Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-10-12
"Oh, heavens! he is deadP'

INTO Cne darkness OF the night. / felJ
a bank note pressed into my hand as I
entered the carriage once more.
Doctor, you have done your best;
it is not your fault that your efforts
have not been more successful. Re-
member, you are pledged to secrecyp
The next moment I was whirling
swiftly through the November mid
night, with the strange, unquiet feel
ing Of one wakened suddenly from a
startling dream. Yet it was no dream
-alasl it was startling reality.
The carriage stopped at a cross-road
near the village.
"Please to alight here, sir" said the
driver. You are not far from
home"
] obeyed and stood listening in the
middle of. the road, while the noise of
the carriage wheels died away, losing
its distinctness in the shrek Of the
restless winds. And the clock in the
village church tolled out the hour of
one.
Late as it was, however, my surgery
was still open and lighted up; the SER
want from Haddenleigh hall had just
ridden up to the door.
eff you please, doctor, you are
wanted Immediately at the hall. The
colonel said you were to ride my horse
if yours was not already saddled, and
can walk, so there will be no time
lost"
I mechanically mounted the noble
animal that stood waiting for me and
rode off, rather glad Of an oppor-
tunity to revolye in my mind the sin
gular adventure that had that evening
befallen me.
Haddenleigh stood little back from
the road, on magnificent knoll
crowned with century-old chestnuts
and beeches; and I reached the broad
stone steps in about half an hour, by
dint Of rapid riding.
AS I entered the vestibule Colonel
Hadden, who had been pacing up and
down the hall in a perfect agony Of
impatience, came to meet me.
"Is that you, Doctor Meller? 1
thought you never would come. We're
in a pretty state Of confusion herel
Burglars in the house-my wife's set
of diamonds gone-nobody knows
what else-but old Hopkins left his
sign manual on one of the fellows.
They must be caught; they cannot
escape far. For, you see"
eyes; but Colonel Hadden-'
"Oh, ay-I understand you-you
want to see your patient? It's Hop
kins, the butler; he got an ugly blow
on the left armand afterward my
wife went herself for Doctor May
nard-no offense, Meller, but he lives
nearer than you-but he was out.
She has only just returned. 1
couldn't very well leave Hopkins
and Mrs. Hadden is such kind,
good soul, she insisted on going herself
to fetch Maynard y
@But, my dear sir"
.Ah, truel Come along to Hopkins
ROOM
| Hopkins, the butler, was as voluble
as his master, and ten times as circum-
stantial; and by the time I had set his
broken fore arm was pretty well in
possession Of all the particulars Of the
attempted burglary at Haddenleigh.
| And thinking of my midnight patient,
whose life had ebbed out upon the pile
Of straw, I felt strange outlines as
! I listened to Colonel Hadden's eager
conjectures as to the whereabouts of
the desperadoes who had fed.
"And now, doctor, you'll take glass
Of wine," said the hospitable old
gentleman, ushering me into his
library.
1t was brilliantly lighted and warm
with the crimson glow of a genial fire
before which, in singularly graceful
attitude, sat lady, wrapped in the
gorgeous folds of an Indian shawl.
My wife, doctor. Isabel, my love
this is Doctor Meller.'
We stood before one another in
silence. l could not speak, for knew
that | was looking into the startled
agonized eyes Of the woman who had
knelt scarcely an hour ago by the
dying couch in the desolate cottage
Colonel Hadden's new wife, Of whose
beauty had heard SO much.
4 The colonel talked on, but heard
not word that he said. ] could moi
but marvel at the wonderful self
possession Of the woman, who smiled
and looked grave, and said, Yes |" and
"No" just in the right places.
To be sure,' the colonel was say
ing, as woke into sort Of conscious
ness of his voice, /" the loss of Isabers
diamonds is something serious, but o.
course we shall recover them again
Only, my love, it was rather careless
Of you TO leave them on the drawing
room table,
ut was careless" replied Mrs. Had.
den, calmly. Doctor, you are moi
going? Colonel, you have forgotten
that curious old book you were want