This Etext prepared by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer.
The Poisoned Pen by, Arthur B. Reeve(transcriber's note: these stories were first published in 1911-13)
CONTENTS
I THE POISONED PEN
II THE YEGGMAN
III THE GERM OF DEATH
IV THE FIREBUG
V THE CONFIDENCE KING
VI THE SAND-HOG
VII THE WHITE SLAVE
VIII THE FORGER
IX THE UNOFFICIAL SPY
X THE SMUGGLER
XI THE INVISIBLE RAY
XII THE CAMPAIGN GRAFTER
I
THE POISONED PEN
Kennedy's suit-case was lying open on the bed, and he was literallythrowing things into it from his chiffonier, as I entered after ahurried trip up-town from the Star office in response to an urgentmessage from him.
"Come, Walter," he cried, hastily stuffing in a package of cleanlaundry without taking off the wrapping-paper, "I've got yoursuit-case out. Pack up whatever you can in five minutes. We musttake the six o'clock train for Danbridge."
I did not wait to hear any more. The mere mention of the name ofthe quaint and quiet little Connecticut town was sufficient. ForDanbridge was on everybody's lips at that time. It was the sceneof the now famous Danbridge poisoning case - a brutal case in whichthe pretty little actress, Vera Lytton, had been the victim.
"I've been retained by Senator Adrian Willard," he called from hisroom, as I was busy packing in mine. The Willard family believethat that young Dr. Dixon is the victim of a conspiracy - or atleast Alma Willard does, which comes to the same thing, and - well,the senator called me up on long-distance and offered me anythingI would name in reason to take the case. Are you ready? Come on,then. We've simply got to make that train."
As we settled ourselves in the smoking-compartment of the Pullman,which for some reason or other we had to ourselves, Kennedy spokeagain for the first time since our frantic dash across the city tocatch the train.
"Now let us see, Walter," he began. "We've both read a good dealabout this case in the papers. Let's try to get our knowledge inan orderly shape before we tackle the actual case itself."
"Ever been in Danbridge?" I asked.
"Never," he replied. "What sort of place is it?"
"Mighty interesting," I answered; "a combination of old New Englandand new, of ancestors and factories, of wealth and poverty, andabove all it is interesting for its colony of New-Yorkers - whatshall I call it? - a literary-artistic-musical combination, I guess."
"Yes," he resumed, "I thought as much. Vera Lytton belonged to thecolony. A very talented girl, too - you remember her in 'The Tamingof the New Woman' last season? Well, to get back to the facts aswe know them at present.
"Here is a girl with a brilliant future on the stage discovered byher friend, Mrs. Boncour, in convulsions - practically insensible - with a bottle of headache-powder and a jar of ammonia on herdressing-table. Mrs. Boncour sends the maid for the nearest doctor,who happens to be a Dr. Waterworth. Meanwhile she tries to restoreMiss Lytton, but with no result. She smells the ammonia and thenjust tastes the headache-powder, a very foolish thing to do, for bythe time Dr. Waterworth arrives he has two patie