upils
of the eyes to be the distinguishing symptom of morphine poisoning
Professor Kennedy, in my opinion we can, after all, make out our case as
one of morphine poisoning."
"Is that case in the book all you base your opinion on?" asked Craig
with excessive politeness.
"Yes, sir," replied the doctor reluctantly.
"Well," said Kennedy quietly, "if you will investigate that case quoted
from Professor Taylor, you will find that it has been proved that the
patient had one glass eye."
"Then my contention collapses and she was not poisoned?"
"No, I do not say that. All I say is that expert testimony would refute
us as far as we have gone. But if you will let me make a few tests of my
own I can readily clear up that end of the case, I now feel sure. Let me
take these samples to my laboratory."
I was surprised when we ran into Inspector O'Connor waiting for us in
the corridor of the Criminal Courts Building as we left the office of
the coroner's physician. He rushed up to Kennedy and shoved into
his hand a pill-box in which six capsules rattled. Kennedy narrowly
inspected the box, opened it, and looked thoughtfully at the six white
capsules lying so innocently within.
"One of these capsules would have been worth hundreds of thousands of
dollars to 'John,'" said Craig contemplatively, as he shut the box and
deposited it carefully in his inside vest pocket. "I don't believe
I even said good morning to you, O'Connor," he continued. "I hope I
haven't kept you waiting here long. Have you obtained the samples of
ink?"
"Yes, Professor. Here they are. As soon as you telephoned this morning
I sent my men out separately to get them. There's the ink from the
druggist, this is from the Vandam library, this is from Farrington's
room, and this is from Mrs. Popper's apartment."
"Thank you, Inspector. I don't know what I'd do without your help,"
said Kennedy, eagerly taking four small vials from him. "Science is all
right, but organisation enables science to work quickly. And quickness
is the essence of this case."
During the afternoon Kennedy was very busy in his laboratory, where I
found him that night after my hurried dinner, from which he was absent.
"What, is it after dinner-time?" he exclaimed, holding up a glass
beaker and watching the reaction of something he poured into it from a
test-tube.
"Craig, I believe that when you are absorbed in a case, you would rather
work than eat. Did you have any lunch after I
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