Wichita eagle., 1888-02-03

mex. room. Then his calrhess giving way as
was leaving the room, he broke out passion
ately:
'P-ing her through for Gods sake if
earthly power can do it.
Without reply went in to the patients
bedside. l.s his words intinlated, found it
woman, young, and, l should judge, beauti-
fuI; though handkerchief which she held
pressed tightly over her convUlsed features,
sitting with it her agoIized means, gave
little room for observation.
couprehended at glance her situation,
and. reckoning the nurse from the shadow
Of the curtaincd bed, began Immediately the
usual preparations for the sufferers relief
Tour hours of mortal agony ard the crisis
was past. Nature had faithfully performed
her Office, and for the young mother danger
was over. The infant never breathed
During this time had not once seen my
patients countenarce. Her long, luxuriant,
black hair enveloped her like mantle As
examined her pulse, however, a peculiar
ring on the delicate hand excited my curl
osity. It was a fac smile Of the one John
Gray had given me a description Of
When we had made her comfortable has
tened to relieve the anxiety OF the occupant
Of the ante-room, whose restless step con-
stantly paced back and forward. He wrung
my hand and started into the sick room,
while l sat down before a side table to pre-
pare the medicine to be left for the patient 5
recovery.
There, in one moment, I had two sur
prises. Opening book lying on the table in
search OF blank leaf Of paper, there slipped
out an envelope, right side up, with the su-
prescription. Madame Estelle de Veren In
the same breath l heard in moan from
the next chamber, ''Oh, Ellery, our little
childr'
A hasty movement drowned the words, but
not before | had conprehended them.
The brain, like the eye, sometimes over
leaps an infinite space; in moment of time,
collecting the array of incidents, sure con-
viction impressed itself upon my mind; it
only remained for me to establish proofs of
its truth.
In a few moments my patron returned. ra-
diant with joy, and expressed his gratitude
again and again; and, as / listened to his
eager words, felt very much as though
were cruel ''wolf disguised in sleeps cloth
ing"
and when l took my departure slipped into
my hand ten times the amount should have
charged. Then, after cordial adieu my eyes
were again bandaged, and, led by my former
conductor, retraced the steps had taken to
the carriage
As we descended the outer steps, as if by
accident l caught at a branch of some climb
ing plant that brushed my person. A slip
came off in my fingers, which affected to
throw away, but which, in reality, con-
cealed in my hand.
had In one of my pockets glass paper
weight--a pretty toy with cluster of violets
imbedded in the center As we passed
through the gateway l dropped this outside
the Enclosure, and trihe to one side of the
gatepost. We entered the carriage, were
driven back as we came and was again re-
stored to sight on the threshold of my OWE
domicile
Letting myself in with my latchkey, lit
cigar and sat for an hour in O brown study
AT the end of that time put out my light
wrapped myself in my waterproof and set
out for the "Maintenon," second class hotel
where my friend Gray boarded
l went Immediately to his room, reused
him from siumbcr and related to him the
story Of my nights adventure and suspic-
ions. Never was mortal man moro con-
founded. His face was pale and his lips
trennbled with emotion.
GOOD God!" he cried "What do you ex-
pect me to dor
''First," 1 replied, 81 wish you to so imms-
diately over to the little brown house, ex-
anime the gravel at the base of the left hand
gatepost. Ii you bring me back my paper
weight your evidence is complete, or, stay,
will this match the rose plant trailing over
the latticed portico?' And drew from my
pocketbook the spray had torn off
He gave groan as he looked at it and al
most staggered against the wall
''She has not been in the bay window for
days." he muttered, land this is why l missed
her,
But he vent bravely out, and spent in
solitude one of the longest half hours of my
life.
Then heard a step coming up the stairs-a
feeble, hating step, like that of an aged man
A tremulous hand fnmbled at the lock, and
John Gray stood on the threshold, white as
death, his limbs trembling under him, and in
his hand the pretty little paper weight
'Rouse yourself, joint" l cried, forcing
a
mans wife-or perhaps Miss
He threw himself upward like the imper-
sonation of Avenging Innocence.
dare to finish that word, and, friend as
you are, | will hurl you down from yon win
dow
john said, soothingly, 81 meant the
lady no harm: doubtless she is his welded
wife: but it is you l am concerned about
Don't give way like this. Be manm
| can never forget the mournful look he
turned upon me.
Il am man." he said, and then he sank
back in his chair and buried his face in his
hands.
His grief was too sacred for words We
sat awhile in silence Presently he recovered
himself and spohe, although his voice was
broken.
.'For MY sake" he said, ''make no move in
this matter for a few days, at least, until
she is better able to bear it,
/ promised him and returned home.
In two weeks time signitied to Gray my
intention of notifying the police of my dis
covery and apprehension. and felt no sur
prise that he declined having anything to do
about it.
As was leaving he said:
Promise me, Doc. oze thing. Do not let
any of them know that you ever revealed the
secret TO me-"
ITO be sure, l promise" was my reply.
They would think it rather queer that you
didn go ahead with il. -
Two days later the little brown house was
subjected TO a search By certain members Of
the police force. but they found it empty.
The birds had flown, Sufficient evidence
was found however. for the Identification Of
the inmates as the outlaws, Elery Charming.
bis wife and mother which last person was
represented in the character of the house
keeper, Mrs. Atchinson-
The subject has never again been preached
between Gray and me, but it is one of the