ties of other scents, even over and in the water,
and into the earth."

"Ah," mused the colonel, "I think I must cling to my first scent, and
follow it through or over the water or into the earth."

Then, laying aside the little green book, with its atmosphere of calm
delight, he picked up a little thin volume, which bore on its title page
"The Poisonous Plants of New Jersey."

And in that he read:

"The water hemlock (Cicuta maculata L.) is the most
poisonous plant in the flora of the United States, and has
probably destroyed more human lives than all our other
toxic plants combined. As a member of the parsley family
(Umbellifera) it resembles in general appearance the carrot
and parsnip of the same group of plants. It grows in swampy
land. The poisoning of the human is chiefly with the fleshy
roots.

"The active principle of this cicuta is the volatile
alkaloid canine, common also to the poison hemlock (Conium
macula turn L.) The symptoms of the poisoning are many,
including violent contraction of the muscles, dilated pupils
and epilepsy... No antidote for canine poisoning is known...
The active canine... was the poison employed by the Greeks
in putting prisoners to death, Socrates being one of its
illustrious victims."

And having read that much, Colonel Ashley looked at a little slip in the
book. It bore the penciled memorandum "58 C. H.--~I6I*."

"I wonder--I wonder," mused the colonel, and so wondering, and with
fitful dreams attending his slumbers, he passed the night.

Jean Forette drove the colonel and Viola to the office. They arrived
rather early. In fact LeGrand Blossom was not yet in, and when he did
enter, a few minutes later, he was plainly surprised to see them.

"Is anything the matter?" asked the confidential clerk, as he quickly
opened his desk. "I am sorry I was late this morning. But I had some
matters to look after--"

"No apology necessary," said Colonel Ashley, quickly. "We have not been
waiting long. We have discovered something."

If his life had depended on it LeGrand Blossom could not, at that
moment, have concealed a start of surprise.

"You mean you have found out who killed Mr. Carwell?" he asked, and his
tongue went quickly around his dry lips.

"Not that," the colonel answered. "But we have found some letters that
seem to need explaining. Here they are."

Then when Viola had told how s