As Kent leaned over to relight his cigar, the face at the
window vanished, to cautiously reappear a second later.
"The case piqued my interest," continued the detective after a pause.
"And I made an investigation on my own hook. After the departure of
the McIntyre twins and Coroner Penfield, I went back to the court
room and poked around the prisoners' cage. There I found this."
He took out of his pocket a small bundle and carefully unwrapped
the oil-skin cover.
"A handkerchief?" questioned Kent as the detective did not unfold
the white muslin, but held it with care.
"Yes. One of the prisoners in the cage told me Turnbull dropped it
as Dr. Stone and the deputy marshal carried him into the ante-room.
Smell anything?" holding up the handkerchief.
"Yes." Kent wrinkled his nose and sniffed several times. " Smells
like fruit."
Ferguson nodded. "Good guess; I noticed the odor and went at once
to Dr. McLane. He told me the handkerchief was saturated with
amyl nitrite."
"Amyl nitrite," repeated Kent reflectively. "It is given for angina
pectoris.
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