Mrs. Phelps
came down to town by train and Doctor Forden motored in. Andrews
even took the precaution to secure Shaughnessy and the trained
nurse, Miss Tracy, who had been with Montague Phelps during his
illness but had not contributed anything toward untangling the
case. Andrews and myself completed the little audience.
We found Kennedy heating a large mass of some composition such as
dentists use in taking impressions of the teeth.
"I shall be ready in a moment," he excused himself, still bending
over his Bunsen flame. "By the way, Mr. Phelps, if you will permit
me."
He had detached a wad of the softened material. Phelps, taken by
surprise, allowed him to make an impression of his teeth, almost
before he realised what Kennedy was doing. The precedent set, so
to speak, Kennedy approached Doctor Forden. He demurred, but
finally consented. Mrs. Phelps followed, then the nurse, and even
Shaughnessy.
With a quick glance at each impression, Kennedy laid them aside to
harden.
"I am ready to begin," he remarked at length, turning to a
peculiar looking instrument, something like three telescopes
pointing at a centre in which was a series of glass prisms.
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