mysteries of this fatal tube and its power to work fearful deeds.
A larger quantity of this substance in the tube would produce on
me, as I now hold it, incurable burns, just as it did on its
discoverer before his death. A smaller amount, of course, would
not act so quickly. The amount in this tube, if distributed
about, would produce the burns inevitably, providing I remained
near enough for a long-enough time."

Craig paused a moment to emphasise his remarks.

"Here in my hand, gentlemen, I hold the price of a woman's
beauty."

He stopped again for several moments, then resumed.

"And now, having shown it to you, for my own safety I will place
it back in its leaden casket."

Drawing off his gloves, he proceeded.

"I have found out by a cablegram to-day that seven weeks ago an
order for one hundred milligrams of radium bromide at thirty-five
dollars a milligram from a certain person in America was filled
by a corporation dealing in this substance."

Kennedy said this with measured words, and I felt a thrill run
through me as he developed his case.

"At that same time, Mrs. Close began a series of treatments with
an X-ray specialist in New York," pursued Kennedy. "Now, it is