"There, now, until I happened to run across that in one of the authorities I had supposed the symmetrical contraction of the pupils of the eyes to be the distinguishing symptom of morphine poisoning Professor Kennedy, in my opinion we can, after all, make out our case as one of morphine poisoning.""Is that case in the book all you base your opinion on?" asked Craig with excessive politeness.
"Yes, sir," replied the doctor reluctantly.
"Well," said Kennedy quietly, "if you will investigate that case quoted from Professor Taylor, you will find that it has been proved that the patient had one glass eye""Then my contention collapses and she was not poisoned?""No, I do not say that.All I say is that expert testimony would refute us as far as we have gone.But if you will let me make a few tests of my own I can readily clear up that end of the case, I now feel sure.Let me take these samples to my laboratory."I was surprised when we ran into Inspector O'Connor waiting for us in the corridor of the Criminal Courts Building as we left the office of the coroner's physician.He rushed up to Kennedy and shoved into his hand a pill-box in which six capsules rattled.
Kennedy narrowly inspected the box, opened it, and looked thoughtfully at the six white capsules lying so innocently within.
"One of these capsules would have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to 'John,'" said Craig contemplatively, as he shut the box and deposited it carefully in his inside vest pocket."I don't believe I even said good morning to you, O'Connor," he continued."I hope I haven't kept you waiting here long.Have you obtained the samples of ink?""Yes, Professor.Here they are.As soon as you telephoned this morning I sent my men out separately to get them.There's the ink from the druggist, this is from the Vandam library, this is from Farrington's room, and this is from Mrs.Popper's apartment.""Thank you, Inspector.I don't know what I'd do without your help," said Kennedy, eagerly taking four small vials from him.
"Science is all right, but organisation enables science to work quickly.And quickness is the essence of this case."During the afternoon Kennedy was very busy in his laboratory, where I found him that night after my hurried dinner, from which he was absent.
"What, is it after dinner-time?" he exclaimed, holding up a glass beaker and watching the reaction of something he poured into it from a test-tube.
"Craig, I believe that when you are absorbed in a case, you would rather work than eat.Did you have any lunch after I left you?""I don't think so," he replied, regarding the beaker and not his answer."Now, Walter, old fellow, I don't want you to be offended with me, but really I can work better if you don't constantly remind me of such things as eating and sleeping.Say, do you want to help me--really""Certainly.I am as interested in the case as you are, but Ican't make heads or tails of it," I replied.
"Then, I wish you would look up Mrs.Popper to-night and have a private seance with her.What I want you to do particularly is to get a good idea of the looks of the room in which she is accustomed to work.I'm going to duplicate it here in my laboratory as nearly as possible.Then I want you to arrange with her for a private 'circle' here to-morrow night.Tell her it is with a few professors at the university who are interested in psychical research and that Mr.Vandam will be present.I'd rather have her come willingly than to force her to come.
Incidentally watch that manager of hers, Farrington.By all means he must accompany her."That evening I dropped casually in on Mrs.Popper.She was a woman of great brilliance and delicacy, both in her physical and mental perceptions, of exceptional vivacity and cleverness.She must have studied me more closely than I was aware of, for Ibelieve she relied on diverting my attention whenever she desired to produce one of her really wonderful results.Needless to say, I was completely mystified by her performance.She did spirit writing that would have done credit to the immortal Slade, told me a lot of things that were true, and many more that were unverifiable or hopelessly vague.It was really worth much more than the price, and I did not need to feign the interest necessary to get her terms for a circle in the laboratory.
Of course I had to make the terms with Farrington.The first glance aroused my suspicions of him.He was shifty-eyed, and his face had a hard and mercenary look.In spite of, perhaps rather because of, my repugnance we quickly came to an agreement, and as I left the apartment I mentally resolved to keep my eye on him.
Craig came in late, having been engaged in his chemical analyses all the evening.From his manner I inferred that they had been satisfactory, and he seemed much gratified when I told him that Ihad arranged successfully for the seance and that Farrington would accompany the medium.
As we were talking over the case a messenger arrived with a note from O'Connor.It was written with his usual brevity: "Have just found from servants that Farrington and Mrs.P.have key to Vandam house.Wish I had known it before.House shadowed.No one has entered or left it to-night."Craig looked at his watch.It was a quarter after one."The ghost won't walk to-night, Walter," he said as he entered his bedroom for a much-needed rest."I guess I was right after all in getting the capsules as soon as possible.The ghost must have flitted unobserved in there this morning directly after the maid brought them back from the druggist."Again, the next morning, he had me out of bed bright and early.
As we descended from the Sixth Avenue "L," he led me into a peculiar little shop in the shadow of the "L" structure.He entered as though he knew the place well; but, then, that air of assurance was Kennedy's stock in trade and sat very well on him.
