Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-17
"Don't d1iue me into corner" he said

ucy dlc VI luy Sli-N lltUlloI NOu
| observed them or not. | am one of the
handy medical men, who can use the pho.
| tOgraph. Not that | mention it generally;
the public have got a narrOw-minded no.
ton that a doctor ought to be nothing
but doctor. My name won't appear in a
| new work that l am contemplating. OF
course, you want to know what my new
work is I'll tell, in the strctest conf
dence. Imagine Gf you CAM a series OF
superb photographs of the most eminent
doctors in England with memoirs of their
lives written by themselves; published
once a month, price half-a-crown. If
there isn't money in that idea, there is
no money in anything. Exert yourself,
my good friend. Tell me what you think
81 don't understand the subject, mount
joy replied. May l ask why you want to
take me into your cOntidence?"
Because look upon you as my best
friend"
you are very good. But. surely, Mr..
Vimpany, you have older friends in your
circle of acquaintances than l am"
Not one" the doctor answered prompt
give you proof of it."
us the proof in any way connected with
money!" Hugh inquired.
Il call that hard on me-" Mr.. Vimpany
protested. No unfriendly Interruptions
Mountjoy. I offer proof of kindly feel
ing. Do you mean to hurt me?'
Certainly no. Go on"
'Thank you; q little encouragement goes
long way with me. I have found book
seller who will publish my contemplated
work on commission. Not a soul has yet
seen the estimate of expenses. l propose
| to show it to you"
"Quite needless, Mr.. Vimpany."
''Why quite needless?"
Because 1 decline lending you the
moueV."
No, no, Mountjoyl You can't really
II do mean it,"
"Yes'
The doctors face showed a sudden
change of eXpression-a sinister and
threatening change.
Don't drive me into corner" he said
think of it again"
Hugh's capacity for controlling himself
gave way at last.
do you presume to threaten me?' he
said. understand, if you please, that my
| mind is made I'D, and that nothing you
| can say or do will alter it''
With that declaration he rose from his
chair and waited for Mr.. Vimpany's de.
parture.
The doctor put on his hat His eyes
| rested on Hugh, with look of diabolical
malice. 1.-The time is not far off, Mr.
Mountjoy, when you may be sorry you re-
| fused me-" He said those words deli Der
| atelv-and took his leave.
| Released from the mans presence, Hugh
| found himself strangely associating the
] interests of Iris with the language-other-
| wise beneath notice-which Mr.. Vimpany
| had used on leaving the room.
| In desperate straits for want OF money,
how would the audacious bankrupt next
attempt to fill his empty purse? If he had
| by any chance, renewed his relations with
! his Irish friend-and such an event was at
| least possible-his next experiment in the
| art of raising loan might take him tC
| Paris. Lord Harry had already ventured
| on a speculation which called for an i'm
mediate outlay of money, and which was
| only expected to put profit into his peck
| eft at some future period. In the mean
| while his resources in money had theiI
| limits: and his current expenses wOui.
make imperative demands on an ill-hlle'
| purse. If the temptation to fail in his res
olution to respect his wife's fortune wa:
| already trying his fortitude, what bette
excuse could be offered for yielding THAI
the necessities of an old friend in a stat
of pecuniary distress?
Looking at the position of Iris, and a
the complications which threatened il
from this point of view, Mountjoy left til
hotel to consult with Mrs. Vimpany. 1t
rested with her to decide whether the cir
cumstances justified his departure for
Paris.