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Show Stories of Strange Cases Solved in Secret by a v y.;- i p Banker-Detective By Robert carlton brown. j H AT THE MANICURE SHOP Tl 11 P01''01 01 several weeks U Christopher Poe had enjoyed tbe I let-down of routine desk work. Ho had resumed his usual work-aday work-aday life after rounding up a band ot counterfeiters at Coney, and Hassify-lap Hassify-lap their histories in " olutnc H tor future referonoc. One Monday morning as he sat at 1 his desk opening mail, a chance, visitor 1 dropped in with ihc nlanmng news that u mutual friend, Boudinot higgs, was dead. "Boudinot dead'" cried Voo, .lump-ing .lump-ing up to throw a light outer coat over his thin office suit, cut Oxford stylo. 1 "I must co thero directly. ' 1 ''Poisoned, too. Dr. Robinson snys. Just met him on the way home to make AV a test of Boudinot 's gouty blood, said fbo informant, a fellow banker AV Christopher Poe waited for nothing else. Old Boudinot Eiggs was a distant relation, a tomporamental dilettante, sort of a fat, crown-up bad boj who had inherited a fondness for beauty AV ;lnd indolence, together with some- thing between throe and four million beautiful but not too indolent dollars which yielded money interest that Boudinot managed to keep very active, hemmed in as ho was by, a . household of women, including a kindly old de-pendent de-pendent who nursed him, a somewhat shrewish sister who despised mm, a voung lady secretary who took tno place of 'a business man's stenogra-phcr, stenogra-phcr, and a raft of interested outsiders, poor relatione, a ladv barber, a lady shirt-maker, a girl who sold him cig-arettes. cig-arettes. and a petite French manicure. Three of these dependents were most important in his hfo Mrs-Groves, Mrs-Groves, the nurse, because she moth-ered moth-ered him; Miss Biggs, his sister, bc- AW cause she bothered him, and Miss Mig- non Moquin, because she manicured the squat pink nails of which ho was very proud. Tii consideration of the HH arvinc degrees of his interest in those estimable ladies Boudinot had made a will, moro or less publicly, in which he left three million to Miss Mignon Mo-quiii. Mo-quiii. a half million to his faithful old nurse, and a thousand dollars oach to his expectant sister, who had no pri-vate pri-vate fortune, his secretary, his cook, and a littlo scullery maid who poj-ished poj-ished his boots each night and lctt tluni before his door each mornitig, after the English fashion. BAV It was this second maid who opened the door to Christopher Poe that after-noon after-noon of Boudinot's death. It -was M"rs. Groves, the nurse, red-eyed and trein-bling. trein-bling. who pressed Poo's hand with BAb sincere emotion and led. him to M"iss liiggs, who had just been called back B bv the news of her brother's death flj from Yonkor?, where she had gono on a visit that morning. J Poe took the cold hnnd Miss Riggs thrust out to him mechanically. "Isn't there something I cnu dot'-he dot'-he asked. AAh "No. everything is quite all right.- "But being Boudinot's friond and banker, I thought " AAA "'Ap for your being his banker,' she said, throwing up her head abruptly, "I'll attend to that after this. Porhaps rou don't know that Boudinot camo to his senses last, night, and changed my AH name for Miss Moquin 's in that silly will of his?" AA "No! " cripd Poe in surprise, gkinc- ing at Mrs. Groves, whose eves were so big and somber and pad as though with a concealed story, that Poe asked l sharplv, "Did vou Know of this?" AH The nervous, birdlike little woman looked straight at Wiss T?iggs, and said in s direct, level- tone: AAA "Tf vou hadn't slandered Miss Mo- quin and and driven him to it, he AAA wouldn't have done it. This morning when vou said vou wished he waB dead and slammed the door in his face, he asked mc to take him in his wheel-chair to Miss Moquin, so ho could sec if vou told the truth last nipht!" Hss Riggs drow up her thin, cordy ncrlc. and swallowed hard as hs. Groves paused before continuing in a higher l:nv: "Oh, I'm going to speak out now. I 'vo kopt quiet in this hell of a house 'one enough!" She trembled with cmo-i cmo-i ion. "T was the only one lhat over took care of him; T ?aw that his esgs were poached, .iust-so; I nursed him when his fool was so had he swore at everybody; I" ., . "And vou ro v.-e!I paid for it. snapped Miss Rigps in n voice that sounded like a ship in ,tho iaco. "Ho loft vou half Hjuillion. Mrs. Groves 's face had bunched iO-nother iO-nother in an agonized knit. " IJqw can vou tKlk like that, with him lying - m there!" she cried. "H isn't money J in speakiu" of. though God knows ho wouldnH. have Jctt mo a cent it he d listened to the things you said against inc. ' "You lie!" screamed Miss Risgs in tremulous rape. , "Miss rtiggs, ' put m Poe caluil. touchiiip hr softly on tno shoulder. "Your brbther," ho indicated the adjoining ad-joining room. "This will rest till later, when " . .... "Oh, t don't care about him. Vhat did he ever do for mc7" she burst out violently, a hysterical, dry sob ea-caping ea-caping hor. . ,, "Try to calm yourself. Miss Riggs. Poo put in softly, adding in a casual tono, "Have they -found yet what kind of poisou was used?" , L . 4:Poison!" Miss Eiggs numped to her feet, drew her arms down taut in an effort at self-control, her face went dead white, and she glanced quick y from Mrs. Groves to Poe, both watching watch-ing her keenly. . . "Well, what, kind of poison do they think it was, and who do yon think did it?" sho asked in a dry voice, each word an effort. , .,, "Oh, it hasn't gone that far," said tho banker in a concerned tone. 1 learned of it from a friend and stopped to sco Dr. Robinson before I camo here. Ho was making a tost of tho blood; said as fnr as ho'd gone all indications indica-tions pointed to prussic acid.' "Prussic acid!" cried Miss Riggs, and Mrs. Groves hovered closer, looking look-ing from one to the other with awed, hollow oyes. . , . . "Yes, three grains of winch, less than a drop, absorbed by tho blood will cause death," said Poo calmly, his oyes on the carpet, though ho saw Miss Riggs glance furtively at Mrs. Groves and her expression grow hard. "Then Miss Moquin disliked being cut out of the will?" -She forced a laugh, "Yon mean you think she-" "Either Miss Moquin or his nurse." Sho pointed an unsteady finger at Mrs. Groves. , .. "Oh. I'm sure you're quito ton wrought up by the announcement J made: I should have- been more thoughtful-." There was shrewdness in Poe's tone. Mrs. Groves put a timid hand on his arm, and asked tremulously: "Who do yon think did it, Mr. Fool" " , . , r i "My dear ladv, I onlv wish I knew, ' snid Poo vibrantly, adaintr: "o a'l wish we know, don't we, Miss Riggs? She replied sullenly: "T don't care who pois how Boudinot Boudi-not died, onlv if that, littlo French man-icuro man-icuro did it 'it would confirm my opinion opin-ion of her." "Whero is her place?" asked Poo casuallv. "Is sho near here?" "Ask Mrs. Groves; she generally wheeled him there," said Miss Biggs evasively, dropping her eyes Bullcniy as Poe looked at her. . "Not two blocks away, .iust at the corner, on Broadway." replied Mrs. Groves with eager promptness. Poo picked up his hat, Baying, If i can do anything, you will feel free to call on me, won't you. Miss Riggs? Tho pinch-nosed, aristocratic woman rose, and fixed her bcadliko oyes on "Tlicrc won't bo anything." Bhe said docldcdlv. "Boudinot will no burled at once, and I shall take my money and go to Europe to live tho rest of my lire, "I hope you may." said tbe banker, bowing. "Why shouldn't 17" , . , "Oh, tho state might make Inquiries, he turned to explain, "that Is, If Boudinot Boudi-not was really poisoned. That might detain you." 'T don't see how they could detain me." sho cried. "Why, I wasn't even here when he died." "But you hadn't left home moro than an hour or so before; when the state malccji nn Inquiry, It Is apt to want to keep track of everybody Immediately concerned, con-cerned, but I hope If there is an investigation investi-gation It will not trouble cither you or Mrs. Groves." As he stepped Into the hall, Mrs. Groves hovered solicitously near, and asked In an nwed whisper: "Would you liko to sec tho body?" "Not now: later, If J still, 1 rather think I would." Christopher Poc changed his mind abruptly, and stepped Into the room: As Ir. Ilobinson had already told him, there was not a Hinqle bodily Indication of how Boudinot Riggs had died; not a bruise, not a scratch. Whilo Mrs. Groves answered a coll to another part of the house, Poe made a hasty but minute examination ex-amination of the ONPosed skin, finding but little on which to base a vague theory forming In his mind. m Then, a worried look expressing Itself in the two though! fill grooves Joining his nostrils with the corners of his llpst, he left the house abruptly, and orossctl to Broadway, where, Horn a booth in a corner drug more, he culled up his friend Dr. Robinson, with whom ho sometimes worltcd. "Hello, this Is Poe." he said, on gel-tlnR gel-tlnR iho doelor at Ihc other end of the wire. "Found out for sure?" "Yes. no doubt at nil. Dilute hydrocyanic hydro-cyanic acid. I used the ammonia -ferrous sulphate test. Probably not more than three grains absorbed, I should say," came tho answer. "Do you think he drank It?" "No. There was no odor of It about his mouth, but tho blood shows it. I can't lmnglne how It was introduced. Thero wasn't a scratch on his body, as I told you." "Delay reporting It for two hours, will you? It may save some trouble to several sev-eral people." "On your say-so. of course, Poe. Got anything to work on?" "Not' much so far. Let's sec, it's1 about three o'clock now. Say alx-thlriy. Be at home then?" 1 "Yes. Come to dinner." "If I feel J can finish rind turn over the right person without outside help, I will; otherwise- I'll phone you. Good -bv. " Poe hung up the receiver and left the booth, stopping to liny a half dozen orangewood sticks at the counter Willie the druggist was waiting on him, Poe asked ir there was a manicure shop In the neighborhood. "Miss Moquln's on the opposite comer," the druggist nodded through his window. "The news stand is right In .front of It there. "I see. Thanks. The name, sounds French?" ho inlscd his brows quostlon-ingly. quostlon-ingly. "r Imagine she is. But I don't know. She doesn't come In here." His line of Inquiry being promptly cut off. Christopher Poe slipped his purchaso into a side pocket and strolled out. Me sauntered across the street, opening open-ing the 'package injils pocket as he went, and purposely jabbing himself in tho cuticle cuti-cle of the forefinger with one of the Bharp sticks jusi before entering the manicure parlor, which consisted of a single small room with a petite showcase of hair goods and toilet articles in front, and a Japanese screen across one corner, concealing a nook in which Miss Mignon Moquin held and manicured hands, gentlemen's preferred. pre-ferred. She stood behind hor showcase as Poe entered, a radiant little French woman, a coquette with a sprightly, fascinating manner. "What can I do for monsieur?" she said prettily, tripping forward, und gazing up Into his face with Ingenuous concern. "I'm needing a manicure badly, 1 guess," ho said, exhibiting his hand, none too soft and well cared for. "Oh. monsieur!" she gasped fetchinglv, "you do not treat ze little nails with respect. re-spect. You havu a hurt, too." She gazed at the finger-tips with intimate inti-mate personal concern, bringing them instinctively in-stinctively toward her lips as though she would kiss tho bruise; then letting them drop and starting back consciously, blushing blush-ing in practiced alarm. "Ah, monsieur, too busy, I suppose," she said, making hor mouth into a pretty little questioning zero and leaning toward him. "Come, sit down. Ze nails shall soon be better; zey shall recover." Sho led him gently by the arm. and helped him sit down as though she wero placing an egg-shell china teacup on a narrow plate rack in the dining room, "Now. monsieur," she said, taking his hand and giving It 6uch a gentle, concerned pressure pres-sure that Poe simulated -having succumbed suc-cumbed to her charm, and breathed soft- "You have a nice, comfortable little place hero. "Oh, sir, you aro so kind," she said, forgetting 'nor French for the momr-nt in remembering to blush delicatelv, like a pink poppy potal. Can you put these nails back in shape?" 1io asked. "You've quite alarmed me. I mustn't let them go so long again." "i ou shall see, monsieur. You must come often to have a manicure." She drew a pan full of water Irom a small coil heater in the corner, shaved some scented soap Into It. tested Its warmth with her little finger daintily, and then placed his left hand gently Into It. "Wc will leave zat hand cooking, monsieur, mon-sieur, while T prepare zls one. She lisped just the least bit. looking up at him with a sprightly smile, and extending extend-ing his fingers on her aproned knee. "There are littlo stains In the tiny cracks around your nail. I must use my little orange stick and ongoline to get liBfmMttiMi'1 fort able little place here." them out, monsieur, and then we will soak It, and pretty soon It shall act better, bet-ter, You will set a ha lie nail there It It Is not flxud."" She Indicated the bruise Poe had inflicted on himself. "I had a customer this morning with a bad one, but vours Is not so serious. It was most difficult to get zc stuln out for him; .ie cried with pain sometimes when the stick slipped, hut monsieur will be more-brave," more-brave," she said glibly, busily pushing back the hard i-u title about the bruised finger tip by means of her little yellow orange stick dipped In stain remover. "Ouch!" cried Poe. simulating distress as Mlsa Moquin slipped the stick carefully care-fully under thc cuticle "I won't be as brave as the fellow this morning If you keen that up." "Then put both hands over to cook, monsieur," she paid, placing the pan more conveniently. "1 cannot sec you suffer." "It I had a hang nail, too, I m afraid I'd be like tlml fellow you had this morning. Td holler!" "Oh, monsieur, like him!' she cried, her eyes drooping toward him languisn-lnglv. languisn-lnglv. "He Is fat and so funny, Monsieur Mon-sieur is different. The gentleman this morning was so nervous, Mo Jumped when I touched him: he was so excited he could '.lardly breathe, and his attendant at-tendant had to help him out of zo shop Into his wheel chair liko a baby. She put both hands on her knees and laughed. "Oh, he was so funny, gasping for brcatn like a fish when ho left and Jumping like a scared rabbit. Men are funny when thev have a little hurt, and I did not Mick him at all hard. And the ongoline does not burn. Men cannot bear pain! drooping her eyes at him again. "Yes. vou're right,' said Poe. Interrupting Inter-rupting her breezy chatter. "That reminds re-minds me; I want to buy a bottle of ongoline." ITc nodded toward the showcase show-case on thc other side of the screen. Miss Mo(Uln skipped to the front" to get the bottle, and Poc took advantage of thc half minute he had managed to be alone bv substituting two of the orangewood sticks h had bought for those Miss Mo-iuln Mo-iuln had left on the table before him. He also smclled hastily or her open bot-tie bot-tie of ongoline. When tho manicure returned, her customer cus-tomer had both hands soaking, and was looking placidly at a Japanese print on the wall. 'She gave Jilm the nottle. and went to work again deftly on his nails, tripping along with her 'ay little tongue from one subject to another, glibly. Poe, lindlng very little ot vital interest in what she had to nay. seemed impatient for the work to be niifshed, and when It was ho paid generously, complimented her and stepped Into tho street, stopping before the news stand to light a cigar and buy a paper from the boy proprietor. He slipped a half-dollar into the youngster's greasy palm, and turning his back to the manicure, mani-cure, window, t-oid softly: "Follow me around the corner: I want to apt'ak to you a minute, and you can keep the change." The hoy. true soldier of fortune, took his chance- unhesitatingly and followed to the hallway into which Poc had quickly turned. "There's a fat man comes 'most every day to tho manicure shop; sometimes with an old woman who '" "Yes, I know 'em," the boy interrupted. "He pays a nickel for his paper, and K'.vcur.s at the woman: sometimes sho wheels him here in a chair. He's got the gout." "That's ;t. Did you nee him this morn-!nr morn-!nr when entered tho Khop?" "Yen. He was pretty inad. I guess: red In the face and didn't recm to notice mo." "And vou f-aw him when he came out?" "Yes: "he was worse then. Something teemed to have happened to him. He couldn't get hln broatb. and his eyes stared. I wan waitin' to sell him the paper, an' I didn't want to mlFs me nickel. n T k'-n' tabs on him through thc window: win-dow: 'frald I'd mips him when he come t " "C'ould you the manicure table throueh the window from where you stood?" "Tes." "And did vou see n-ben man turnr1 Into tho passageway and Po pulled ' n bov a?lde. wbl?n-rln- ' -- i- rr the senfnee hi his ear. "Yp ! 1 seen her do it. I thought there ; was somethln' funny." The boy looked up suspiciously, and edged away, asking, "Wow'd you know about It?" "Never mind now." said Poe. "Get a bov (o watch your stand for the rest of" tho afternoon and I'll give you two dollars " "All right," said tho youngster promptly. , I Poe scribbled on thc back of an en- velope: , , , ! "Robinson Tost these sticks for mc Call me up at Riggs-s as soon as nn-Ishcd. nn-Ishcd. Keep the boy. P- Writing Dr. Robinson's addrefs on a Told of the note, he wrapped Miss Moquln's Mo-quln's orange-wood sticks In a dean handkerchief and gave them to thc boy with directions Then he hurried back to the Itiggs house bv thc most direct route. looking in thi gutter as he went. Having almost al-most reached the house and having found nothing, ho crossed the street and walked back slowly on the other side. Suddenly he stopped, and, glueing about lo nee that he was unobserved, sjcooped up In an empty cigarette box a scattering scat-tering of glass fragments. He smelled of the pieces, smiled, repeated sotlly, 'Peach kernels." put his tongue lo the moist JMirfaco of one bit of glass and said with satisfaction. "Bitter almonds. ' Then, squaring his broad shoulders, ho slipped the box Into his pocket, took a deep -breath, and walked briskly to the Rlggs house. , , There he was admitted by Miss Riggs hcifielf, who raised her eyebrows critically, crit-ically, and asked why he had returned. "To make sure that the woman who murdered Boudinot does not escape." he said in a direct tone. Mi.s Illggs went white and .stepped back, Mr?. Groves running down thc hall to' support her. She recovered Instantly, standing straight and stiff before the banker. m . , "What do vou mean? she demanriod through thin, trembly lips. "You have learned something?" "Everything." "But I did not do it. You're mad. she cried, turning on Mrs. Groves and pointing an accusing finger. "You mean she did it?" "Trv to calm yourself: I'll explain. Poe turned quickly to Mrs. Groves, and askeil: "Is there any ongoline in the house?" ",To. there Isn't!" cried MIsr Rlggs. her muscles taut. "Explain! What do you mean by accusing mo?" Mrs, Groves had slipped away silently at a significant signal from Poe. She returned with a plain bottle In her hand, while Miss Riggs wa hysterically demanding de-manding an explanation, Poc took the bottle from Mrs. Groves a dnser.". uncorked and smelled It. As ho was about to upeak, the phone rang and thc little second maid, who always al-ways shlned Uoudlnot'H shoes, camo forward for-ward to announce softly that Mr. Poe was wanted on the wire. The banker answered his call, recognizing thc voice of Dr. Robinson at thc other ""end. "So you found the sam acid on the orange-wood sticks?" he remarked. "Yes, pure prussic acid on one of them," continued the doctor. "Good. I'll dine with you" Poo paused to look at his watch, "in half an hour: about G;30." He hung up thc receiver, and returned to tho room where the two women awaited await-ed him, watching each other narrowly. "Mrs. Groves." said Poc, turning to tho nurse, and holding up the bottle she had brought him. "why is there no label on this bottle? I thought ongoline always camo in a container with an embossed label something like this?" Ho took from, his pocket the bottle he had purchased at Miss Moquin'?. Mrs. Grovca gasped for a reply, gagged, and glared at him with half-open mouth, unable to answer. Miss Rlggs rose from her chair and stepped to Poo'h tide. "Sho was the poisoner!" sho cried, leveling lev-eling a long, trembling, red-tipped finger p.t the old attendant, who.ue eyes grew suddenly small and sharp. like a rat'H. "Yes." answered Poe. "I suspected It from th moment I saw the hantrnail on Roiidlnot'c finger. You aro a clever pol-nnr. pol-nnr. Mr? rov and I on't bin in" ! for figuring that Miss Rlggs might have had your legacy of half a million reduced to a thousand, after her success In making mak-ing Boudinot change his bequest to Miss Moquin. Your only mistake was in keeping keep-ing this oncollne when you emptied the original bottle to fill it with prussic add." "What do you inclinV" crh-d. Miss" Mrs. Grovcfi. a hunted. Insane''' i In her oyes, crouched down, and s JWlJ in hor hvl pocket as though for a. ll0 kwrchlof. keeping her eyes ghnloU , i As the banker lurried to answer' No Rlggu. quid: as a flush the old att brought out her hand, mid Hung tin dJaVS tents of a vial straight at Poe's! W' he ducked Just In time: the nulphiirl struck and began eating ita way 1 FfiftV choice .lapane.ic tapestry which a lI Hie wall behind. She shot out of the room and : ricd up the sinlrn liko a cat. Miss .4' ih dashed to the door, screaming jft" llam, the butler. jffly er "Come! Where f her room?" ciiaJ leaping up the falairs. "She'll do 1 damage." Ho turned the angle j r top In lime to hoar a cras h behind i r at tin- left. Trying the knob, lie, it 1T0 It locked, and bracing his all ju, ri against It, managed to force it j T , too late to tavc thc woman's life;, jtua' Sho lay across a footstool, a LA wound In hor neck whero she hud j if a jugular vein with an insane the her sharp-pointed sowing shears. .j ut Poo shuddered and turned awaj slipped out through the bedroom a AWce Mies Rlggw was entering. Going j 0e downstairs he entered the telephone f . . net and got Dr. Roblnnon on thc (fill 1 "Doctor," he said, slowly, "j . .8, conic to dinner. You'd best corrii !B'. to Rlggs'a and make out a second wn 3 cerlltlcate. .Mrs. Groves hap com flr suicide In a frenzy at being found "Pound out! What do you rnear tiffr "It was she who bought the vnm o you found In Boudinot's blood and! tip of one of the orange-wood a f$j son! you." "But explain, what was the mot &m "Sufficient." said Poe. "Last , ns 1 Miss RigM worked on Boudino , stories about Miss Moquin. do MB0"1 true, from my own observatio iMjeii made a new will, changing his all ,r. position of elder legatee. Mrs. ; ml" trembled for her half million, It: M ou that Ml.s Rlggs hated hrr, probabl more or less cood reason To nmi Ml"1" Miss Rlggs wouldn't have hor cut 6 JA a a thousand, tho old lady carried t i shrewd .scheme she'd evidently; rtC!e out. some time before when Boudlri ,mx gunted her with his Trofnnlty and i ' . "What was it? How'd she d 110 insisted Dr. Robinson. hrcat tafo "Have you proofs?" "Yds. plenty. Thc boy I sent : with the oransro-wood sticks saw .it.. Groves through tho manicure sho dow this morning deftly substitulf tt R ongoline bottle filled with priifsh j for for the real 'bottle of stain rcmo. . tho manicurist's table. You see, is li" not had a. bad hangnail on Iho for , g of his left hand." c n. "Yes. I notlcod It. but didn't tt AIDE Important enough to mention to .y,!,, said Dr. Robinson, anxiously. ' -l "Naturally not. But that wa lltron; bruise through which the drop ot; ei.A was introduced lo Boudinot s blood 8 soe, Mrs. Groves often wheeled 3 iCnti to Miss Moquin's. and had watch clean with ongollnr' nud an orang beneath tho cuticle of bis nails." i"8im "Good Lord, man!" cried Dr. j. son. "You don't mean that she; , i out the fiendish scheme of h.ivit j n(. manicurist ai-tuallv Introduce thc-J 'm a hv dlppln--' hor oran.se-wood st)'-k lr . nubstltutcd bottle and sVnlng ther f deep Into ihc cnn-ks and pores . 'iron f.til linger nails, thinking wan onsnli: f "Thai's it cxactlv; It would tine si I blame on thc manlcurt.t If anythlnj .,, discovered vou see." said Poc. er astieally. ' "Mrs. Gro-.es replac pat? centime bottle of ongoline before iw-yfo so nobodv else would he killed-, thj threw the bottle of prussic lnBasw gntU'r on th way horn" with BoBiyjj gasoinc ffr breath and already dyK Graphically described by Ihf mar M : and th newsbov. T found thc phKpjt i class, recocnized bits of the oilgolB1'. . bel. and Identified the poison bv snisativ I xti .. l.n.l chnmA for ?n nTiflmi?-. onlv Plln 'he made was In thriftily: in 'a ola In bottle the ongoline slHW tr pour out to get the prussic ncwEr the right container so tiie manB w-ouldn't suspect.-' TMn (Copyright. HUG, by W. G. Ghaprravjj I (Next week: "in the Grocodlle'3 jytiut |