The Brand Burners of Cimarron — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

The Boe ony gen eee The physician, visibly surprised, bee icy ciclo: -v fir PHRMA Silawed WT SE EEK CE BEER, tora cola | a chair for him, and asked: “Well, Mr. Goldspur, how can I serve “7 wish to engage you, sir, to make a post-mortem.” ‘A post-mortem examination? ” “Yes, sir. I have reason to believe that John Brown, who died suddenly at the camp-house last night, was a victim of some subtle poison.’ “ Murdered, you mean to say?” i “ Precisely.” The doctor nodded sagely. “’Hem! It is a strange case—a very unfortunate affair. I have heard it spok- en of frequently to-day, but neglected to view the remains. Dr. Fox was called in last evening, I understand, and diag- nosed the case as heart disease— a rup- ture of the pericardium,’ in short—ha! ha! “Well, sir, I am always ready to pro- mote justice. When and where do you desire the examination made?” ‘ To-night—here.” * Secretly? ” “ Secretly. Whatever your finding may be, all knowledge of the matter must be withheid from the public for the pres- ent.” “The ethics of my profession forbid tattling, Mr. Goldspur. Bring the body here any time between 10 and 11 o’clock.” The detective nodded approval of the hour, and in a few minutes departed. Shortly before 10 o’clock Goldspur and Pawnee Bill appeared at the camp-house. Burton King, restless and uneasy, was in waiting. “ Wal, gents, I did ther trick,” he an- nounced in a husky whisper. “y cut a log, an’ packed et in sand ter keep et f’m rollin’, Everything went off all right.” “ An’ ther body?” Goldspur asked, re- suming the Redrock vernacular. “ Wrapped in a wagon-sheet, all ready ter tote off. An’ gents, ye cain’t git et away too soon.’ The pards smiled grimly at the fel- low’s earnestness, while giving ready as- sent to his proposition. In another min- ute the body, snugly enveloped in three or four folds of stout canvas, was swing- ing between them. Passing through the barn, they emerged upon the open prairie, and laid their course by an unfrequented way to the rear door of Dr. Antitox’s office. True to his word, the physician was in waiting. A long deal table, covered with oilcloth, stood in the center of an apart- ment just back of the office, and in re- sponse to a sign from Antitox the pards placed their burden upon it. The heavy cloth curtains at the win-: dows had been snugly drawn. Antitox at once closed the doors and lighted a large lamp suspended above the table. He then brought out a case of surgical instruments and a number of utensils. “ Now, gentlemen, [ am ready for busi- ness,” he quietly announced. “ You may remove the canvas, then remain or re- tire, at your pleasure.” “Ill go, for carving cadavers is not fn my line,” Pawnee decided, with a wry face. The physician nodiied: Then the wa- gon-sheet was removed from the body, and the quarter-blood at once departed. When he had again closed the door, Dr. ‘Antitox turned to the table, and crit- ically examined the body. Goldspur watched him closely. Nothing was to be read from that grave, impassive face, however. Presently the physician stopped at the head of the long table and fell into a profound reverie, which lasted some minutes. “To whom shall you charge this erlme?” he at length asked, turning abruptly to the detective. “To the men known as Spanish John ‘and Rupert Belmont.” Antitox nodded, and again reflected. veri some minutes he seized a small ags and turned to the long rows of bot- es covering the bear Here he ere ¢ €. “! a ‘ a * : ' ee | o . » ¥, Hn ih. “yt ,! <4 fog shits ty - 5 4, - bea ened itary MG; oe 1S 4 Gy ust Nea Seay, 2 ay Tae CA RONG hao wate Oe Nes ) ye 7 ¢ . tn <i | ‘ -—T 7 . ‘ 7 - + « md 8 i m, 7 , é 4 ve if “a, ¥ | of 7 | ‘ - hi? ran ase ; 4 7. seme | he & un re? =) i bs ‘ +r 4 e i? Be s, { i a a ly ee], ap | ek H\Sre ‘? a ‘é Bait)" 4 ‘ae rant Yr yk FF ohh < 4 i t By &, 7 5 nh a: we ¥ Aine us ih it ss 1 + \ i» ae f i Noh , , a = y 5 ag r ; ; "> pS ; Re ; Mtoe << et) or Pe or tom ; {. f el — eas = = iS) pee. pee Se Brand- Bariors of Cimarron. practiced eye, which follow the use of the ed with the utmost care, forming a com- pound drop by drop. That done, he put down the glass and:took from the surgi- cal case a small syringe, scalpel, and pincers. Opening Brown’s shirt at the throat, he pushed the garment down on the shoulders and turned the head to expose the side of the neck. Here he made an incision with the scalpel, then with the pincers carefully gripped and raised a vein. In another minute he injected into this vein one-fourth of the compound in the glass. Stepping back, he opened his watch, laid it on his desk, and noted the time. “Come, Mr. Goldspur—sit down and have a cigar,” he exclaimed, cheerily. “I must wait fifteen minutes. In that inter- val I shall explain a theory I have formed.” The detective bowed, and complied with the request. “In the early days of my professional career I was somewhat of a rover,” Anti- tox proceeded. “In a word, I was the victim of a fever for adventure, and that fever led me into the central portion of Brazil, where I resided for upward of five years. “Of my adventures there, or of the many curious things I learned, it is not necessary to speak—that is, beyond the. one thing, the essential point involved in the theory I have just mentioned. “This point has to do with a certain mysterious and deadly drug in use among the natives there. By them it is crystal- ized, by an unknown process, from the juices of two creeping vines. The crys- tals are small and of irregular form, and are readily soluble in water or saliva. Held in the palm, they have a dark amber hue; placed between you and the light they became a vivid, flashing green. Con- veyed to the mouth or tongue, one of these crystals quickly dissolves, forming a tiny drop of almost tasteless liquid. Convulsions speedily ensue; then comes coma of from thirty-six to forty-eight hours’ duration, and death, if the proper restorative measures are not taken. The administration of two crystals is suc- ceeded by convulsions and death. There is no antidote known. “During my residence in that part of Brazil a number of cases of such poison- ing came under my observation, and I be- came well acquainted with the symptoms induced by the drug. In the case of co- ma, it is extremely difficult to distinguish it from actual death. There is but one resuscitant known, the one I have just applied, and it is fallible. “ Poisoning by means of this drug is extremely difficult of detection, and it is well-nigh impossible to establish lawful proof. So far as can be determined, the drop of liquid formed from the crystal undergoes, when taken into the body, a chemical change and becomes trans- formed into a subtle, non-odorous gas. It is this gas which holds the subject in coma; and when the nerves and vital or- gans have become thoroughly permeated death ensues. “Te Brown died from the administra- tion of one of these crystals, a post-mor- tem will reveal nothing, Mr. Goldspur.” “But are you sure, doctor, that the Brazilian drug was the one given?”’ Before replying, Dr. Antitox looked at his watch, started slightly, rose, and again injected a small quantity of the compound into the raised vein. The detective watched him admiringly and with keenest interest. In a moment Antitox returned to his seat. He nodded slightly, and said: “T may safely say that I suspect as much, Mr. Goldspur. If I am correctly informed, Brown fell in convulsions, while smoking a cigar given him by John Barford. It is an easy matter to conceal such a erystal in a cigar butt, where the saliva of the smoker would readily dis- solve it.” 1 he would seem so, sir.” “Then, too, there are certain external signs, slight, but morally sure to Oe * vy pee, drug. These signs are present. “You believe that Barford found it necessary to do away with this man Brown. Now, Barford, I happen to know, was for some years a resident of that very portion of Brazil in which this pois- ~ on is habitually used. “Putting all these facts together and basing conclusions upon them, I may, I repeat, safely say I suspect the green crystal was used.” “Oh!” It was the only utterance Gold- spur could make just then. Dr. Anftftox, in his peculiar manner had rent the shroud of mystery enveloping the camp-. house tragedy! The subject soon changed. Then. the third and fourth injections were given. Dr. Antitox looked at his watch and re- marked: “In twenty minutes I shall be satisfied that two crystals were given—that life is extinct. Then I shall proceed.” But at that moment the supposed corpse rose to a sitting posture. Startled, the vod a and the detective leaped to their eet Ere they could put forth a hand, how- ever, John Brown uttered a terrible yell and sprang from the table to the floor. Violently wrenching open the locked door he howled frightfully and plunged out into the darkness. Transfigured with amazement, Gold- spur turned to the physician. “The dead alive! ” he ejaculated. “ Dr, Antitox, you are a savant—a wizard! ” Shaking his grizzled head, the doctor sadly replied: “ Back to life—yes! But better far had we let him sleep, for he is now doomed to death in life! He is a raving maniac! ” CHAPTER XIII. THD TRAP. Dr. Antitox’s mien was at once sorrow- ful and impressive, and Goldspur was conscious of a profound shock when he heard that startling announcement, “ What mean you, doctor?” he quickly asked. “Just what I said. The man is insane. It is a peculiarity of the accursed drug that frequently when the coma is broken the patient arises bereft of reason. It was this knowledge which caused me to hesitate,”’ “Good heavens! ble? ” “ Alas, I fear so! “ But, come, Mr. make pursuit and get the poor wretch under restraint, if possible.” “Yes, yes! We must catch him. The matter must be kept secret, or those scoundrels will become Marmee and elude the net.” Dr. Antitox hastily \ Satiokt up and donned hat and coat, and, with the de- tective, quitted the office. A short dis- tance from the building they halted and listened. Is the mania incura- The crowd in town had diminished but | slightly, and there was much confusion in the vicinity of the Silver Shades and along the single street. “No sound short of an Indian war- whoop could be distinguished above that babel,” Goldspur observed. “It is hardly probable that he went in that direction, doctor, yet it might be well for you to look through that part of the town. I'll beat up the brush.” Antitox bowed and briskly moved away. Left to himself, the detective pushed on toward the outskirts of the town, in the direction Brown had started. The wisdom of this course was soon manifest, for scarcely had Goldspur cleared the bounds of Tiptop when a frantic yell rang out some distance ahead. “ Aha! There’s the quarry, sure enough,” the tracker muttered, and he quickened his pace. About two hundred yards further on he met a man in a two-wheeled vehicle, drawn by a white mule. This ee traveler was Zebulon F ad n : ESS ny Goldspur. 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