1G TIIE OMAJIA DAILY BEE ; SUNDAY , NOVEMBER 2G , 1809.
j/i
i'/j. .TV/ * /
AN EVENTFUL NIGHT.
BY CLARA PARKER.
( Copyright , ISM , by S. S. McClure Co. )
When Drown saw that I bad been Inter
rupted lie , too , cnrao to my Bide , nnd the
pair grouped themselves about me , and
Blared nt me , expecting , nnd with reason ,
that , now I had been given leisure for
thought , lucid Ideas must 'begin ' lo flow
from me , while , In reality , had I boon
tapped for speech at that moment , I must
iiavo , babbled forth mere scraps of the per
plexing chaos with which my mind was reel
ing.Was
Was the girl Insane ? Was It my duty to
hand over the Httlo crumpled confiding note
to tfio stern , dark man besldo mo ? Never !
( Whether the girl was Insane or not , that
fcoto' was mine. It Insanity had been Its
Inspiration , some reverent hand muet deal
fwlth Us own folly. If not Insane what then
Iwas/oxpectcd / of me ? Why was I warned
against the dog beneath her window ? Could
It bo that she actually meditated a theatri
cal flight ? If so , where were the needed
ladders ? What was to bo done with the
'
Hog ?
"And low do you tlnd her , sir ? " broke
In Mrs. Hosklns cheerfully. "Pretty bad ,
bln't she ? I had a nlcco once that was
took" the same way , nnd wo was upwards of
three days a-glttlng her to scnso things.
If she would only take a. little natcral sleep
now. "
Her words came to mo like an lusplra
lion. "Blessed bo thy wagging tongue
Ilosklns , oh , long may It wave , " went up m
mental shout , whllo outwardly 1 said n fc\
grave things about "nerves" and "monta
pressure , " which seemed to hit the mar
Bomchow , for my listeners did not Jeer me
but on the contrary looked reasonably 1m
pressed.
"To apeak candidly , " I exclaimed boldly
mhllo I was groping for words as though
grappling with a foreign tongue , "I fca
congestion of the ncrvo centers , but I can"
ibo sure. There Is nothing more Illuslv
than thtfso symptoms. However , I shal
Klvo'her a quieting powder , and In throe o
tfour hours Iwill bo able to tell exactly
foow'tnuch wo have to fear. "
My proposal , which Involved a long stay a
iho .house , was not pleasing ; that much
could gather from the frown upon Brown's
dark" face , but It excited no suspicion , and
With a faint gleam of hope glowing at my
heart-1 : took the water which Mrs. Hosklns
"was " still holding , and , after pouring out hal
tot It , with a great show of caution , man-
nged , .while apparently mixing It with the
contents of a small black bottle which
fimclled like varnish , to drop Into It half a
chocolate of cream which I nimbly ex
tracted from a bon-bon dish on the table
nt which I was working. Indeed , I , fel
rather shocked nt the light-fingered dex
terity' I suddenly developed ; It seemed to
Indicate an aptitude for questionable prac
tices anything but encouraging to con
template.
They seemed to expect that I would ad-
tnlnlster my own medicine , but after cov
ertly" , rinsing the candy about as long as 1
Idarciiln my guilty effort to dissolve It nni
color ! the water a respectable brown , ]
handed the glass sternly to Mrs. Hosklns. 1
had no right to touch tho-Impulsive girl who
liad fj&rown herself on ray honor under the
false impression that I must be some peace
ful old fellow with marriageable daughters
nnd oil that , though how .sho could have ex
pected any such antiquated party to climb
nboutjHhrough windows and toy with blood
hound I could not. nor cannot yet con
ceived However , her Innocent blunders had
nothing to do with my plain course of duty ,
eo I looked on with what grace I might
rwhllo-'tho clumsy Hosklns lifted upon her
nrm the slender figure nnd forced my harm
less doao between the scarlet lips , devoutly
praying the whllo that the candy had all dls-
eolvcd.
Very neatly did the patient do her part.
Not even a professional artist could have put
to shame her.restless Impatience , the drowsy
opening of her eyes and tbclr.soft closing.
"Wo must have the room perfectly quiet
now , " t sal'd. "Mr. Brown , would it be
possible for mo to hnvo the use of a room
next to this for an hour or so ? The trouble
with my tooth has used mo up badly , but
what can I expect ? When one chooses the
Ilfo of a physician be chooses a dog's life , let
him bo clover ns he will. And then look at
the thanks bo gets. Let him drag a man
out of hla grave clothes nnd It's Providence
that gets the credit , but let the man die
nnd how quickly Providence Is let off scot
free. "
"And yet a doctor's fee Is not a bad thing
to have In one's pocket , I imagine , " half
laughed , half sneered my companion. "But
como below with mo nnd wo will have them
eot us .out some lunch. "
As may bo Imagined , all this talk had not
been carried on In the sick room. Gradually
'
wo had' drifted out Into the hall , nnd stood
there , lighted dimly by n lamp which Mrs.
. Hosklns carried. 'Of ' course I know I must
{ not go below , though the suggestion of lunch
f avna tempting , Indeed , so I still held to my
' ungracious bluster. "You are very kind , " I
unit ] , severely. "But I must get my boots
off and cover up warm. Wo physicians need
Bomo cnro , though our patients seem to
doubt It. However , " I added , more gra
ciously , "I might pick at a little cold moat ,
if you would send It up ; that nnd n glass of
nvlno wouldn't bo nt all bad. "
"You shall have 'them Immediately , " said
Drown , "But lot us say n boltlo of wine
Instead of a. gloss ; and , by 'tho ' way , sir , do
you know that'I ' have iicgledtcd to get your
namev JIow very strange you must think
mo , " and ho paused , whllo his foot was
( actually , raised to go nnd leave mo In peace ,
to send that fatal broadside back into my
$ haky breastworks.
What under heavens was I to say ? Whait
Bid I know of his knowledge of the people In
the city , where I was almost n total
ctrangcr ?
"Well , well , " 1 exclaimed , with a hollow
laugh , " -this Is droll , certainly , but I took It
Lazy Liver
"I have bruit troubled n treat deal
tvllb a torpid liver , wlitch produces constipa
tion. I found CASOA11ETS to l > o all you claimer
( or them , and secured such relief tlionrst trial ,
that I purchased another supply and vrai com
pletely cured. I shall only uo too glad to rec
ommend Cascarcts whenever tlio opportunity
U presented. " J. A. KUITH.
920 Susquohauna Ave , , Philadelphia , Pa
Pleasant. Palatable. 1'olent. Tatto Good , no
Good. Ncvor btckcn , W cnkcn , or Gripe. JOc. tte.Wo.
. . . CURE CONSTIPATION. . . .
IllrtUi DtnuJj C f > i Ctltno , Kc lft l. V rt. KO
JO Tfl DAft Sold nncl ininrnotredbr a" drug.
KU-TU'BAU gins to UVJii : Tobacco llablu
for granted 'that ' your servant had ex
plained. "
"I have not seen htm , " with the short
reply , and , Hosklns moving forward nt that
moment , ' 1 stood revealed to the sharp eyes
of my host Inall < tno glare of light which
the small lamp could boa Fit.
"t am Dr. A. , of whom you have perhaps
heard , " I said , boldly , setting flre to my
ships with an unfaltering hand. "I sup
posed that you had sent directly to me. "
"I am something of n stranger here , " was
tbo evasive reply , nnd with n long look nt
mo he wna gone , leaving mo In n state of
feverish uncertainty ns to whether 1 was
unmasked or not.
Gladly now would I have entered the sick
room alone , on some pretext or another , In
hopes of a last word of explanation , but the
slow-pacing Hosklns was ever at my heels ,
and to nil my suggestions thnt the young
woman should bo left entirely alone and
that Hosklns herself might take some sleep
whllo I kept watch , she brought forth the
same rambling argument. "A quilt In n
chair and me In It couldn't be In any ways
disturbing to one moro accustomed to com
pany than to bo without , " she exclaimed ,
nmlnbly , until 1 gave up , fairly worn out.
I took possession of the room assigned to
ino as soon ns a lamp , a flre and n neatly
jJCt lunch table had made It ready. Once
alone Inside that room , tfco door shut on all
Intruders nnd brought before the bar of
sober Judgment , I felt that a straight-Jacket
was all I lacked for n fully equipped mad
man. Yet , condemn my folly as I would , I
felt no deslro to retreat. Even then I
might have crept down stairs , on some pre
text or other , have slunk" from the house
nnd made off without much chance of detec
tion. But there I sat , turning over nnd over
ngaln every project that presented Itself to
my feverish fancy for carrying out the
scheme of the crumpled note , which I now
boldly consulted.
Consult It ao I would , however , there was
nothing moro to bo got from It than that I
was expected to help a perfect stranger , a
young girl , apparently confined to her bed
with a eerlous Illness , to rise from thnt bed
nnd bolt through a second-story window ,
guarded by an ugly bloodhound , out Into a
freezing night , In the care of a single man ,
of so reckless a character that he hod , earlier
In the evening , hidden himself In an Inno
cent man's carriage , killed that helpless
man , taken his belongings , and was now
foisting himself upon her notice under an
assumed name. A black outlook , I was
forced to admit , nnd don't mistake me by
Imagining I made light of the painful cir
cumstances. I deplored them deeply , but
what would , you have had ?
Had the lady been plain reason might
have spoken with a louder voice , or , at least ,
Its faint piping have been listened to , but ns
It was , I merely decided by the time my
lunch was finished that If anything was to
be done I must Immediately set In action
eomo one of the many operations neces
sary.
sary.Hosklns ? What was to be done with her ?
And then , from all that I could recall of
her , personality beyond her loosely balanced
tongue nnd the fact that she wna large and
dark , one Httlo thing came back to mo which
brought mo to my feet , a hopeful smile
struggling with the swollen melancholy of
my features. She had a very red nose , which
might result from a disordered stomach and
might not.
Very softly I opened the door of ray room ,
for I had no wish to disturb the slumbers of
the rest of the household , and very softly I
tiptoed to the door of the elck room , which
I found standing a few Inches ajar , on ac
count of the heat , I surmised , for I could
'eel the hot air fanning ray face as I peered
n cautiously before entering.
Kvorythlng was quiet. The bed I could
not sea plainly , but before the flre , which
was blazing brightly. Mrs , Hosklns sat lean-
ng back comfortably In a huge rocker , while
lor feet , In reckless disregard of the laws
of grace and decorum , \vero hoisted upon a
second chair , where they had slid from the-
red woolen blanket which had been wrapped
about them , nnd confronted me as I approached
preached , huge nnd motionless In their gray
voolen casings , like eentlnels before n sleep-
ng city , for Mrs , Hosklns was sleeping. But
even an I eaw If and moved back with my
leart thumping violently at the swift
hought that before waking her that word
of explanation , I might , as my right , de
mand , could bo spoken , she started poev-
tihly awake.
"Lor1 a mercy , " she muttered pettishly ,
ler eyes glaring at mo wild nnd bleared j
but she followed mo willingly enough when
beckoned her Into the ball , where we
might talk without disturbing our patient.
" \Vtta she took any way that you heard ? "
ho asked In a hearse whlaper , her mouth
working with an abortive yawn , "I'm trou
bled with luflamlng of the lids , an' set
nostly with my eyca ehut. It's more sav-
ng on 'urn ' than classes , besides being more
handy. "
" 1 have been thinking over nil possible
auBoa for this attack , " 1 exclaimed with the
absorbed air of a medical fanatic , "Has
ho young woman been in the habit of
drugging neraelf ? Docs abe ever use opi
ates of any kind to make her sleep ? nnd 1
glared at the woman ns sternly ns the
limited use of my right oyc would ndmlt.
Her wile were fogged with sleep and otlrred
slowly , but after staring duly nt mo for n
moment , eho brightened visibly , evidently
fired with the hope of answering me and get
ting rid of me. "Yes , sir , " she answered
eagerly , "sho do sometimes ueo a powder ,
hn' tt'a often an' often 1'vo told her 6h6
hadn't or tor ; but eho's that stubborn nnd
set , you'd hardly believe It , when oho gcte a
notion. "
"She has come left ? Bring them , " I said
fiternjy. "I shall sift thla matter to the bet
tom. "
"Upwards of n dozen , I should cny , sir , "
and with a step heavy with sleep shd moved
away , returning after a few moments with
a small green box In her hand. "These are
"urn , " eho said , giving vent to a mighty
yawn which had been convulsing her since
eho started from her sleep.
"You look nil used up , " I said , fastening
a professional cyo upon her. "You need
something to < brncc you up , Have you noth
ing In there that you can take , a little wluo
now or oven n drop of straight whisky ? "
Ah , I had not been mistaken. Her eyes
lighted greedily , and then were overcast
with helpless resentment. "I haven't a
drop of nothing , " she said sullenly , "Mr.
Brown Is not of the thoughtful kind and
makes no reckoning of the wear and tear
of being broke of one's sleep ns n Btlddy
thing. Them that goes to bed regular , " she
nddcd , morosely , "can Httlo estimate the
nccda of them thnt must set awake * In their
hours of rest. "
"That Is very true , " I remarked austerely.
But I shall have a word to say about that
tonight. I can't have you wearing out sud
denly Just when I may need you. Walt
hero for a moment , " and , highly gratified
with my clover trick , I took the box of
powders and hurried back to my room ,
where , after pouring out a liberal gloss of
wine , I stood debating whnt next. On the
box I read , "Miss Brandon. One powder
every hour until relieved. " So my young
friend's name was Brandon. "Until relieved"
that meant , of course , until she should fall
asleep. But surely If one powder was pre
scribed for so dainty nn Invalid , nt least
double that dose should bo allowed for the
great , robust creature I had Just left , and ,
hastily shaking In the contents of two of
the folded papers , I rushed back Into the
hall where my victim was awaiting me.
With what pleasure and self-congratula
tion did I watch her drain the glass to Its
uttermost dregs ! Then we separated ; she
going her way to fall asleep , as I told
myself , Insldo of the next five minutes , anl
I mine , to gloat In secret over the easy
victory I had won. Five minutes I waited
In restless inaction and then felt tempted
to go and view my work. But there was
no hurry , nnd taking a chair by the flre I
had determined to wait patiently for an
other five , when the sound of shuffling steps
in the hallway outsldo brought mo to my
feet In vague alarm.
Had my fraud been discovered ? Had Dr.
A come back to life and followed me ? My
hand flow to my pocket , where It grasped a
small penknife , my solo weapon , when the
door opened and In walked Mrs. Hosklns In
a state of feverish excitement.
She was carrying a box in her hand , a
blue ono this time , nnd she flung it down
before mo with a most disrespectful display
of ill temper. "Them's the sleeping pow
ders , " she snapped , laying her hand upon
her head with a reeling motion while I stared
nt her In lively horror. "But how Is one
to tell , with wrltln * worse than them as
can't lay claim to be no scholards ? Lor'
help me , them spirits went straisht to my
head , " she went on. "Which Is rightly your
hand , sir ? " snatching vacantly Into the air
beside me. "You look to have a dozent. "
What had I done ? In the name of mercy
of what had I given a double dose to the
poor creature ? Wildly I turned over In my
mind all possible poisons and their anti
dotes ; milk , oil , whites of eggs , all danced
before me. Women , sometimes , I had
heard , took dreadful things for their com
plexions. Was there to be a second corpse
on my hands that night ? And yet , once
more , It had not been my fault.
Rushing nt the tottering woman , I got her
Into a chair , gazing at her as I did In such
an agony of fear lest she drop dead In my
grasp , that she took the alarm herself , and ,
making certain that death was near , turn < nl
"I FELT nATHEIl SHOCKED AT THE LIGHT-FINGERED DEXTERITY I SUD
DENLY DEVELOPED. "
such a greenish white that , without reasoning
whnt I was about , I seized another tumbler
of the spirits nnd dashed It down her throat
wlth ficnrccTy moro caution than I would
have" used had I pitched It Into the- kitchen
drain. Fear of her Immediate death , that
and that only , was my motive In stocking her
thus heavily with strong liquor , and what
followed cannot bo laid at my door excepting
In the form of nn unmerited accident. Yet
I understand there are those who do not
take the same view of the matter ,
At first the poor creature , choked , which I
will admit w.as my fault In that I forced the
liquor on her eo abruptly. I was sorry for
my awkward zeal nnd aided her to the best
of my power to jegaln her breath , patting
her violently upoii"tho back , while her gurg-
llne , though deep , was low. But once she
had passed this stage I saw what the second
glass bad done ; saw reason leave her eyes
and glvo place to a silly stupor ; saw and
flung a pillow upon the floor , to which she
shambled and sank down abbllng.
"I'm feeling very comfortable , thank you , "
she gabbled , as I strove to drag her farther
from the lire , "but my head ain't what It
should be. Too much setting up of nights
has done it. "
But I heard no more. Fleeing my second
victim , I hurried across the hall , to tap as
light as a feather against the door of thn
sick room , though , had my own ears been
all I cared to reach , tbo loud thumping of
my heart at that moment would have equaled
the booming of any cannon.
As though my timid knuckles had touched
some hidden spring , the door responded In
stantly , nnd through n slight aperture n
wisp of dark hair waved and the gleam of n
flno eye shone on me , as a whispering volcp
naked mo what I wanted.
"U Is I , " I faltered , Idiotically , forgetting
that I had as yet no Identity with my qucs
tloner beyond the rather vnguo one of a
medical man. "I'm the doctor , you know , '
I added , huskily , my tongue refusing me tbo
service of n glib He.
"Oh , " with a most delightful Inflection
nnd the door swung nn Inch or two farther
open , but In place of accepting thla friendly
advance I skulked back into the shade of the
unlit hall like Bomo sheepish assassin ,
"Where Is Mre. Hosklns ? " came In the
same- guarded whisper. "Look out for her.
She may bo in hiding somewhere. She does
that lots , and then dodges out. Oh , she's
Just horrid. "
"Sho won't now. She she's asleep , " I
faltered. "I gave her something some of
your powders , " but no sooner had I uttered
the words than I repented my confession.
What If , after all , It was not the wine whleh
had affected her ; whit if even then she was
breathing her last. In Eonia horrid death
agony ! The thought was sickening.
"Oh , oh , how awfully clever ! " And there
was a sound as of eoft hands beaten to
gether gently. "But the dog ! " was the next
dismayed exclamation. "They've let him
out again. I heard him champing about
down there Just n moment ago. Oh , you
may depend on it , we can never get out if
ho Isn't done away with. "
I had forgotten the brute , nnd I muPl
confess , that but for the gleam of thnt fine
eye , which had grown plainer and developed
Into n pair , J should .have , felt much vexed
nt the reminder. If I could only glvo him
ceptlon seized me of affecting to bo Just on
the point of leaving the sick room , when my
visitor should como up. It was well , though ,
that the darkness of the- hall concealed my
guilt-stained features , or the mcre.it child
must have detected some mischief brewing ,
"Is thnt you , doctor ? " came In a growling
whlupcr from Brown , while a firm , cool
hand seized mo so suddenly I nit but
shrieked , eo shattered was my self-control ,
"What In the nro you up to anyhow ? It
sounded as though n pair of you were danc
ing the minuet. I thought nn order for quiet
was given. "
"And so It was , " I managed to say coldly ,
ns n man without humor who feels himself
affronted with a Jest. "But I hope that
docs not Interfere with Mrs. Hosklna heat
ing flannels at my orders for your nleco
now that her fever has suddenly left her.
Brown gave n soft whistle. "To bo sure
not , " ho said with more civility. "I In
tended no disrespect , I assure you , but
kindly nsk Hosktns to toe-nnd-hccl It In her
stocking feet hereafter. "
"Sir ! " exclaimed I irritably.
"I'm a wretched sleeper , " ho explained ,
coming hastily back to dignified discourse ,
"nnd HosUlns should know It. I can't Im
agine how she had the temerity to go crash-
ng about so. "
Shivering like a wind-swept rccd , I
waited for him to demand thnt ho should
sec his niece , or call for the disgraced Hos-
clng , but these trials were not laid upon
me , for now with a restless yawn ho left
me , after n mild hope for the further Im
provement of his nlcco , and when the last
ichocs of his steps had died away I crept
> ack to the room I had left nnd stood trcm-
illng there for some moments before I could
> o certain that he had really gone , with no
usplcton to bring him creeping up those
talrs ngaln.
HER FEET IN RECKLESS DISREGARD OF GRACE ' -AND DECORUM WERE
HOISTED UPON A SECOND CHAIR.
sleeping powders ! My ear hearkened pain
fully for the slightest souilJ from the room
I bad left. "Oh ; I think we can manage
the dog all right , " I said lightly , while not
the faintest plan ns to how I was to make
good my words suggested Itself to my mind.
In the mood I then was I could have
strangled any beast with my naked hands
and relished the ddtalls of the task at that.
"Oh , how awfully clever you are , " came
In an admiring gasp from behind the half-
open door. "But If you're going to shoot ,
please let mo know before you set the gun
off or I shall be sure to scream. I al
ways do. "
"I shall not ehoot , " I said , with a patience
begot of the flne eyes and fluffy hair. "It
wouldn't do , you know. The noise would "
"Why , to be sure ! " with a soft little
laugh. "It would make a mess of every
thing , but you see I'm so stupid. Goodby ,
now. I'll get dressed nnd be all ready , " and
the door shut gently In my face , leaving me
standing nlono in the darkness , gaping help
lessly about me.
"All ready , " she said. I could have
laughed aloud , but that I felt more Inclined
for tears. All ready for what ? Well , I
could not Improve matters by standing there ,
so , with a reluctant step , I turned to reenter -
enter the chamber I had left.
What should I see ? Some horrid , staring
corpse ; some miserable , frothing object all
but gone , yet with strength left to rise nnd
curse mo ? If eo , goodby , even to flne eyes
and soft , dark hair. I had stood n great
deal that night , but there were limits , I
felt , to my endurance.
With a sinking heart I pushed the door
open , only to Jump back In hysterical amaze
ment. The woman was afoot again nnd
babbling foolishly ! What was to bo done ?
How gladly then would I have , exchanged
her for the corpse I had so dreaded to see !
There was Httlo sense In whnt she said , but
I made out thnt she was looking for Miss
Brandon , nnd I managed to quiet that cry
by tolling her Mlsa Brandon was asleep and
must not bo disturbed , nt the same time
tearing about In search of something to do
with her , while she trailed at my heels with
dog-like devotion.
And then her intoxication , If such I can
call It , began to take alarming forms , which
preyed * dreadfully on my conscience. Her
vision grow shockingly distorted , and what
with her resolution to follow mo about , and
the number of mo she sqomcd to see , she
was forever taking Imaginary walks with
me In parts of the room whore I was not ,
talking as readily to any piece of furniture
ns to mo , and never flndlng out her mistake
unless she happened to run against me ,
"Heavlngs above , " she would whisper
hoarsely to n toll dresser by the window ,
I can't rightly make out , doctor , how It Ifl
you como to bo so leggy nil of n suddlnt ; "
nnd then to the wnshstand , as I chased her
here , "glvo her natcral sleep , doctor , glvo
her natoral sleep , and she'll pull through
somehow. I've said It before , an' I say It
now , sleep IB whnt wo need , nnd plenty of It. "
It was a shameful situation , nnd what was
worse , I distinctly heard steps below. The
creature's babbling tongue had started some
one awake , 4Wlth a desperate hand I Jerked
open the next door to me , and when I found
It admitted me to a small , dark closet I did
nolj hesitate. "Miss Brandon la In here , " I
hissed In the woman's ear , snatching her
frantically by the nrm. "Go In and Ho down
besldo her , It will keep her quiet , nnd then
you can have your sleep out. "
She obeyed mo In the same dog-like man
ner In which she had followed me about , and
although , In the face of this docility It
seemed a brutal net. I turned the key se
curely upon her , feeling an almost murder
ous thrill of satisfaction no her murmuring
died away In the denser stupor into which
the confined air of the place plunged her.
And none too noon did those muttering *
cease , for I now distinctly heard steps
mounting the stairs , with evident care not
to tread too roughly , Not daring to meet
any questioner where I then wan , I rushed
softly into the hall , where the happy con :
For ten mlnufes'I , waited wblld the' house
was silent as the , grave. Not a board
creaked.- not a curtainrustled. . Then , draW-
Inr offmy shoos , I made , softly across to a
window which I reasoned must look'out upon
the plage where the ferocious bloodhound
lurked. Inch by Inch , like a trained house
breaker , I raised the sash , my heart stopping
dead still at the- faintest creak , then rushing
! on with congestive Jerks at nn easy slide ,
until finally it was propped up at a height
to admit of putting out my head and shoul
ders.
Cautiously I peered forth into the dark
ness , for dark it was , with only a star glim
mering here nnd there , and nothing but
faint outlines of the Jagged mountain peaks
showing themselves against the sky. The
air was keen nnd cold , and the ground cov
ered with a skim of hard , dry show. A nice
night indeed for people to be launching
themselves from second-hand windows nnd
taking to their heels through unknown
frozen districts !
"We'll end up at the bottom of a canyon
with a fractured bone or two for company , "
I muttered as I let my gaze roam despond
ently about. , "There's the dog sure enough , "
ns my eyes , becoming moro accustomed to
the darkness , made out n moving , black body
on the snow beneath.
It Is one thing to look down at n dog from
a second-etory window nnd another , and
quite a different thing , to rid yourself quietly
of him. On any other night I should have
exclaimed , "Impossible ! " and tamely closed
the window. But on this special night my
mind seemed fairly lurid with bright
thought. I suddenly sped back to tbo table ,
clutched the napkin from my lunch tray ,
nnd found that I had not exhausted the gen
erous supply of cold meat sent p for my
refreshment. With trembling fingers I
spread out the contents of the medicine chest
upon n chair close by and began In a pur
blind fashion to study the different labels.
Confusion seized upon my mind nt the
first row. How could medical men pretend
to understand such gibberish ? My mind
had not bocn neglected In my youth , and yet
I could make nothing of It. Defeat stared
mo In the face , but with a cold , proud smile
I counted the number of bottles I had before
me. Then with a few bold slashes , I had
the meat quartered nnd lying ready to my
hand.
Thla done and tbo bottles divided Into four
different sets and ranged conveniently above
ire , my real work began. The first relay of
bottles came to mo In the form of powders.
I dipped section No. 1 of my meat supply In
tbo milk Jug beforn I attempted to BUI car
lttovor with as much of my powdery ntulT as
I could make hang on , being careful to take
a fair amount from each bottle In hopes
that In some of them lay the deadly drug I
sought. It was remarkable bow much I
made that piece of cold beef hold. When
not another grain would stick I gathered It
up gingerly , crept to the window , took ac
curate aim and flung It straight at the feet
of the resiles animal.
They must have kept tbo brute half
starved , for with n plunge and a snap , ho
seemed to catch the morsel whllo It was yet
In the ulr. But nothing happened ; hln
restless walk went on , and Impatiently I
rushed back to my ghastly work. This time
It was liquids with which I had to deal ,
and my work wae easier , but how they
smelted ! The bouse seemed reeking with
their biting fumes , and It was with streamIng -
Ing eyes I again sought the window nnd
stood with my second prescription suspended
over the hazy space below. No need to peer
about In the darkness now In search of my
rcstlcra prey , The animal expected mo and
crouched directly beneath my window , where
the light from the lamp showed upon bin
gaunt frame , revealing him with his huge
jaws distended ; a pretty eight for one who
might at any moment bo pitched forth to
become his inldnlsht lunch , Out went my
second lot. I could see him plainly this
time. He met It , his full length from Iho
ground , with an appetite perfectly disheart
ening. Not oven KM horrid smell fazed him ,
and down It went with a dreadful champing
uound.
While completely discouraged , I turned
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again to the table. What did Dr. A. kce
In his chest anyhow ? Drugs designed solel
for the use of teething children ? And ye
who could tell ? Perhaps my method mlgh
bo bad. I might bo doing up poisons ant
antidotes In the same bundle. This time
mixed powders and liquids with an Impartla
and liberal hand , but It was with only th
faintest hope that I gathered up the thin
dose , and again sought my post at the win
dow. The dog was not there ! Was no
there , nor was ho dead ! I could see him
see him plainly. If that mass of inovln
snow and fur could be a dog. Faint , 'nngr ;
yelps rose from the tossing heap nnd m
heart stood still. Then , suddenly , as
looked , the mass took shape and rose ant
ran as nothing dependent on mere legs eve
ran before , molting away Into the darknes
beyond , with a long , low howl which struck
stone-cold upon my fainting heart.
"We are undone , " I nil but cried , for tha
mournful howl must set even the cock
crowing upon their roosts ! Then came the
thought that speed might even yet save us
for , once outside , who was to follow us ti
such darkness , with enough and more than
enough of caverns about , into which we
might crawl and evade pursuit ? Why wo
were doing It at all , and whnt right we had
to evade pursuit I had no time to consider
as again I fled the room , which was strowi
all about with evidences of my Into traffic
In animal life. The disordered boxes which
had been handed mo by the now helpless
Hosklns ; the uncorked medicine phials , nl
spoke loudly to mo of my deadly work , anc
I could but feel like some beast of prey
creeping from Its lair , as I stole out ant
closed the door behind mo.
This time my knock at the door of the
second chamber was less guarded , for my
nerves were getting into a horrible state ;
but It was not eo quickly answered nnd I
was growing alarmed , when It was flung
wide open , though very noiselessly , and MUs
Brandon stood before me , not dressed In her
flowing robes , but In a trim suit of black ,
such as you might bee a dozen of any day
In a. well-dressed crowd , only they would
not nil bo so becoming to their owners.
Over this she wore a short fur coat. Her
hair was tucked away under a cup to match ,
nnd there she stood , looking so warm , so
fresh and smiling that somehow the mem
ory of my bandages came back to mo , filling
mo with such n sense of deformity and In
feriority that I think my bearing took color
from tbo morbid abasement of my mind.
I know that I held my right hand with
one hand while I talked to her , and that , I
Shuffled on my feet ns Eho looked at mo ,
whllo I hit my tongue to keep from crying
aloud that I was not the bloodless old dotard
she so fondly dreamed mo to be.
'Oh , " she burst out In an excited whisper ,
as soon as her eyes fell'on me , "you do think
of the funniest things ! Now tell mu what
ever you have done to that dreadful dog to
make him go running about so , scratching
things ! "
"Did you hear him yelping ? "
"I guess that's what dogs do. I was Just
sure he'd wake everybody up , weren't you ? "
I had been , Indeed , and yet was. At thnt
very moment I fancied I could hear Home
one-moving , nnd bracing up my manhood , I
ppoko decidedly In spite of those things about
my Jaw.
"Wo must go nt once , " I said , moving Into
tbo room with a cat-like step.
"Will you bo able to hang on to one end
of a blanket while 1 lower you from the
window ? "
I dared not look nt her whllo I made thlt
cool proposal , for I fully expected her to
turn pale nnd shrink back ; besides the horrid
rid suspicion haunted me that oven should
she consent , It would end In her completing
my list of victims , and what with the doctor ,
Mrs , Hosklns and the dog I was sickened of
blood.
To ray amazement she laughed a delight
ful , gentle , Httlo chuckle which made mo
long more keenly than over to bury the
snuffy old doctor and rise myself to fill lilH
shoes.
"Oh , how perfectly killing It will be , " she
whispered , seeking for sympathy In tha
depths of my dull swollen eye. See ! The
window Is all ready for us. I wan putting It
up when I saw the dog. "
Suddenly I started , stabbed to the heart
with fresh trouble. 1 had dragged a blanket
from the large chair In which Mrs , Hosklns
had been sitting and was testing Its strength
an best I could , when It occurred to mo that
all my outdoor apparel was downstairs , I
certainly could not venture out on such a
night , not knowing how long I might re
main dodging about without some sort of
covering , yet I dared not go downstairs In
search of mine.
"My cap and coat , " was the cry wrung
from mo In my distress. Instantly my com
panion grasped the situation with smiling
composure ,
" Arc downstairs , " she finished for me.
"Of couree we can't think of going to get
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what to do.
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them , but there are sorao of Mrs. Hosklns'
things hero that will do. She's so dread
fully big you know , " nnd before I could pre
vent her she had dived Into a closet close nt
hand , from which she emerged presently ,
triumphantly holding up to my view a large
gray and black plaid shawl nnd one of those
many-colored woolen bags known as "to
boggan caps. " It was the last straw to ray
overburdened vanity ! Wear them ! I
could have snatched them from her , flung
them on the floor nt her feet and atamped
upon them , but for the nddcd absurdity.
And then , too , what awkward evidence In
the shape of card case , marked handkerchief
or other fatal trifle might I not leave In
the pockets of my abandoned coat !
Insulted , perplexed and downright nngry ,
I stood glaring about me , but bcforo I'had
voiced my annoyance a faint sound below
put flight to all thought of more trilling
llscomforts. Some one was moving cau-
lously , whether toward us or from ua , to
seek or to avoid , I could not tell ; but It de
cided mo to hngglc no longer over my ap-
> enrancc , good or bad. Laterally snatching
he horrible headgear from Miss Brandon ,
who was tranquilly kneading It Into shape ,
crammed It down about my carf , feeling
a certain savage delight In the self-torture
Inflicted.
"It will bo warm , anyway , " murmured my
companion , with n glance of kindly n-mtise-
mctit. which I haughtily Ignored.
"Come , " I said , briefly , snatching up the
blanket. "Wo have not n second to lose , "
nnd I rushed stealthily to the open window
nnd Hung out In advance the shawl which
vns to servo mo as a covering , Miss Bran-
on following me In u state'of what , I could
plainly HOP , was pleased excitement.
The window was high up from the floor ,
nnd as wo stopped before It , she looked Into
ny swollen eye with n face of Innocent ox-
lectntlon. "I can't got up there alone , you
enow , " she whlapered , nnd with on almost
ludlblo groan I put my nrm gingerly about
or fur-clad waist , and the next Instant she
\as flitting with her feet outside , holding
ownrdn mo her ungloved hands for the
lankot. The morbid feiir which possessed
mo that Bho was to make my fourth victim
vas not lessoned by that moment In which
held her In my arms , nnd UH aha grasped j
ho quilt with two small white hands nnd
ooked at mo with n friendly nod , to tell
) o that she WUH ready for the drop , I felt
very partlcln of strength leave my body ,
"Como back , " I faltered , but she W.OH
ver the side , and with desperate hands I
lutchcd the blanket.
It seemed so short. Hud I miscalculated
10 holght of the window ? I dared not look
own no I leaned far out , giving the full
length of my arms to the clumsy contriv
ance. Suddenly tbo weight left It. Had
she fallen ? My cycw sewned glazed as I
turned tlu-in downwards. There was a black
heap under the snow beneath. Was she liv
ing or dead ?
Hut now again sounded thnt step below ,
It scorned nearer this time. It was coining
upstairs , coming softly , nnd pausing on each
step , an though uomo one had stopped to
listen. It had a horrid wound in that
gloomy houseami I Boomed to ECO a dark
face gliding toward mo , a white hand uplifted -
lifted , to hush the very echoes that ho
might hear. I had meant to do many things
the time for which was parsed. The coaet |
door I had meant to unlock It upon the
hapless Ilosklns , but now the feet had
reached the hall. With a warning hies for
my conspirator below , I swung myself from
the window and dropped , epeculatlug even
whllo 1 fell on the probable length of my
Ilfo should tome part of me double up and
Mrlku wrong In my mad plunge.
( To bo Continued. )