"Was there evidence of poison?"

"Pathological only. In Tatters case it was very marked. He was
dozing in a corner near the radiator when I heard him yelp and saw
him snapping at his belly. He ran across the room, lay down and
began licking himself. Within fifteen minutes he began to whine.
Then he stiffened out in a sort of a spasm. It was like strychnine
poisoning. Before could get a veterinary here he was dead."

"Did you make any examination?"

"I analyzed the contents of his stomach, but did not obtain positive
results."

"What about the other dog?"

"Rags? That was the day before yesterday. We had just come over
from Flatbush and Razs was nosing around in the corner--"

"Was it the same corner where Tatters was attacked?"

"Yes, near the radiator. He seemed to be interested in something
there when I left the room. I was gone not more than two minutes."

"Lock the door after you?"

"It has a special spring lock which I had put on it."

Average Jones crossed over and looked at the contrivance. Then his
glance fell to a huge, old-fashioned keyhole below the new