to be standing north of it4 ,the wheel spun4 ,suddenly the needle swung around to a point between the north and south poles1 quivered a moment1 and came to rest in that position4 ,then it swung back to the north4 ,it was some seconds before ,i realised the significance of it4 ,it had pointed at the table--and ,de,long had lost again4 ,there was some electric attachment at work4 ,kennedy and ,i exchanged glances1 and he shoved the compass into my hand quickly4 8,you watch it1 ,walter1 while ,i play10 he whispered4 ,carefully concealing it1 as he had done1 yet holding it as close to the table as ,i dared ,i tried to follow two things at once without betraying myself4 ,as near as ,i could make out1 something happened at every play4 ,i would not go so far as to assert that whenever the larger stakes were on a certain number the needle pointed to the opposite side of the wheel1 for it was impossible to be at all accurate about it4 ,once ,i noticed the needle did not move at all1 and he won4 ,but at the next play he staked what ,i knew must be the remainder of his winnings on what seemed a very good chance4 ,even before the wheel was revolved and the ball set rolling1 the needle swung about1 and when the platinum ball came to rest ,kennedy rose from the table1 a loser4 8,by ,george though10 exclaimed ,de,long1 grasping his hand4 8,i take it all back4 ,you are a good loser1 sir4 ,i wish ,i could take it as well as you do4 ,but then1 ,i'm in too deeply4 ,there are too many 'markers' with the house up against me40 ,senator ,danfield had just come in to see how things were going4 ,he was a sleek1 fat man1 and it was amazing to see with what deference his victims treated him4 ,he affected not to have heard what ,de,long said1 but ,i could imagine what he was thinking1 for ,i had heard that he had scant sympathy with anyone after he 8went broke0--another evidence of the camaraderie and good-fellowship that surrounded the game4 ,kennedy's next remark surprised me4 8,oh1 your luck will change1 ,d4 ,l410--everyone referred to him as 8,d4 ,l410 for gambling-houses have an aversion for real names and greatly prefer initials--8your luck will change presently4 ,keep right on with your system4 ,it's the best you can do to-night1 short of quitting40 8,i'll never quit10 replied the young man under his breath4 ,meanwhile ,kennedy and ,i paused on the way out to compare notes4 ,my report of the behaviour of the compass only confirmed him in his opinion4 ,as we turned to the stairs we took in a full view of the room4 ,a faro-layout was purchasing ,senator ,danfield a new touring-car every hour at the expense of the players4 ,another group was gathered about the hazard board1 deriving evident excitement1 though ,i am sure none could have given an intelligent account of the chances they were taking4 ,two roulette-tables were now going full blast1 the larger crowd still about ,de,long's4 ,snatches of conversation came to us now and then1 and ,i caught one sentence1 8,de ,long's in for over a hundred thousand now on the week's play1 ,i understand2 poor boy--that about cleans him up40 8,the tragedy of it1 ,craig10 ,i whispered1 but he did not hear4 ,with his hat tilted at a rakish angle and his opera-coat over his arm he sauntered over for a last look4 8,any luck yet80 he asked carelessly4 8,the devil--no10 returned the boy4 8,do you know what my advice to you is1 the advice of a man who has seen high play everywhere from ,monte ,carlo to ,shanghai80 8,what80 8,play until your luck changes if it takes until to-morrow40 ,a supercilious smile crossed ,senator ,danfield's fat face4 8,i intend to10 and the haggard young face turned again to the table and forgot us4 8,for ,heaven's sake1 ,kennedy10 ,i gasped as we went down the stairway1 8what do you mean by giving him such advice--you80 8,not so loud1 ,walter4 ,he'd have done it anyhow1 ,i suppose1 but ,i want him to keep at it4 ,this night means life or death to ,percival ,de,long and his mother1 too4 ,come on1 let's get out of this40 ,we passed the formidable steel door and gained the street1 jostled by the late-comers who had left the after-theatre restaurants for a few moments of play at the famous club that so long had defied the police4 ,almost gaily ,kennedy swung along toward ,broadway4 ,at the corner he hesitated1 glanced up and down1 caught sight of the furniture-van in the middle of the next block4 ,the driver was tugging at the harness of the horses1 apparently fixing it4 ,we walked along and stopped beside it4 8,drive around in front of the ,vesper ,club slowly10 said ,kennedy as the driver at last looked up4 ,the van lumbered ahead1 and we followed it casually4 ,around the corner it turned4 ,we turned also4 ,my heart was going like a sledgehammer as the critical moment approached4 ,my head was in a whirl4 ,what would that gay throng back of those darkened windows down the street think if they knew what was being prepared for them8 ,on1 like the ,trojan horse1 the van lumbered4 ,a man went into the ,vesper ,club1 and ,i saw the negro at the door eye the oncoming van suspiciously4 ,the door banged shut4 ,the next thing ,i knew1 ,kennedy had ripped off his disguise1 had flung himself up behind the van1 and had swung the doors open4 ,a dozen men with ages and sledge-hammers swarmed out and up the steps of the club4 8,call the reserves1 ,o',connor10 cried ,kennedy4 8,watch the roof and the back yard40 ,the driver of the van hastened to send in the call4 ,the sharp raps of the hammers and the axes sounded on the thick brass-bound oak of the outside door in quick succession4 ,there was a scurry of feet inside1 and we could hear a grating noise and a terrific jar as the inner1 steel door shut4 8,a raid6 ,a raid on the ,vesper ,club60 shouted a belated passer-by4 ,the crowd swarmed around from ,broadway1 as if it were noon instead of midnight4 ,banging and ripping and tearing1 the outer door was slowly forced4 ,as it crashed in1 the quick gongs of several police patrols sounded4 ,the reserves had been called out at the proper moment1 too late for them to 8tip off0 the club that there was going to be a raid1 as frequently occurs4 ,disregarding the melee behind me1 ,i leaped through the wreckage with the other raiders4 ,the steel door barred all further progress with its cold blue impassibility4 ,how were we to surmount this last and most formidable barrier8 ,i turned in time to see ,kennedy and ,o',connor hurrying up the steps with a huge tank studded with bolts like a boiler1 while two other men carried a second tank4 8,there10 ordered ,craig1 8set the oxygen there10 as he placed his own tank on the opposite side3 ,out of the tanks stout tubes led1 with stopcocks and gages at the top4 ,from a case under his arm ,kennedy produced a curious arrangement like a huge hook1 with a curved neck and a sharp beak4 ,really it consisted of two metal tubes which ran into a sort of cylinder1 or mixing chamber1 above the nozzle1 while parallel to them ran a third separate tube with a second nozzle of its own4 ,quickly he joined the ends of the tubes from the tanks to the metal hook1 the oxygen-tank being joined to two of the tubes of the hook1 and the second tank being joined to the other4 ,with a match he touched the nozzle gingerly4 ,instantly a hissing1 spitting noise followed1 and an intense blinding needle of flame4 8,now for the oxy-acetylene blowpipe10 cried ,kennedy as he advanced toward the steel door4 8,we'll make short work of this40 ,almost as he said it1 the steel beneath the blowpipe became incandescent4 ,just to test it1 he cut off the head of a three-quarter-inch steel rivet--taking about a quarter of a minute to do it4 ,it was evident1 though1 that that would not weaken the door appreciably1 even if the rivets were all driven through4 ,still they gave a starting-point for the flame of the high-pressure acetylene torch4 ,it was a brilliant sight4 ,the terrific heat from the first nozzle caused the metal to glow under the torch as if in an open-hearth furnace4 ,from the second nozzle issued a stream of oxygen under which the hot metal of the door was completely consumed4 ,the force of the blast as the compressed oxygen and acetylene were expelled carried a fine spray of the disintegrated metal visibly before it4 ,and yet it was not a big hole that it made--scarcely an eighth of an inch wide1 but clear and sharp as if a buzz-saw were eating its way through a three-inch plank of white pine4 ,with tense muscles ,kennedy held this terrific engine of destruction and moved it as easily as if it had been a mere pencil of light4 ,he was easily the calmest of us all as we crowded about him at a respectful distance4 8,acetylene1 as you may know10 he hastily explained1 never pausing for a moment in his work1 8is composed of carbon and hydrogen4 ,as it burns at the end of the nozzle it is broken into carbon and hydrogen--the carbon gives the high temperature1 and the hydrogen forms a cone that protects the end of the blowpipe from being itself burnt up40 8,but isn't it dangerous80 ,i asked1 amazed at the skill with which he handled the blowpipe4 8,not particularly--when you know how to do it4 ,in that tank is a porous asbestos packing saturated with acetone1 under pressure4 ,thus ,i can carry acetylene safely1 for it is dissolved1 and the possibility of explosion is minimised4 ,this mixing chamber by which ,i am holding the torch1 where the oxygen and acetylene mix1 is also designed in such a way as to prevent a flash-back4 ,the best thing about this style of blowpipe is the ease with which it can be transported and the curious uses--like the present--to which it can be put40 ,he paused a moment to test the door4 ,all was silence on the other side4 ,the door itself was as firm as ever4 8,huh60 exclaimed one of the detectives behind me1 8these new-fangled things ain't all they're cracked up to be4 ,now if ,i was runnin' this show1 ,i'd dynamite that door to kingdom come40 8,and wreck the house and kill a few people10 ,i returned1 hotly resenting the criticism of ,kennedy4 ,kennedy affected not to hear4 8,when ,i shut off the oxygen in this second jet10 he resumed as if nothing had been said1 8you see the torch merely heats the steel4 ,i can get a heat of approximately sixty-three hundred degrees ,fahrenheit1 and the flame will exert a pressure of fifty pounds to the square inch40 8,wonderful60 exclaimed ,o',connor1 who had not heard the remark of his subordinate and was watching with undisguised admiration4 8,kennedy1 how did you ever think of such a thing80 8,why1 it's used for welding1 you know10 answered ,craig as he continued to work calmly in the growing excitement3 8,i first saw it in actual use in mending a cracked cylinder in an automobile4 ,the cylinder was repaired without being taken out at all4 ,i've seen it weld new teeth and build up old worn teeth on gearing1 as good as new40 ,he paused to let us see the terrifically heated metal under the flame4 8,you remember when we were talking on the drive about the raid1 ,o',connor8 ,a car-load of scrap-iron went by on the railroad below us4 ,they use this blowpipe to cut it up1 frequently4 ,that's what gave me the idea4 ,see4 ,i turn on the oxygen now in this second nozzle4 ,the blowpipe is no longer an instrument for joining metals together1 but for cutting them asunder4 ,the steel burns just as you1 perhaps1 have seen a watch-spring burn in a jar of oxygen4 ,steel1 hard or soft1 tempered1 annealed1 chrome1 or ,harveyised1 it all burns just as fast and just as easily4 ,and it's cheap too4 ,this raid may cost a couple of dollars1 as far as the blowpipe is concerned--quite a difference from the thousands of dollars' loss that would follow an attempt to blow the door in40 ,the last remark was directed quietly at the doubting detective4 ,he had nothing to say4 ,we stood in awe-struck amazement as the torch slowly1 inexorably1 traced a thin line along the edge of the door4 ,minute after minute sped by1 as the line burned by the blowpipe cut straight from top to bottom4 ,it seemed hours to me4 ,was ,kennedy going to slit the whole door and let it fall in with a crash8 ,no1 ,i could see that even in his cursory examination of the door he had gained a pretty good knowledge of the location of the bolts imbedded in the steel4 ,one after another he was cutting clear through and severing them1 as if with a superhuman knife4 ,what was going on on the other side of the door1 ,i wondered4 ,i could scarcely imagine the consternation of the gamblers caught in their own trap4 ,with a quick motion ,kennedy turned off the acetylene and oxygen4 ,the last bolt had been severed4 ,a gentle push of the hand1 and he swung the once impregnable door on its delicately poised hinges as easily as if he had merely said1 8,open ,sesame40 ,the robbers' cave yawned before us4 ,we made a rush up the stairs4 ,kennedy was first1 ,o',connor next1 and myself scarcely a step behind1 with the rest of ,o',connor's men at our heels4 ,i think we were all prepared for some sort of gun-play1 for the crooks were desperate characters1 and ,i myself was surprised to encounter nothing but physical force1 which was quickly1 overcome4 ,in the now disordered richness of the rooms1 waving his 8,john ,doe0 warrants in one hand and his pistol in the other1 ,o',connor shouted 8you're all under arrest1 gentlemen4 ,if you resist further it will go hard with you40 ,crowded now in one end of the room in speechless amazement was the late gay party of gamblers1 including ,senator ,danfield himself4 ,they had reckoned on toying with any chance but this4 ,the pale white face of ,de,long among them was like a spectre1 as he stood staring blankly about and still insanely twisting the roulette wheel before him4 ,kennedy advanced toward the table with an ax which he had seized from one of our men4 ,a well-directed blow shattered the mechanism of the delicate wheel4 8,de,long10 he said1 8,i'm not going to talk to you like your old professor at the university1 nor like your recent friend1 the ,frenchman with a system4 ,this is what you have been up against1 my boy4 ,look40 ,his forefinger indicated an ingenious1 but now tangled and twisted1 series of minute wires and electro-magnets in the broken wheel before us4 ,delicate brushes led the current into the wheel4 ,with another blow of his axe1 ,craig disclosed wires running down through the leg of the table to the floor and under the carpet to buttons operated by the man who ran the game4 8,wh--what does it mean80 asked ,de,long blankly4 8,it means that you had little enough chance to win at a straight game of roulette4 ,but the wheel is very rarely straight1 even with all the odds in favour of the bank1 as they are4 ,this game was electrically controlled4 ,others are mechanically controlled by what is sometimes called the 'mule's ear1' and other devices4 ,you can't win4 ,these wires and magnets can be made to attract the little ball into any pocket the operator desires4 ,each one of those pockets contains a little electro-magnet4 ,one set of magnets in the red pockets is connected with one button under the carpet and a battery4 ,the other set in the black pockets is connected with another button and the battery4 ,this ball is not really of platinum4 ,platinum is nonmagnetic4 ,it is simply a soft iron hollow ball1 plated with platinum4 ,whichever set of electro-magnets is energised attracts the ball and by this simple method it is in the power of the operator to let the ball go to red or black as he may wish4 ,other similar arrangements control the odd or even1 and other combinations from other push buttons4 ,a special arrangement took care of that '#ag' freak4 ,there isn't an honest gambling-machine in the whole place--,i might almost say the whole city4 ,the whole thing is crooked from start to finish--the men1 the machines1 the--0 8,that machine could be made to beat me by turning up a run of '#ag' any number of times1 or red or black1 or odd or even1 over '#ah' or under '#ah1' or anything80 8,anything1 ,de,long40 8,and ,i never had a chance10 he repeated1 meditatively fingering the wires4 8,they broke me to-night4 ,danfield0--,de,long turned1 looking dazedly about in the crowd for his former friend1 then his hand shot into his pocket1 and a little ivory-handled pistol flashed out--8,danfield1 your blood is on your own head4 ,you have ruined me40 ,kennedy must have been expecting something of the sort1 for he seized the arm of the young man1 weakened by dissipation1 and turned the pistol upward as if it had been in the grasp of a mere child4 ,a blinding flash followed in the farthest corner of the room and a huge puff of smoke4 ,before ,i could collect my wits another followed in the opposite corner4 ,the room was filled with a dense smoke4 ,two men were scuffing at my feet4 ,one was ,kennedy4 ,as ,i dropped down quickly to help him ,i saw that the other was ,danfield1 his face purple with the violence of the struggle4 8,don't be alarmed1 gentlemen10 ,i heard ,o',connor shout1 8the explosions were only the flashlights of the official police photographers4 ,we now have the evidence complete4 ,gentlemen1 you will now go down quietly to the patrol-wagons below1 two by two4 ,if you have anything to say1 say it to the magistrate of the night court40 8,hold his arms1 ,walter10 panted ,kennedy4 ,i did4 ,with a dexterity that would have done credit to a pickpocket1 ,kennedy reached into ,danfield's pocket and pulled out some papers4 ,before the smoke had cleared and order had been restored1 ,craig exclaimed3 8,let him up1 ,walter4 ,here1 ,de,long1 here are the ,i4,o4,u4's against you4 ,tear them up--they are not even a debt of honour40