e ordinary accepted meaning of the term. I am sure you are mistaken if
you think that is a chemical symbol."

"I am sure, also," said the detective with a smile. "I just wanted your
opinion, that is all. Then those letters and figures would mean nothing
to you?"

"Nothing at all. Wait though--"

Young Dr. Percy Baird looked at the slip again. "No, it would mean
nothing to me," he said finally.

"Thank you," said the colonel.

He came out of the physician's office to find Jean Forette calmly
reading in his side of the car. The paper was put away at once, and with
a whirr from the self-starter the motor throbbed.

"It there a free public library in town, Jean?" asked the detective.

"Yes, monsieur.

"Take me there."

The library was one built partly with the money donated by a celebrated
millionaire, and contained a fair variety of books. To the main desk,
behind which sat a pretty girl, marched Colonel Ashley.

"Have you any books on poisons?" he asked.

"Poisons?" She looked up at him, startled, a flush mantling her fair
cheeks.

"Yes. Any works on poisons--a chemistry would do."

"Oh, yes, we have books on poisons. I'll jot down the numbers for you.
We have not many, I'm afraid. It is--it isn't a pleasant subject."

"No, I imagine not."

She busied herself with the card index, and came back to him in a moment
with a slip of paper.

"I'm sorry," said the pretty girl, "but we seem to have only one book
on poisons, and I'm afraid that isn't what you want. It is entitled
'Poisonous Plants of New Jersey,' and is one of the bulletins of the New
Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at New Brunswick. But it is out
at present. Here is the number of it, and if it comes in--"

"I should be glad to see it," interrupted the colonel pleasantly.

"Here is the number," and the pretty girl extended to him a slip which
read: 58 C. H--i6i*

"What is the star for?" asked the colonel.

"It indicates that the book was donated by the state and was not
purchased with the endowment appropriation," she informed him.

"And it is out now. I wonder if you could tell me who has it?"

"Why, yes, sir. Just a moment."

She looked at some more cards, and came back to him. She looked a bit
disturbed.

"The book, 'Poisonous Plants of New Jersey' was taken out by Miss Viola
Carwell," said the girl.

CHAPTER XII. BLOSSOM'S SUSPICIONS

Characteristic as it was of Colonel Ashley not to show surprise, he
could hardly