"Oh, no.I'm all right.I just want to have a talk with the doctor.Did you ever consult him?""Me?Oh, no, monsieur, I have no need of a doctor.I am never sick.I feel most excellent!" and certainly he looked it.There was a sparkle in his eyes - perhaps too brilliant a sparkle, but he did not look like a "dope fiend.""If you are in a hurry," went on the chauffeur, "I can - ""No, no hurry," responded the colonel."Why, do you feel like driving fast?""Very fast, monsieur.I always like to drive fast, only there is seldom call for it.Mr.Carwell, he at times would like speed, and again he was like the tortoise.But as for me - poof! What would you?" and he shrugged his shoulders and reverted to his own tongue.
"Hum," mused the colonel."Rather a different story from the garage man's.However, we shall see."Dr.Baird was in.In fact, being a very young doctor indeed, he was rather more in than out - too much in to suit his own inclination and pocketbook, for, as yet, the number of his patients was small.
"I did not come to see you for myself, professionally," said Colonel Ashley, as he took a seat in the office, and introduced himself."I am trying to establish, for the satisfaction of Miss Carwell, that her father was not a suicide, and - ""What else could it be?" asked Dr.Baird.
"I do not know.But I read with great interest the interview, you gave the Globe on the effects and detection of various poisons.""Yes?" and young Dr.Baird rubbed his hands in delight, and stroked his still younger moustache.
"Yes.And I called to ask what poison or chemical symbol that might be."The colonel extended a paper on which was inscribed: 58 C.H.- I6I*That! Hum, why that is not a chemical symbol at all!" promptly declared Dr.Baird.
"Are you sure?" "Positive."
"Could it be some formula for poison?"
"It could not.Of course that is not to say it could not be some person's private memorandum for some combination of elements.C might stand for carbon and H for hydrogen.But that would not make a poison in the ordinary accepted meaning of the term.I am sure you are mistaken if you think that is a chemical symbol.""I am sure, also," said the detective with a smile."I just wanted your opinion, that is all.Then those letters and figures would mean nothing to you?""Nothing at all.Wait though - "
Young Dr.Percy Baird looked at the slip again."No, it would mean nothing to me," he saidfinally.
"Thank you," said the colonel.
He came out of the physician's office to find Jean Forette calmly reading in his side of the car.The paper was put away at once, and with a whirr from the self-starter the motor throbbed.
"It there a free public library in town, Jean?" asked the detective."Yes, monsieur.
"Take me there."
The library was one built partly with the money donated by a celebrated millionaire, and contained a fair variety of books.To the main desk, behind which sat a pretty girl, marched Colonel Ashley.
"Have you any books on poisons?" he asked.
"Poisons?" She looked up at him, startled, a flush mantling her fair cheeks.
"Yes.Any works on poisons - a chemistry would do.""Oh, yes, we have books on poisons.I'll jot down the numbers for you.We have not many, I'm afraid.It is - it isn't a pleasant subject.""No, I imagine not."
She busied herself with the card index, and came back to him in a moment with a slip of paper.
"I'm sorry," said the pretty girl, "but we seem to have only one book onpoisons, and I'm afraid that isn't what you want.It is entitled 'Poisonous Plants of New Jersey,' and is one of the bulletins of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at New Brunswick.But it is out at present.Here is the number of it, and if it comes in - ""I should be glad to see it," interrupted the colonel pleasantly.
"Here is the number," and the pretty girl extended to him a slip which read:58 C.H - i6i*"What is the star for?" asked the colonel.
"It indicates that the book was donated by the state and was not purchased with the endowment appropriation," she informed him.
"And it is out now.I wonder if you could tell me who has it?" "Why, yes, sir.Just a moment."She looked at some more cards, and came back to him.She looked a bit disturbed.
"The book, `Poisonous Plants of New Jersey' was taken out by Miss Viola Carwell," said the girl.
