The Argosy, December 1905 — page 144: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

122 “ Well, Miss Morrison ”—the doctor frowned thoughtfully—* Miss Morrison has neither father nor mother, and her aunt is a trifle excitable, perhaps. I thought that it might be better to speak to you, and = “What about?” blankly. “ This—er—illness, you understand. It’s rather a risky subject, you know, and we shall have to use a good deal of judgment, but—well, it is not the slight indisposition I have branded it!” “ What is it, then? ” “The indisposition is slight enough, very luckily, but the cause is rather different from what I have indicated. Mr. Alvin, your fiancée has been— poisoned!” “ Doctor!” “ Hush! Don’t be worried. There is absolutely no danger now, I assure you, but it is by the merest good fortune. Miss Morrison, I understand, ate little or no lunch.” “Well?” “There is every symptom of poison- ing, and I honestly believe that had she made an ordinary meal, she would now be dead! Rather startling, but ”—he laid a soothing hand on Duncan’s arm— “not at all dangerous now, 1 am very glad to say.” - Dunean leaned weakly against the wall. Could it be possible that Cham- bers | “lave you made any inquiries?” he asked. “ Ah, yes! And I have done it very judiciously, I think. I saw the house- keeper immediately after I had viewed Miss Morrison. No one else has been ill from the effects of that meal, and it is now past five o’clock. Unfortunately, there is no way of getting the food scraps, or we might have something tangible to work on. I believe, however, that the thing was done by whoever served the luncheon.” “Then I’ll find out Es “1 have done that, too,” said the phy- sician. “The butler attended to the serving, and it being his day off left im- mediately after. Vl wager that he does not return.” Duncan stared silently at him. The asked Duncan THE ARGOSY. medical man consulted his watch and turned away. “Those are the facts, Mr. Alvin. I have placed them in your hands because I believe that you may be best fitted to deal with them.” “ And you are certain—really certain —that poison was used on that poor girl?” , “T am as certain as if I had admin- istered it myself, and there seems no one on whom to lay the blame, save this man Parker. My testimony, sir, will be at your service whenever it is required, belheve me.” He waited for an answer, which the thunderstruck man could not frame. “Shall .we find Mr. Morley, - Mr. Alvin? I believe that he is waiting for you.” The doctor led the way, and Duncan followed half blindly. Beyond dispute, he had undertaken a difficult and dan- gerous part in assuming the name of Henry Alvin! CHAPTER XV. NEAR TO THE BREAKING POINT. Iw the little reception-room Duncan found Morley, genial and smiling as usual. Business had taken the secretary out of town that day, and he had not visited the International offices. The two men chatted with Miss Mor- rison’s aunt for a little, and finally left together, the doctor having forbidden Morley a sight of Beatrice until she should have recovered more fully. Qn the street, once more, Duncan looked about sharply, and with an ob- ject. He was not disappointed. Several doors down, a man sauntered aimlessly along, obviously not a resident of the neighborhood returning from business. Farther down the block he saw a second man, and at the corner beyond a third one waited, smoking idly. His surmise was correct. Barrington and Downs had set a body-guard to watch him, and now he had a use for at least one of them. Duncan excused himself and left Morley. He approached the nearest Gomicdooks (C@)