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Rh in the diagnosis of the case, even before Odell disclosed the fact of the substituted needle; and when that was demonstrated to him he sprang from his chair and paced the floor, striking his clenched fist into the cupped palm of his other hand.

"Good God, what fools we were! What arrant fools! That goes to show you, Sergeant, how even those of us who think we stand at the top of our profession take too much for granted. There was no suggestion of foul play, the outward indications were identical with those of septicemia of the ordinary kind; and we looked no farther than our noses, even though we were battling for a life."

"Were you the first specialist called in consultation with Doctor Adams, sir?" asked Odell.

"No, the last; Kelland was called first, then Day. It was only when it was realized that the patient was sinking that I was sent for; and it was too late then for me to do anything for her, even if I had discovered the truth. Her heart would not have withstood the effect of any drastic treatment. I looked over the record of the case thoroughly and found practically nothing to suggest, for they had tried everything known to medical science." He was still pacing the floor; but now he turned and faced the detective squarely. "I should have known then that there was something vitally wrong, but appearances deceived me. I own that I had some misgivings at first, but Kelland and Day were so positive and the patient so far gone that I permitted my judgment to be swayed, although I was not satisfied in my own mind; I could not understand why the patient had not responded to the treatment."

He recommenced his restless promenade, and Odell was