celebrated Lamson poison
case," replied the physician slowly. "I cannot recall any others just at
the moment."

"How about suicides?"

"It is seldom, if ever, used for suicides." Stone spoke with more
assurance. "I have found in my practice, Kent, that suicides can be
classed as follows: drowning by the young, pistols by the adult,
and hanging by the aged; women generally prefer asphyxiation, using
illuminating gas. But this is beside the question, unless"--bending a
penetrating look at his companion--"unless you believe Jimmie Turnbull
committed suicide."

"That idea has occurred to me," admitted Kent. "But it doesn't square
with other facts which have developed, nor is it in keeping with the
character of the man."

"Men who suffer from a mortal disease sometimes commit desperate acts,
not at all in accord with their previous conduct," responded Stone
gravely. "Come, Kent, you have not answered my question. Why did you
wish information about this box of aconitine pills prescribed for Mrs.
Brewster during her attack of neuralgia?"

"You have just stated that aconitine is not usually administered to
murder a person," Kent spoke seriously, choosing his words with care.
"Do you wonder then, that I consider it more than a coincidence that
Jimmie Turnbull should have died from a dose of that poison, and that
the drug should have been prescribed for one of the inmates of the house
he visited shortly before his death?"

The physician sat upright, his face had grown gray. "Mr. Kent," he
commenced indignantly, "are you aware what you are insinuating? Are
you, also, aware that Mrs. Brewster is my cousin, a charming, honorable
woman, without a stain on her character?"

Kent set the bottom of the box containing the pills in front of the
doctor.

"I have found out that this box, with its dangerous drug, was left on
the hall table in the McIntyre house; apparently any one had access
to its contents, therefore my remarks are not directed against Mrs.
Brewster any more than against any person in the McIntyre household,
from the Colonel to the servants. I found these three pills at the
McIntyre house this morning; how many did your prescription call for?"

Stone picked up the small pills and, as he balanced them in his palm,
his manner grew more alert. Suddenly he dropped two back in the box and
touched the third pill with the tip of his tongue; not content with that
he crushed it in his fingers, sniffed the drug, and again