cross indicates spot where antitoxin attacked
it'--ha! ha! not much for the yellow journals in that, Craig."

"To my mind, Walter, it would be the height of the dramatic--far more
dramatic than sending a bullet into a man. Any fool can shoot a pistol
or cut a throat, but it takes brains to be up-to-date."

"It may be so;" I admitted, and went on reading, while Kennedy scratched
away diligently on his lecture. I mention this conversation both because
it bears on my story, by a rather peculiar coincidence, and because it
showed me a new side of Kennedy's amazing researches. He was as
much interested in bacteria as in chemistry, and the story is one of
bacteria.

It was perhaps a quarter of an hour later when the buzzer on our hall
door sounded. Imagine my surprise on opening the door to discover the
slight figure of what appeared to be a most fascinating young lady who
was heavily veiled. She was in a state almost bordering on hysteria, as
even I, in spite of my usual obtuseness, noticed.

"Is Professor Kennedy in?" she inquired anxiously.

"Yes, ma'am;" I replied, opening the door into our study.

She advanced toward him, repeating her inquiry.

"I am Professor Kennedy. Pray be seated," he said.

The presence of a lady in our apartment was such a novelty that really
I forgot to disappear, but busied myself straightening the furniture and
opening a window to allow the odour of stale tobacco to escape.

"My name is Eveline Bisbee," she began. "I have heard, Professor
Kennedy, that you are an adept at getting at the bottom of difficult
mysteries."

"You flatter me;" he said in acknowledgment. "Who was so foolish as to
tell you that?"

"A friend who has heard of the Kerr Parker case," she replied.

"I beg your pardon," I interrupted, "I didn't mean to intrude. I think
I'll go out. I'll be back in an hour or two."

"Please, Mr. Jameson--it is Mr. Jameson, is it not?"

I bowed in surprise.

"If it is possible I wish you would stay and hear my story. I am told
that you and Professor Kennedy always work together."

It was my turn to be embarrassed by the compliment.

"Mrs. Fletcher, of Great Neck," she explained, "has told me. I believe
Professor Kennedy performed a great service for the Fletchers, though I
do not know what it was. At any rate, I have come to you with my case,
in which I have small hope of obtaining assistance unless you can help
me. If Professor Kennedy cannot solve it, well, I'm afraid nobo