Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08
CHAPTER xxx.
HAROLD TAKES THE NEWS.

seek q second doctor in case the one already
gone for was out, they set to work to cut the
clothes from his neck and arm, and do what
they could, and that was little enough, to-
ward stanching the bleeding. 1t soon how
ever, became evident that Cossey had only
got the outside portion of the charge Of No.
THAT is to say, that he had been struck by
about q hundred pellets out of the three hun
bred or so which would go to the ordinary
ounce and an eighth. Had he received the
whole charge he must, at that distance, have
been instantly killed. AS IT was, the point Of
the shoulder was riddled, and SO, to a some
what smaller extent, was the back Of his
neck and the region of the right ear. One or
two outside pellets had also struck the head
higher up, and the skin and muscles along the
back were torn by the passage Of the shot.
"By Jover' said Mr.. Quest, II think he is
done for.n
The colonel nodded. He had had some ex-
perience of shot wounds, and the present one
was not of a nature to encourage hope of the
patients survival
''How did it happenf' asked Mr.. Quest pre-
sently, as he mopped up the streaming blood
with sponge.
at was an accident" groaned the colonel.
"Your wife was looking at my new gun.
] told her that it was loaded, and that
put it down. The next thing that l heard
was the report. 1t is all my cursed fault for
leaving the cartridges in"
"Ah, said Mr.. Quest, "she always thought
shat she understood guns 1t Is a shocking
accident
Just then one of the doctors came running
zap the lawn carrying box of instruments,
and followed 10y Belle Quest; and in another
minute was at work. He was a quick and
bkillful surgeon, and having announced that
the patient was not dead, at once set to work
to tie one of the smaller arteries in the
throat, which had been pierced, and through
which Edward Cossey was rapidly bleeding
to DEATH BY the time that this was done
the other doctor, All older man, put in an APP
pearance, and together they made u rapid ex-
animation of the injuries.
Belle stood by holding a basin of water.
She did not speak, and on her face was that
same fixed look of horror which Harold had
observed after the discharge of the gun.
When the examination was finished the
two doctors whispered together for IA few
seconds.
"Will he liver asked ltr. Quest.
eve cannot say" answered the older
doctor 1--WE do not think it probable that
he will. 1t will depend upon the extent of
the injuries, and whether or no they have ex-
tended TO the spine. If he does live he viii
probably he paraly2ed to some extent, and he
will certainly lose the hearing of the right
ear"
When she heard this Belle sunk down upon
chair overwhelmed, and then the two doc
tors, assisted by Harold set to work to carry
Edward Cossey into another room which had
been rapidly prepared, leaving Mr.. Quest
alone with his wife.
He came and stood in front of her and
looked her i'll the face, and then laughed
upon my word" he said, I'VE men are bad
snough, but You women beat US i'll wicked
hess.
"What do you mean:" she said, family.
Il mean that you are a murderess, Belle,
he said, solcmuly. "And you are a Dungler
too. You could not hold the gun straight.
Il deny it, she said, The gun Wen
Off
''N es,n he said, ''you are wise to make L,
admissions they might be used in eNiG,4lc
against you Let me counsel you to make d,
admissions. bat now look here, l suppos
that this man viii have to lie i'll this hOus
until he r.coycrs OF dies, and that You Wi
help 10 nurse linn. VI ell, Will have none o.
your mruer,us worN going on here. Do yol
hear me! y uI are not To complete at LEISURE
what you have begun III haste"
"What do you take me for" she asked
with some rctum of spirit; do You thinl
/ would njurc a wounded mauN
81 40 moi D.o'Y,a he answered, with
shrug, "aul a. ..r what take YOU for,
take you for % woman whose passion Ia
mado her mad, aud he turned and left til
room.
When they Lad got Edward Cossey, dea,
Or ahve-aud he looked more like deaf