Dodge City times., 1890-07-11
.nv,. nrezent emplovmeut had not occur

the morning Wnen Sne was 6OOut 10 pIO
ceed to the scene of her labors news had
her mother. Mrs. Vimpany. who was free
at the time, and who felt friendly inter
est in her young colleague. volunteered tl
take her place. Upon this a strange re
buest had been addressed to the matron
on behalf of the sick man. He desired ts
be Uniformed of it, il the new nurse was
an Irishwoman" Hearing that she wa;
an Englishwoman he at once accepted hei
services; being himself (as an additional
element of mystery in the matter) an Irish
man!
The matron's English prejudices at once
assumed that there had been some dis
cretiitable event in the mans life, which
might be made q subject OF scandalous
exposure il he was attended by one OF hls
Vimpany to have nothing to do with thu
afflicted stranger The nurse answered
that she had promised 10 attend Oh him
and she kept her promise.
Mounijoy left the Institute, after vainly
attempting to obtain Mrs Vimpany's ad.
dress. The one concession which the ma
tron offered to make was to direct his
letter, and send it TO the post, il he would
be content with that form of communica
ton.
On reflection, he decided to write the
letter.
Prompt employment Of time might be
of importance, if it was possible to pre-
vent any further communication with
Lord Harry, on the part OF his Irish cor
respondent. Using the name with which
Iris had provided him, Hugh wrote to in
quire if it was familiar to Mrs. Vimpany,
as the name of person with whom she
had been, at any time, acquainted. In
this event, he assured her that an fmme-
date consultation between them was abb
sOlutely necessary in the interests OF Iris.
He added, in a postscript, that he was in
perfect health. and that he had no fear OF
infection-and sent his letter to the ma
trOn to be forwarded.
The reply reached him late in the even
ing 1t was in the handwriting of q stran-
ger, and was to this effect:
can allow you to run the risk of seeing me
while am in my present situation. So seri.
Gus ia the danger OF contagion, in 'ariet
fever. that dare not even write TO you with
my own hand, on nOte-paper which has been
used in the sick-roOm, This is no mere fancy
of mine: the doctor in attendance here knows
of a case in which q small piece OF injected
flannel communicated the disease after an
interval of no less than year. must trust
to your own good sense to see the necessity of
waiting until can receiUc you without any
fear OF consequences to yourself In the
meantime, may answer your inquiry relating
TO the name communicated in your letter.
first knew the gentleman you mention some
years since: We were introduced to each other
by Lord Harry; and ! saw hin afterwards on
more than one occasion.
ate reply to his letter with indignation.
Here was the good fortune for which he
had not dared to hope declaring itself in
favor of Iris. Here Gf Mrs Nimpany
could be persuaded to write to her friend)
was the opportunity offered of keeping
the hot-tempered Irish husband passive
and harmless by keeping him without
further news of the assassin OF Arthur
Mountjoy. Under these encouraging cir
cumstances the proposed consultation
which might have produced such excel
lent results had been rejected, thanks to
q contemplate fear of infection. excited
by a story of n trumpery piece of flannel!
Hugh snatched up the unfortunate let
ter (cast away on the floor to tear it into
basket-and checked himself. His angry
hand had sei:ed on It with the blank leaf
of the note paper uppermost.
On that leaf he discovered two little
lines of print, presenting. in the custom
ary form, the address of the house Mt
which the letter had been written! The
writer, in taking the sheet of paper from
the case, must have accidentally turned
it wrong side uppermOst on the desk, and
had not cared to recopy the letter or had
not discovered tho mistake. Restored to
his best good-humor, Hugh resolved to
surprise Mrs. Vimpany by IA visit, on the
next day, which would set the theory OF
coutagion at defiance and render valuable
service to Iris at a crisis in her life.
Having time before him for reflection.
I'm the course of the evening, he was at no
loss to discover a formidable obstacle IN
the way of his design.
Whether he gave his name or concealed
his name, when he asked for Mrs. Vimp
any at the house door, she would In
either case refuse to see him. The one
accessible person whom he could consult
in this difficulty was his faithful old ser
want.
That expe rienced man-formerly en-
ployed at various times in the army, in
the police, and in service at u public
school-obtained leave to make some
preliminary Investigations on the next
morning.
He achieved two important discoveries.
In tue first place, Mrs. Vimpany was liv.
ing in the house in which the letter to his
master had been written. In the second
place, there was a page attached to the
domestic establishment (already under no
tice to leave his situatiOn), who was &C.
cesSible to corruption by means OF bribe
The boy would be on the watch for Mr.
Mountjoy at O'Clock on that day, and
would show him where to find Mrs
Vimpany, in the room near the sick room
In which she was accustomed to take her
meals.
Hugh acted on his instructions, and
found the page waiting to admit him Sc.
cretly to the house. Leading the way up
stairs, the boy pointed with one hand to |:
door on the second floor, and held out the
other hand to receive his money. While
he pocketed the bribe and disappeared.
Mountjoy opened the door.
Mrs. Vimpauy was seated at table
waiting for her dinner. When Hugh
showed himself she started to her feet
with cry of alarm.
Are you mad:" she exclaimed "How
did you get here' What do you wan
herei Don't come near mep'
out of the room. He caught her by the
arm, led her back to her chair, and forced
her to seat herself again.
''Iris is in trouble" he pleaded, "and
you can help her."
1.-The feverI' she cried, needless of what
he had said. Keep back from me-ths
feverI'
For the second time she tried to get on,
of the room. For the second time Hugh
stopped her. =,
have something to say to you. In two
minutes 1 shall have sad it, and l will
60"
In the fewest possible words he described
the situation Of Iris with her jealous hus-
band. Mrs. Vimpany Indignantly inter
r1pted him.
care you running this dreadful risk,
she asked, with nothing to say to mi
that 1 don't know alreadvi Her husband
Jealous of her? OF course he is jealous ol
her! Leave me-or will ring for the ser
vant,'
Ring, il you like" Hugh answered
''but hear this first. My letter to you al
luded to 6 consultation between us, which
might be necessary in the interest of Iris
Imagine her situation if you can! Tn,
assassin of Arthur Mountjoy is reported
to be in London; aid Lord Harry has hear,
of it.''
Mrs. Vimpany looked at him with hor
Tor in her eyes.
''Gracious' Godr' she cried, '.the man
| hereunder my care. Oh, I am not il
the conspiracy to hide the wretch! Iknev
| no more OF him than you do when l offer
ed to nurse him. The names that hav,
escaped him, in his delirium, have told m
the truth"
AS she spoke second door in the room
WAS ODened An old woman showed her