“Hum,” commented Craig, “this was apparently written on the outside wrapper of a paper folded about some sal-ammoniac and quicklime.  It goes on: 

“’Just drop the whole thing in, paper and all.  Then if you feel a faintness from the medicine the ammonia will quickly restore you.  One spoonful of the headache-powder swallowed quickly is enough.’”

No name was signed to the directions, but they were plainly written, and “Paper and all” was underscored heavily.

Craig pulled out some letters.  “I have here specimens of writing of many persons connected with this case, but I can see at a glance which one corresponds to the writing on this red death-warrant by an almost inhuman fiend.  I shall, however, leave that part of it to the handwriting experts to determine at the trial.  Thurston, who was the man whom you saw enter the Boncour bungalow as you left—­the constant visitor?”

Thurston had not yet regained his self-control, but with trembling forefinger he turned and pointed to Halsey Post.

“Yes, ladies and gentlemen,” cried Kennedy as he slapped the telegram that had just come from New York down on the table decisively, “yes, the real client of Kerr & Kimmel, who bent Thurston to his purposes, was Halsey Post, once secret lover of Vera Lytton till threatened by scandal in Danbridge—­Halsey Post, graduate in technology, student of sympathetic inks, forger of the Vera Lytton letter and the other notes, and dealer in cyanides in the silver-smithing business, fortune-hunter for the Willard millions with which to recoup the Post & Vance losses, and hence rival of Dr. Dixon for the love of Alma Willard.  That is the man who wielded the poisoned pen.  Dr. Dixon is innocent.”

II

THE YEGGMAN

“Hello!  Yes, this is Professor Kennedy.  I didn’t catch the name—­ oh, yes—­President Blake of the Standard Burglary Insurance Company.  What—­really?  The Branford pearls—­stolen?  Maid chloroformed?  Yes, I’ll take the case.  You’ll be up in half an hour?  All right, I’ll be here.  Goodbye.”

It was through this brief and businesslike conversation over the telephone that Kennedy became involved in what proved to be one of the most dangerous cases he had ever handled.

At the mention of the Branford pearls I involuntarily stopped reading, and listened, not because I wanted to pry into Craig’s affairs, but because I simply couldn’t help it.  This was news that had not yet been given out to the papers, and my instinct told me that there must be something more to it than the bare statement of the robbery.

“Some one has made a rich haul,” I commented.  “It was reported, I remember, when the Branford pearls were bought in Paris last year that Mrs. Branford paid upward of a million francs for the collection.”

“Blake is bringing up his shrewdest detective to co-operate with me in the case,” added Kennedy.  “Blake, I understand, is the head of the Burglary Insurance Underwriters’ Association, too.  This will be a big thing, Walter, if we can carry it through.”