The clean, fresh sun was shining in through the windows of Colonel Ashley's room at The Haven when he awakened the next morning.As he sprang up and made ready for his bath he called toward the next apartment:
"Are you up, Jack?"
"Just getting.Any rush?"
"Well, I think this may be our busy day, and again it may not.Better tumble out."Just as you say.How you feeling, Colonel?" "Never better.I feel just like fishing, and you - " "'Nough said.I'm with you."And then, as he started toward his bath, the colonel saw a dirty slip of paper under the door of his room.
"Ha!" he ejaculated."Another printed message.The writer is getting impatient.I think it's time to act."And he read:
"Why does not the great detective arrest the poisoner of herfather? If he will look behind the book case he will find something that will prove everything - the poison book and - something else."The printed scrawl was signed: "Justice.""Well, 'Justice,' I'll do as you say, for once," said the colonel softly, and there was a grim smile on his face.
And so it came about that after his bath and a breakfast Colonel Ashley, winking mysteriously to Jack Young, indicated to his helper that he was wanted in the library.
"What is it?" asked Jack, when they were alone in the room."A newclew?"
"No, just a blind trail, but I want to clean it up.Help me move out some of the bookcases.""Good night! Some job! Are you looking for a secret passage, or is there a body concealed here?" and Jack laughed as he took hold of some of the heavy furniture and helped the colonel move it.
Not until they had lifted out the third massive case of volumes was their search successful.There was a little thud, as though something had fallen to the floor, and, looking, the colonel said:
"I have it."
He reached in and brought out a thin volume.Its title page was inscribed "The Poisonous Plants of New Jersey."Something was in the book - something more bulky than a mere marker; and, opening the slender volume at page 4, a spray of dried leaves and some thin, whitish roots were disclosed.
"Somebody trying to press wild flowers?" asked Jack."Why all this trouble for that? Hum! Doesn't smell like violets," he added, as he picked up the spray of leaves and roots.
"No, it doesn't," agreed the colonel."But if you are not a little careful in handling it you'll be a fit subject for a bunch of violets - tied with crepe.""You mean - "
Jack was startled, and he dropped the dried leaves on the library floor."A specimen of the water hemlock," went on the colonel."One of thedeadliest poisons of the plant world.And as we don't want any one else to suffer the fate of Socrates, I'll put this away."He looked at the compound leaves, the dried flowers, small, hut growing in the characteristic large umbels, and at the cluster of fleshy roots, though now pressed flat, and noted the hollow stems of the plant itself.The bunch of what had been verdure once had made a greenish, yellow stain in the book, which, as the colonel noted, was from the local public library, and bore the catalogue number 58 C.H.- I6I*.
"Well, maybe you see through it, but I don't," confessed Jack."Now, what's the next move?""Get these book cases back where they belong."This was done, and then the colonel, sitting down to rest, for the labor was not slight, went on:
"You are sure that the French chauffeur has been told that The Haven is to be closed, and that he will be no longer required here, nor in the city? That he must leave at once though his month is not up?""Oh, yes, I heard Miss Viola tell him that herself.She told me she didn't see why you wanted that done, but as you had charge of the case the house would be closed, even if they had to open it again, for they stay here until late in the fall, you know.
"Yes, I know.Then you are sure Forette thinks they are all going away and that he will have to go, too?""Oh, yes, he's all packed.Been paid off, too, I believe, for he was sporting a roll of bills.""And he is to see Mazi - when?" "This evening.""Very good.Now I don't want you to let him out of your sight.Stick to him like a life insurance agent on the trail of a prospect.Don't let him suspect, of course, but follow him when he goes to see the pretty little French girl to-night, and stay within call.""Very good.Is that all?" "For now, yes.""What are you going to do, Colonel?"
"Me? I'm going fishing.I haven't thrown a line in over a week, and I'm afraid I'll forget how.Yes, I'm going fishing, but I'll see you some time to-night."And a little later Shag was electrified by his master's call: "Get things ready!""Good lan' ob massy, Colonel, sah!Are we suah gwine fishin'?" "That's what we are, Shag.Lively, boy!"I'se runnin', sah, dat's whut I'se doin'! I'se runnin'!" And Shag's hands fairly trembled with eagerness, while the colonel, opening a little green book, read:
"Of recreation there is noneSo free as fishing is alone;Allother pastimes do no less Than mind and body both possess; My hand alone my work can do, So I can fish and study too!""Old Isaac never wrote a truer word than that!" chuckled the colonel."And now for a little studying."And presently he was beside a quiet stream.
Luck was with the colonel and Shag that day, for when they returned to The Haven the creel carried by the colored man squeaked at its willow corners, for it bore a goodly mess of fish.
"Oh, Colonel, I've been so anxious to see you!" exclaimed Viola, when the detective greeted her after he had directed Shag to take the fish to the kitchen.
"Sorry I delayed so long afield," he answered with a gallant bow."But the sport was too good to leave.What is it, my dear? Has anything happened?" Her face was anxious.
"Well, not exactly happened," she answered; "but I don't know what it means.And it seems so terrible! Look.I just discovered this - or rather, it was handed to me by one of the maids a little while ago," and she held out the postal from the library, telling of the overdue book.
