登陆注册
5422400000054

第54章

There was no one in the hall and Kent debated a moment whether or not to ring for the servant and ask to see Barbara, but, at sight of the hall table, Grimes' confidences recurred to him and drove everything else out of his mind.Stopping before the table he contemplated its smooth surface before moving the few ornaments it held.Satisfied that no pillbox stood behind any of them, he pulled open the two drawers and tumbled their contents about.His efforts only brought to light some half-empty cigarette boxes, matches, a scratch pad or two, and old visiting cards.

Kent shut the drawers, picked up his hat, and took his cane from the tall china umbrella-stand by the hall table.As he stepped through the front doorway he caught sight of the end of his cane, which he was carrying tucked under his arm.Fastened to the ferule of the cane was the round top of a paste-board pill box.

Kent backed so swiftly into the house again that his figure blocked the closing of the front door, which he had started to pull shut after him.Letting the door close gently he walked back to the umbrella stand.It was a tall heavy affair, and he had some difficulty in tipping it over and letting its contents spill on the floor.A soft exclamation escaped him as three little pellets rolled past him, and then came the bottom of a box.

With hasty fingers Kent picked them up, placed them in the box, and fitted on the top, first carefully smoothing over the hole made by his cane when thrust into the umbrella stand by the footman.

Replacing the stand he wrapped the box containing the pills in his handkerchief and hurried from the house.

Kent found the operative from Detective Headquarters sitting on duty in Rochester's living room when he entered that apartment a quarter of an hour later.

"Any one called here?" he asked, as the man, whom he had met the night before, greeted him.

"Not a soul, Mr.Kent." Nelson suppressed a yawn; his relief was late in coming, and he had had little sleep the night before.

"There's been no disturbance of any kind, not even a ring at the telephone."Kent considered a moment, then sat down by the telephone and gave a number to Central.

"That you, Sylvester?" he called into the mouth-piece."If Mrs.

Brewster comes to the office, telephone me at Mr.Rochester's apartment, Franklin 52.Don't let Mrs.Brewster leave until Ihave seen her."

"Yes, sir," came the reply, and Kent hung up the receiver.

"Had any luncheon?" he asked Nelson as the man loitered around.

"Not yet" - Nelson's eyes brightened at the word.It was long past his usual meal hour.

"Run down to the caf on the first floor and tell the head waiter to give you a square meal and charge it to me," Kent directed.

"Order something substantial; you must be used up."The man hung back."Thank you, Mr.Kent, but I don't like to leave here until my relief comes," he objected.

"That's all right, I'll stay in the apartment until you return,"and Kent settled the question by opening the door leading into the outer corridor."Ferguson will be around shortly, so hurry."Kent watched the man scurry toward the elevator shaft, then returned to Rochester's apartment and once more took up the telephone.The operative's reluctance to leave the apartment unguarded had altered his plans somewhat.

"Is this Dr.Stone's office?" he asked a moment later, as a faint "hello," came over the wire."Oh, doctor, this is Kent.Please come over to Rochester's apartment; I would like to consult you in regard to an important matter.You'll come now? Thanks."The doctor kept Kent waiting less than five minutes.The clock was striking one when he appeared, bland and smiling.Hardly waiting for him to select a seat Kent flung himself into a chair in front of Rochester's desk and laid the pill box on the writing pad.

"Now, doctor," he began, and his manner gained in seriousness, "what, in your opinion, killed Jimmie Turnbull?""The post-mortem examination proved that he had swallowed aconitine in sufficient quantity to cause death," Stone replied."He undoubtedly died from the effects of that poison.""Is aconitine difficult to procure?" asked Kent.

"It is often prescribed for fevers." Stone made himself comfortable in a near-by chair."Aconitine is the alkaloid of aconite.Ibelieve that in India it is frequently employed, not only for the destruction of wild beasts, but for criminal purposes.The India variety is known as the Bish poison."Kent started - Bish poison - was he never to get away from the letter "B"?

"Can you procure Bish in this country?" he asked.

Stone considered the question."You might be able to purchase it from some Hindoo residing or traveling in the United States," he said, after a pause." I doubt if you could buy it in a drug store."Kent heaved a sigh of relief as he hitched his chair closer to the physician.

"Did you prescribe a dose of aconitine for Mrs.Brewster recently?"he asked.

"I did, for an attack of rheumatic neuralgia." Stone eyed him curiously."What then, Kent?""Is this the box the medicine came in?" and Kent placed the cover in Stone's hand.

Stone turned the paste-board over and studied the defaced label.

"I cannot answer that question positively," he said."The label bears my name and that of the druggist, but the directions are missing.""But the number's on it," put in Kent swiftly."Come, Stone, call up the druggist, repeat the number to him, and ask if it calls for your aconitine prescription."Stone hesitated as if about to speak, then, reaching out his hand, he picked up the telephone and held a short conversation with the drug clerk of the Thompson Pharmacy.

"That is the box which contained the aconitine pills for Mrs.

Brewster," he said, when he had replaced the telephone."Now, Kent, I have secured the information you wished; kindly tell me your reasons for desiring it."It was Kent's turn to hesitate."Do you know many instances where aconitine was used by murderers?" he questioned.

同类推荐
  • 清庵莹蟾子语录

    清庵莹蟾子语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 早春夜宴

    早春夜宴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 咏怀

    咏怀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 漫作

    漫作

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 本草择要纲目

    本草择要纲目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 大宫女

    大宫女

    宫女女强文!女主绝非宫中善类,成长型!她曾立誓【即使是一粒尘埃,我也要写下它的历史。即使是做一个老死的大宫女,我也要写下长孙清的历史。】入于宫,死于宫,葬于宫,魂归宫。喝下绝孕药,断了鸾凤梦。她们从此便是-------大宫女!长孙清,壅圣王朝时期,大宫女的代表人物。历史曾评价她是一个出色政治家,权术家,一个比太后还要有权的-----大宫女!她,先后侍奉了二代君王,为壅圣帝指点江山,辅佐新帝登基,且守下这一片疆土!这样的女子,乃是当时的风云人物。野史也曾暗自猜测,更记载:她是壅圣帝独宠一生的女子,是亘古一帝的生母。野史也记载,这个颇受争议的女子,她以双手血洗整个后宫女子,且霸天下,独天下。。。实则。。。。。。长孙清,她是个。。。。。。【此文,女主穿越,但绝非善类!!但结局。。。。。。】强力推荐_____随意风优选宫廷文风风处女文<废后重生>己完结风风的连载文(大宫女)连载中风风的新文<替妃洞房>更新中友情链接老友黙白的新文:《圈宠三夫》风恋音的文文:《乱世极宠》老公的新文:《皇后白胖胖》小白的文哦:《爆妃五号》清和的新文:《低调二手妻》
  • 狂拽摄政王,霸宠太子殿下

    狂拽摄政王,霸宠太子殿下

    【那些年,摄政王与太子殿下不得不说的两三事】凤二爷,战功赫赫威风凛凛的摄政王,邪魅狂狷,样样都好,就是有一样——断袖。坊间皆传摄政王府中有一男宠,凤二爷甚至为了他忤逆当今圣上!对此,凤二爷置若罔闻,“我堂堂摄政王,爱宠谁宠谁,干你屁事?”她给他世间绝宠,却仅仅是因为狼狈孤寂的他像极了当年还是小乞儿的她。谁知,一场刺杀,她身陷囹圄,一个高大的身影坚决地护她在身后,“别怕,有我。”纳尼?眼前这个三观极正、冷酷坚毅的男人还是那个乖巧的小绵羊男宠吗?好,兜兜转转,原来生活如戏,全靠演技!她,女扮男装,肆意人生。他,扮猪吃虎,悠哉度日。
  • 穿越网王之落花如雪乱

    穿越网王之落花如雪乱

    一朝穿越,遇到自己的意中人,没有浪漫邂逅,没有罗曼蒂克的情书,可是为什么她就是一心一意栽在了他身上呢?(片段一)“你何必让自己爱的这么辛苦?放弃不好么?”,“因为啊,放弃,会更痛”(片段二)“喂,帅哥,这里有人坐么?”美女搭讪,却换来一句:“滚……”「皓月亭·文学社」(各位宝贝放心订阅,本文结局大喜哦~)mua一个!
  • 玉容娇

    玉容娇

    中原大地,群雄逐鹿,波谲云诡。赵国公主玉涵天资聪慧,倾国倾城,号称中原第一美人。她及笄之年,萨满法师的预言响彻天际:“得此女者,得天下。”爱情与权谋、争夺与较量,皆因美人而起……?如涵读者群:258323069作者颜值、坑品皆有保障,擅长卖萌撒娇打滚,欢迎来撩!作者菌已有实体书出版,《玉容娇》堂主以上粉丝,有实体签名书赠送,另附美照一张。特别说明:这是架空文,不要考证朝代,文中的朝代不是历史上的任何朝代。?
  • 祭张公洞二首

    祭张公洞二首

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 艾泽拉斯之第六位上古之神

    艾泽拉斯之第六位上古之神

    萨拉艾尔:“我的目标只有一个——扭曲这个世界!”【随缘更新了解一下】
  • 强娶:boss只爱再婚妻

    强娶:boss只爱再婚妻

    寄人篱下,夏若希备受欺凌,处处忍让,她只想安安静静的等到男友留学归来。却不料,那渣男竟用自己的血汗钱跟别人结了婚。她的人生第一次陷入了绝望。不料慕子皓突然出现,陪着她,保护她,使她走出阴影。一枚戒指一次求婚,就让她稀里糊涂的答应婚事。单纯的她,面对居心叵测的婆婆,深不可测的公公,野心勃勃的大哥,刁蛮骄横的小姑,还有痴心她人的丈夫,心力交瘁却依旧坚持,他却在这时候用一句假结婚让她完全坠入谷底,他所谓的结婚,竟只是他继承公司的跳板,更是在为了他娶回初恋铺路!一气之下,夏若希签下离婚协议书,离开了伤心地。本以为噩梦就此结束,没想到三年后,他再度出现,打破她好不容易恢复平静的生活……
  • 庶女狂妃:神医炼丹师

    庶女狂妃:神医炼丹师

    “林青衣,你已经被包围了,只要你肯将你手中的H毒剂配方交出来,我可以保证你不会受到任何伤害!……
  • 美女总裁的全能高手

    美女总裁的全能高手

    超级高手混迹花都,懂医术,会武术,看他如何横行都市,谱写传奇!——读者群:623988408
  • 最牛主播修仙系统

    最牛主播修仙系统

    少年主播,穿越异界,亿万水友出谋划策,神秘系统硬刚异界文明,财富美女尽入怀中!千域万族听我号令!神魔奇域、诸天法界,任我遨游!