THE STORYTELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3213, 28 January 1893, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE STORYTELLER.

CLUE OF THE ARAB JAVEIIK

By lleadon Hill.

I am told by Sebastian that he intends to include the story of the Arab Javelin in the collection of curious eases which he is compiling. In asking me for information wherewith to refresh his memory on certain technical points, he hinted that, as I attended Mrs Lambart professionally, and the main issue being to a .great extent' medical, it would be well if I wore to write the story in my own words.] I have no 'objection to take this course; indeed. 1 hail with satisfaction the opportunity of explaining'conduct on my part which has' been described by rival practitioners as unprofessional. In other respects, too, the story will come better from me; fori was familiar with the circumstances which surrounded my, unhappy' patient long before the occurrence which brought Zarnbra on the scene to furnish its solution with such startling rapidity. Burthorpe Hall, where the incidents to be ] elated took place, lies some two miles from Lanchester —the bustling county town in which I have been established thirty years.- There aro otlierl medical men'in Lanchester, but without vanity, I may. say that— j deserved or uiidesorved—my prac. tice is as large as that of all the rest combined, and extends for a considerable distance into tlio charming country districts which surround this busy'centre, It was in the exercise of ray profession, that I first visited Burthorpe Hall.

The fine old mansion was in . the possession of a Captain Lambart, who had recently inherited it from his father while absont campaigning in Egypt., On his return he camo to resido at the Hall, bringing with him a young wife, for whom he showed great Attachment, and who Jirtf? brotifflit Jiim, so it was rumoured in tiio neiglibouvbood, nothing but her beauty in return.

Of this lady I knew nothjng till I was called upon to attend her as a patient. With Captain Lambart himself, however, I had some slight acquaintance, andasan old resident, I was thoroughly familiar with his family history, This was not en r tirelva pleasing record. Old Mr Lambart had been a wealcmimledbut headstrong—man who had indulged in foolish speculations to such an extent that he left his property in a terribly encumbered state. This was the moro unfortunate as liis son—the Captain—liad himself become involved during service in an expensive regiment, and for years had only managed to keep afloat on the strength of expectations thus destined to be' disappointed. If, was common talk in Lanchester that Captain Lambart's only chance of retrieving his fortunes lay in a rich marriage; hence the gonoral surprise when it" became known that' his wife was penniless. It was on an afternoon in June that I was .first'sum'mmied to Burtliorpe Hall. As'l' drove up the avenue to the hoiiso I jould not help sympathising with its owner 111 being, ostensibly the proprietor of such a typical country seat, and' yet ' so hampered by his own and his father's: debts as to be in immiifynt danger of losing it. A local doctor knows everything, 1 and I was well aware that every day hastened the date' when the'principal 'mortgagee —aieading Lanchester solicitorwould foreclose, and send the Lambarts adrift into the world. And 1 yet there were' no signs of. decaying fortunes about the place; the gardens were neat.' and trim, the drive had been freshly gravelled, and I saw several men at work upon : the lawn. The desperate period had evidently not been reached when ready money fails. Captain Lambart; met me at the front door, and led; me into hia cosy smoking den oh the groiind floor—a pleasant room decorated with trophies from the Soudan and Egyptian campagns. I had' not seen hird since his return, and"T was astonished at tho change in'his appearaiice. His dress was as careful, and his deportment as coolly self-possessed, as when he haid been a gay, and none tob strait-laced, bachelor, but there was a look in his eyes which 1 , to a doctor, told tales of nervous excitement- The anxiety, of having a sick'wife coming on the top of his other troubles had beeu too' much for him, I thought! "My wife is very ill, I am afraid," he began at once after the first greetings. "She swooned off during breakfast this morning, and since then she has had three fainting fits. I am ; greatly worried I about her."

" Have you any ' idea as to the cause of the seizure ?" I asked. "Well," said the Captain hesitating a littlo, "we had a slight qiiririel tills morning oii the arrival of the post. To be frank wjtti y ou i I am somewhait in difficulties, nnd I received a letter from ft la% 'to whom I was once' engaged, and »ho was in ignorance of my marriage. I expressed discontent that my wifo had not brought me the wealth wliich I should have secured had I married my correspondent,' and 1 my foolish remark riatiirally upset Mrs Lambart." Tii.flre was something in Captain Lamhart's manner which mode me fsl that his fninkuoas wasassmuod .because he knew that it would be useless to try to hide the cause of EiFwife's ailmeut, as she would

probably tell me herself. The confession was dragged from him, as it were

"Well," I said, " I had hotter 860 her at once, if you please. It is possible that the trouble may be only hysterica 1." v A footmim conducted me to the morning room, where I found Mr? Lambart lying 1 upon a sola attended by lier maid. Tho beautiful features of the youug wife were deadly pale, arid her two hands were pressed tightly to tho left side, in a manner which at'.ouco le'd me to. suspectthe seat of mischief. Applying'the siethoscope to the region of .(lie 1 heart, .1 heard unmistakable soriilds which pointed to incipient cardiac'affection'of a 'grave kind, thpiigli by no means so far gone as to be'lifiyohil ciire." Mrs, Lambert fulfilled what 1 supposed was the' Captain's expectation, , and confided to me that lier husband had "made liei- ill" by unkindly regretting that ho had not married a richer woman. I 'did'my best to soothe her l>y saying that she would not have felt it so-much had she not been 1 - in,a weakstale, which I was sur'e ! \vould quickly: puss away under my treatment. Miming to the smoking room, I told Captain Lambart' the fact .of the case, adding the assurance that the medicine I would send; would soon : effect an improvement lie professed himself deoply gratified, and 1 turned t6 go, proiinsing'to pay' another visit on the following day. Before'finally taking my leave, I impressed upon Captain Lambart the necessity for using extreme care in the use of the mixture 1 was about to send. Properly'administered it was a valuable remedy, but the slightest overdose'"nii&lit' he followed bv • fatal consiliences from the, poisonous natut'c of the drug. With grpat eagerness he promised that my instructions should he obeyed.: As soon as I reached my surgery. 1 coihpoiiiuled a strong' tincture of strophantus—the newly-discbvkred remedy for diseases of the heart--and, placing it ,in properly-gradu-ated bottle, I despatched it l»v special mcs^•engel , to JJiirtliorpe Hall, fully expecting to find ;i change for t,).e better in, mv'patient at niy next visit.' Instead of ilia't', at "eight o'clock next morning T received r a' peremptory .'summons-' to Burthorpe Hall,, accompanied by the startling intelligence that Mrs Lambart was dead.

Within half a lititirT was standing in the death chamber over all tlmt remained of Captain Lambert's young wife. Tlic bereaved husband was not present, liaying sent, ah intimation that lie would join" me after I made the necessary examination. I had hardly commenced the mournful duty when .soiii'etliii'ig n'tiriiiiteil my attention "which caused me to gnuc wildly round the room in search of the medicine I liad'suiit; Hiirry-' iug to a dressing-table, wh'ere the bottle stood, I saw at, a'glan'ce tli.af, my first dread was unfounded. Only 'one dose of tl'ie drug' had been administered—that which it was right and; proper should; have been given on the previous everiiii'g.- Anil yet the blue at'the extremities, coupled with the almost entire hbs'onco of rigidity, was: in 'ifccohlaiic'e' frith, strophantus'' with death 7rbm naturalcauses! : The longer I looked the more coiivinceil I became that' Mrs Jj'ttiiibiirt. had' died fro'ni the'effdits 'of thc'incdicine I liaU^ln's' , lieiy only t'aicen in' siich a qiiaiitity tliat it became'a poison instead of a remedy, liut there• was'the evidence of.the bottle'to promptly refute this theory.' The liquid l still 'reached to the top nick'but One in the graduated glass, and tlie'aiiiouht ihissing could not possibly have wrought, tjie, injury. The niaid told me that' her, mistress had tfiken the one dose on the previous evening, and' had-retired to: rest feeling somewhat'better: : The "household, 'bow'ever, had '.bceri !! rousoii' by' the Captain at ; 'an 1 early' hour;t? render assistance,' Mrs "Lambart having, been seized with another fainting- fit." Everything possible was l done' to .restore her, but 'witlibut success ; and tlie'inlstress of tlie 'Mall had , died Mil her husband's arliis' withemt regain-, ing consciousness. Tailing with me the bottle of.medicine, I sought Captain Lambart, whom'l found, as usual, in thesiuolc-' ing room. Hislia'ggafd'alid*'dejected air showcd a shock 1 lie had received, and I cut my condolences as. short as possible, fearing to increase the nervous depression from which he was suffering.' He seemed anxious to lie left alone, and, after tliaiilcing me,' asked abruptly:

" You will write out the usual certificate'before yon'lenve?" " I will send it from Lanehester," I replied. '• I aril not quite satisfied witli tlie action of the medicine I presented, and 1 wish' to'cxamiiie the bottle liefnrc certifying to'the cause of death.'"

" All, quite so," lie said—rather mildly' I though cdn'sidorii'.ir tlio nature of'my statement; ''r am' sure you did your liost. for her, though, doefdr. Yoii will find that, there lias been nothing' that could have been prevented,! expect."

Pondering deeply on the events of the 1 moaning, 1 : made my ■ way' back 1 to Lnnchestlsr 'as arid shut myself 1 into my. 'snrgerK The" fill-important'' question which wiis agitating my mind was whether tho strophantus'in tlic bottle'was - of the sam'e strength as when it left' my hands'. Should 'it' show si.^ns"of much t.li:it' t w:Vs pur// jiflir nirt'ivonlil'lieriearbtl up, though lliuro would still remain' i-lsu pi'oblein of'tracing the person who MPtlin^

attempted to conceal tlift deficiency caused l>v administering the overdose.

I poured (lib remaining; fluid into a dish, and, after applying 'he usual test, anxiously- watched tlio result, I had not long to wait. I was proved conclusively to my satisfaction that the drug was of precisely the same strength as when I had compounded it, and that the bottle had not beon tampered with. There was really no course open to me, but to accept, the fact that I had been wrong iu uiy diagnosis of the symptoms I hud noticed in the body. Stro'phanthus was a' comparatively new! drug, arid it was possible, 1 thought, that the 'effect of the 'remedy, combined with existing heart disease, had produced the same symptoms as would have been bniilght about by a poisonous dose. At'aiuy rate I, saw no reason for furtlier with-holding a certificate, and 'I wrote one out at once in accordance with my latest theory, saying that death had' been icaused by •failtiro of the heart's action'. This I sent;by special messenger to Burthoi'pe 'Hall before starting 'on niy usual round. .. i-

Itj was uot till after luncheon thatmy mind was free to revert to the case of Mrs Lambart. - Then, in the seclusion of my study,' I took, down all the accepted authorities on heart' diseasb, and also on poisons,' with a view to gaining fresh light oir the curidus symptoms I had noted.' It would be tedious to recapitulate) the heads of the exhaustive search I made,'but the result was briefly that! became convinced that tiie blue'tinge in the extremities and the want of rigidity woro duo who 'v and .entirely to the action of the drug, and not in the least degree ;o the complaint from which tlio patient had : been suffering. And yet'l knew, both from previous experience and from the regular formula, thatthe dose I had given was not a killing' dose, and could not of itself account for'the appoarances I hud seen. ; . . •

Ev'ory medical man is loth In allowj the idea of foul play to lay hold of him in the absence of positive proof, and hern I was confronted .-ittho outset with what might have seemed to any reasoning mind to bo proof positive to the contrary.. For, hovrovor desirous any person at Etirthorpe Hall might have been «>f poisoning Mrs Lambert, be or she could not have [jroenred the strophantus necessary to supplement the :one dose that had been properly administered from the bottle. It is a drug which no chemist will supply without a prescription front a properly qualified practitioner, and no other doctor had been near Mrs Lambart. Moreover,' ! had carefully abstained from mentioning the littmo of the medicine to anyone, so that had there been any wish to pfocuro a further supply with a' view to an overdose, the 'ignovaflce Of' wlmt to ask for would have rendered this impossible:

Convinced that I was involved in a mystery ofSvliich a solution was, demanded of iiie, as well as by my duty to my dead'patient as to my profession,' a sudden : inspiration; | seized hie." I would seiid'for'Sebas-', tianZanibri, the scientific dotbctive/' of whoso marvellous ' disicoverios T ; had heard so much. The case seemed eminently one in which the 1 aid of detective science should be enlist'ed, and I waited with- impatience a reply to the telegram-in whicli I requested Zambra'Simmeiliate presence in Lanchester.' ■ AVithi n an'hWl received • the- welcome news 'that he would be with me the sameWening. ' ' ' ' : . .'i'he last London train was'due tic ten-o'clock. A little after that hour, I'was sitting in my study alone, wheu!the servant announced:

■' " Doctor Porter, from London, to seeyiuj sir."... The moment the door was closed, my visitor revealed himself in one .brief Sentence: , »l am Zambra,' he said, advancing into the lamplight, and holding out his hand. I bade him welcome, and lio took 'the bHair opposite. His appearance was "that of a grave,' middle-aged consiilting pliysicinu, and lie quickly explained that that, was i tho character which 1 lie fehouii) : assume '' while undor my roof. The portly figure, professional broad cloth, rosy, smooth shaveu face, and double; ,wer« all iu keeping, with the assumption. ■ r • - ( , .".I'am never Zambra except to' my clients aud my employers," he told me afterwards when! complimented him on his disguiao. 1 ■'" And now, Dr. .Mlance," he said, wlien I had arranged for his rather bulky portmanteau' to be put in a bedroom, " it is for me to listen and fdr you to speak—as fully as you - can, please. l ? rom .your.- mannijfl should imagine that the case is a seVio'iis one—poison, eh ?".

" You are right," I said,'' though j so far,'l can see no mimler in it," and I proceeded to relato in detail the'whole'hiaiory of Mrs Lam'bari's iilness'aud death, just as I have sot it down'here; v '

Zuhi'bVa r fixed his' eyes'on 1 miiie'j and heVe'v" ini'ved till I '.eoiiclude| my niuVativo with aiiallusiun io the Oapiaili's lipiithotic reception of the statement .that the. action of-the medicine had not been satisfactory. "Sti'ango!" the .detective'- said, " onewoiild have expected: iudignation, 1 or at least; curiosity" If there was the. medieiiie the .doctor would, prima facie bo held 'bhim'owortliy." i . ' '' T ti/i t 1 st rue It 1 rao 1 'a u' : th'e 1: ti in Iremarked; > .si; <■ -v.-.

: " This lady 'was •' no 6 wealthy in her own right?' 1 ' ■ ' " Quite the .reverse," : < - * i : "Is 1 it pofesiblo thaf. li6r lifri 'was 'life'aviiy insured ?" uaked" 0 2$nb f r£ !

as blandly as if the question did not imply a terrible accusation. " I ennnot say," I replied,' but ihfttyou will easily discover. Surely though, you have adoptod a rather s:artlmg theory very quickly."' Zambra smiled. '\l "enerully do," he said,'" but I drop tiumi as quickly if Hind my theories wroug, At present I can't »et over his hot blowing yon up about the medicine, Now tell me—you aro. positive you did not mention the'word strophantints to the husliand 1" I can swear that I did not." " Did you have occasion to send to a chemist for the drug, or did you have it in stock 1" " I had it in stock;■And. made up the medicine in my own surgery with my own hands, t was alone at the time." •

"You mentioned to : Captain Lam hart—l think you told me—that you were prescribing a deadly poison; and that euro must lie taken not to administer an .overdose 1"

"Idid. I went further, andin order to impress tin*, ami fur caution upon his mind, I toid liim that the drug was so virulent that it. ia.'-i in common use among the Arabs'for ; j. poisoning the points of llieir.spearg;"/ : Zainbra.rose and - to! pacti ; ; ; tlie roniii. " But. there was'nothing: ? said," he continued, "to indicate' ■' the name under which the stuff- is sold in this country T Strophantlm, I take it, is only the name by which it is known-to the iiritish ; Phai'ma-' 1; coptoa. If Lmiiliiii't to HCtiii'iinii'd ■ with tlie■'drugs the A rail's'• use it would be by its native naiiie.' Am \ I right in tlii'se-supposirioiri ?" '•■■■•'■ . "Perfectly/'"!' replied • "-you haw arrived at mlr point Ayh'p.re.l stuck fast. Even it' we decide/to''' suspfcet tho< 'husband, tliera; is 'no" : possible due." . : ' It is my business to find clues," said Zauibra; ,; L shall apply^nijf l method to Captain Lnmbnrt: iri ' the; first instance. I must know ' he does and looks like wheit ho is absolutely alone. Caii I leave' your house at iivo o'clock to-mon'ow-V\'

!" As early as you lilc'e,' l ' : l' r&< plied," tlie door opens witlj'ft Hitch from the inside." :

" Yery.well then," said tho dolec- - • tive; " I shall spend' to-morrow " morning at Burthorpe Hall—not ■ as you see mo now, but-in different character. With your permission I will retire now, asl liavoproparations to make." I went about my business that clay with my thoughts more intent on the doings of Zauibra than on tlie welfare of my patients. On ! ■ my' return fnm tho afternoon round, just as I approached my - • house, I saws a smartly-dressed ; young man vim up tho st'eps' and let himself into tho front door,with a latch-koy. : Following quickly, I was in time to stop him as ho was beginning to mount'tho sta;rs. I had given Zambra > a key to' facilitate his movements, or-1 might • have had sdino difficulty ..in,,ro? cognising him under' his new disguise. Ho. beckoned me.up'to his . own room and shut the'door. Then he put his haud into his pocket'iihd drew,forth an envelope. •'./ ". The elite!" he said shortly. , "How did it happen 1 ?".' l acked' .with'excitement.' j't" : ."Thatwill bo for you tossyj" lie ' preceedt'd,'seiiting ; himself 'calmly on the lied: ' " Listen while 1 l Uell " my story. I was'at Burthorpe'Hall' this morning as tlid se/i'vaTit's' we/e taking down'tlie shutters. 11 'I/'pre- H sentea myself in tho chaiact6r'of v a workman, sent by the funeral furnishers to construct a trestle for the, coffin; which .1 knew invtihei i ordinary course would be : delivered , some 1 time to-dav. I-: explained that I had to r tak'e /nii'ea- - surements "and- so forth, And ■; thus I gained access to -tlie house. ;,My dailydife lias made me fertile in expedients," and ouce; instde it',was easy to findithe smokiug room, and where you said the Captaiii spent so rauch of'his time,y I had my apparatus ready, and the work of a iininute to >fix'it,'jWell .! out of sight behind tbe cbniice, in • : such a jpositiou- that for the'space of anlhour,it would record Ills e'very : inoveinent .at ; iutervals of afminufei v My camera,; you: see;, wonk&iauto*:--i uiatically by.clockworkf'runninglfOr :■ an hour;froui;-.anygiven.Citiie,:'andf ; taking sixty instuntane'ous Iphotp-i graphs in its--operation. ,• luhdard'i. that our man would i bVeakfast at :' nine, so 'I set the camerti to' beginwork 'at half-past. .; I .(this 1 1> odds : were on his goiiig to the smolc-. iiig-rootn after the meal.!': • ,v;, ;; ," What pietm'e did-you.get. and ! • how; did you; obtain - re-p6ssession'.S^, of your camer'al" J asked.'. : i ..V* .•>

" The latter was easy i encughj Leaving the iapparStils'. tyi compile)! • its secret history. l L-camS. ; here and changed 'my 'drafe. Io re-'.! ■ present >at prfiseiifc'' 'a yo'ung.Yjiniim: Worn 1 one of thi' Larichftstor i tailors/ who I 'tisoertiiiußcl ;w,;n.6fr ihn.lho,'i< .• habit !of..supplying Captain ';f,:iiii-., barf M'itli clothes. .Thi'srn. wivsvno > : refisdh' why this l:«ntftrprMn«<trad'-a---niaii siioulil no.t solicit the Captain's custrinj, and I paid a second visit lo tlifr'Hall for, that' pur'pose, wcllt'ur i: fiished' with .patterns ;of-mourning ■; goods. : 1,1. ;niaj'i jntrrt'st' you to know that tbok .'an!'order'from:' / him; Hut that by the way.. He-re- ; ; cciverl • nie as • expicled, in.the: . smoking -room, and ; when I Ciiiiift ilway. til!. l camera was with . me. I; havi>'been developing ; the,. fiims at| the photographer. There is the pibture which interests Zambra selected, a photograph-.,-,., from Several in.the and', handed'it to me.;. It represented aj corner of the smoking-room 'where' ' thfe' (Japtain was, doing- so'methmg ,to | thi point of'an Arab javelin which

I had often noticed among tlie Soudanese trophies that decorated the walls. The expression on Lamport's face betokened intense gravity- of purpose, with perhaps a tinge of alarm.

" There wo get a connection, you see, between ati Arab javelin—probably poisoned, and, if so, with slrophanllm—and the person most interested in this lady's death. There is a knife upon the table and a bottle, it may be of cement or glue, and he is apparently mending the wooden point. Come with me to the hall, doctor ; we must see this out,"

As we drove along we examined the other pictures which the camera had yielded. From their sequence we could seo that Captain Lambert had first gloomily meditated in his arm-chair; had' smoked several cigarettes , and had finally gone to . the wall and'taken down the javelin, upon which he had set to work in thf! manner portrayed in the last . picture.' To iny uiind the matter was as great a mystery as over, for i knew, that,there was no wound such ' as that clumsy, burntwood weapon . would inflict upon the remains, ; But enlightenment was advancing ; rapidly. As we'drove through the lodge .gates a;man on horseback: , ' dashed past .'us, to pull up sharp as soon as he recognised my brougham. • He touched his hat as he rode alongside, and said: ;■ '•'j. ' " Dr. Yailance; you. are wanted at the Hall immediately,sir. 'Master , is very, ill—dying, I fear. Ho pricked- ;hia finger this afternoon whilfl lie was hanging up a spear .he has ;been mending, The plane got very bad,'and the -housekeeper took it on herself to sond, as he is : unconscious." - "Retribution and the end," v whisperod'il Zambra grimly, as we drove up to the Hall door. •>.< We hastened to the sick man's ' bedtiide, but it was too late to be of

any assistance., If any further evidence had been wanted as to the , nature,of the javelin point, the ap- », pearance of the finger-prick would hjive furnished it. Even as we looked Captain Lambart < passed ' away—the victim' of a strophantus poisoned weapon prepared by some 1 savage warrior of the Soudan years before. " To complete my case it .will be "i ' necessary to see the otherone, I "said s ' ■ Zambra, as we turned away. t It was as the detective supposed, v. Under one of the linger nails of the > dead woman a sharp but slender ' ' splinter, little thicker than a needle had been thrust' during sleep or faintnesa, and I knew ait'last by ' \ what fiendish ingenuity the. over-, dose had been administered. , The Captain had relied; on •my not de- ' manding an enquiry, because he -• imagined I should, shrink from the blame of Jiaving given a too powers' i ful remedy. The splinter from Mrs - ! Lambart's hand exactly fitted a " t place jn the point of the javelin' >i 1 f into which a fresh splinter had been 'v ' recently spliced, doubtless—so the *;y photograph assured . us—by the < ' guilty husband to, cover up every *\ > trace of his crime. T——