A GREAT YEAR 



neither liquid nor solid food. All the symptoms 

 pointed to mercurial poisoning. The hair of his coat 

 began to come off, and before long his skin looked as 

 though it had been shaved with a razor. For several 

 days Orme hovered between life and death. It was 

 almost a hopeless case. We did not leave him alone 

 for a moment. His illness caused much excitement 

 all over the country. The newspapers filled columns 

 with trivial details, for reporters came in clouds to 

 Kingsclere. The Duke of Westminster, who was 

 naturally greatly distressed, authorised the publication 

 of a notice which read : 



"ONE THOUSAND POUNDS REWARD— POISONING 

 OF ORME 



"Whereas on the 21st of April last at Kingsclere 

 stable in the County of Hants, the racehorse Orme, 

 the property of His Grace the Duke of Westminster, 

 was wilfully poisoned, the above reward will be paid 

 by the Duke of Westminster to any person who shall 

 within one month from this date furnish such informa- 

 tion as shall lead to the apprehension and conviction 

 of the person or persons guilty of the said crime. 

 Information to be furnished to Messrs. Lewis & Lewis, 

 Ely Place, Holborn, E.C. 



" We were unable to bring the crime home to the 

 guilty individual. I, however, had strong reason for 

 suspecting one of my employes : but as the case 



132 



