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On the portieres I found some tiny spots of blood." Kennedy paused to hold up the bit of heavy silk. "I analyzed them and found that the blood serum had changed in character very subtly. I demonstrated that the blood of the person who took the needle contained antivenin, and if necessary I can prove the blood to come from the same individual who wiped the needle on the towel in the studio."
The guilty man or woman took no chances, but inoculated himself with antivenin, protection against any chance action of the poison. The marks on the towel are the marks made by the needle used by that person in taking the inoculation. "If you will follow me closely you will understand the significance of this.
In a very brief space of time we were at the laboratory. "You expect to find the blood of one of those people showing traces of the antivenin?" I grasped Kennedy's method of procedure, but wanted to make sure I understood it correctly.
Therefore, because of this last fact, and because again it is obvious, I expect to find that the same individual inoculated himself with antivenin and removed the needle from the portiere; and I expect to prove it beyond possibility of doubt by an analysis of his blood.
Kennedy picked up one of the tiny pieces he had cut out of it. "The poison used to kill Miss Lamar was snake venom." He paused while a little murmur went through his audience, the first sound I had detected. "These spots on the towel are antivenin. The venom itself is exceedingly dangerous to handle.
He glanced about, but even now there was no telltale revelation. "I have analyzed these and one shows that the person from whom I obtained the sample has been inoculated with antivenin. The mark on the envelope is the same as the mark on the envelope containing the towel fibers, a double proof. Furthermore, I am prepared to show that it is the same blood as the blood upon the portiere."
"Will the antivenin show in the blood after four, perhaps five days?" "I should say so, Walter. If it does not, by any chance, I will be able to identify the blood, but that is much more involved and tedious a great deal more actual work." "I've got it straight, then. Now " I paced up and down several times. "The finger-nail files should show a trace of the itching salve? Is that correct, Craig?"
Kennedy picked up the tube containing the solution made from the towel spots. "This antivenin was your product, doctor?" "Probably so," was the precise answer. "Then the purchasers can be identified," I suggested. "We have no record of ordinary purchasers," Nagoya explained, slowly. Kennedy was keenly disappointed at that, and showed it.
However, he thanked the scientist cordially, and we departed. Outside, he turned to me. "Do you understand now why the night intruder at Tarrytown did not die if he is one of our suspects from the scratch of the needle?" "You mean he had taken an injection of antivenin before " "Exactly! We are dealing with a criminal of diabolical cleverness.
Hypodermic injections of strychnin in doses sufficiently large to produce a slight degree of poisoning by the drug are particularly useful. The most rational treatment, when it is available, is the use of the antivenin introduced by Fraser and Calmette.
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