and they told me
there that the nurse, Mary Phelps, was at the Central Hospital. When I
reached the hospital I found Miss Phelps just going off duty. She said
that she had found that syringe tucked between the mattress and the
headboard of Goddard's bed when she changed the sheets. She supposed I
had dropped it there the night before."

Ward ceased speaking, and in uncontrollable excitement Warren sprang to
his feet and walked rapidly up and down the room.

"This ought to help, and yet I cannot see--I cannot see," he muttered;
then wheeled on Ward, who was watching him intently. "Come, Doctor,
haven't you formed some theory which may give me a clue?"

"I have," admitted Ward slowly. "It is one that may lead to very
serious consequences. Curari is a poison that we Americans at present
know little about. It is used by the South American Indians, who dip
their arrow points in it. You can swallow a small dose of the poison
and it will not hurt you. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to
get this drug in this country. I only know one person who possesses a
small quantity of the poison."

"His name?" demanded Warren vehemently. "His name?" Then as Ward still
hesitated, "Good God! man, do you realize that an innocent life may be
sacrificed if you don't divulge his name!"

"It is that which induced me to come to you to-night, Senator," said
Ward reluctantly. "The only man I know who owns that drug is my
preceptor, Doctor John Boyd."

"Boyd!" shouted Warren. "Oh, preposterous!"

"That is what I thought--at first."

"Why, why, damn it, man!" exclaimed Warren. "Doctor John wouldn't do
such a thing. He is just a hot-tempered, peppery old Southern----"

"Exactly, sir, and has been accused of passing information through our
lines. Time and again he has been threatened with arrest."

Warren mopped his hot face; then dropped back into his chair. "Go ahead
and explain your theory more definitely," he directed abruptly.

"Doctor John is devoted to Miss Newton. I don't doubt he has assisted
her on many occasions--" Ward checked his hasty speech. He did not wish
to convince Warren that Nancy was a spy. _That_ would not be doing her
a service.

"Listen to me, Senator," he checked off his remarks on his fingers to
emphasize them. "Doctor John Boyd is the only person who has any curari
in this city--to that I am willing to swear. Miss Newton may have
confided to him that Lloyd suspected her of being a spy, and that she
fe