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MASTER TALES of MYSTERY
PAUL L. FORD
GREAT K. & A. TRAIN ROBBERY
GEO.B. McCUTCHEON
COWARDICE COURT
JOSEPH ERNEST
THE EPISODE or THE BLACK CASQUETTE
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 your suit-caseout. Pack up whatever you can in five minutes. We must take the sixo'clock train for Danbridge."
I did not wait to hear any more. The mere mention of the name of thequaint and quiet little Connecticut town was sufficient. For Danbridgewas on everybody's lips at that time. It was the scene of the nowfamous Danbridge poisoning case—a brutal case in which the prettylittle 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 believe thatthat young Dr. Dixon is the victim of a conspiracy—or at least AlmaWillard does, which comes to the same thing, and—well, the senatorcalled me up on long-distance and offered me anything I would name inreason to take the case. Are you ready? Come on, then. We've simplygot 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 deal aboutthis case in the papers. Let's try to get our knowledge in an orderlyshape 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, and aboveall it is interesting for its colony of New-Yorkers—what shall I callit?—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 Taming ofthe New Woman' last season? Well, to get back to the facts as we knowthem at present.
"Here is a girl with a brilliant future on the stage discovered by herfriend, Mrs. Boncour, in convulsions—practically insensible—with abottle of headache-powder and a jar of ammonia on her dressing-table.Mrs. Boncour sends the maid for the nearest doctor, who happens to bea Dr. Waterworth. Meanwhile she tries to restore Miss L